Bolted joints gain integrity
Failures of critical bolted joints can be disastrous, with over 90% of all failures being attributed to insufficient bolt tension being applied on installation. As a result, torque tool specialist Hytorc and bolt specialist RotaBolt have teamed up to develop a system that ensures the correct torque and tension is applied to a bolted joint on installation.
"Integrity is set to become the industry standard wherever reliability and safety are of paramount importance in bolted joints," said Rod Corbett managing director of RotaBolt. "It is optimum bolt tightening - simple, accurate, fast and fool-proof."
The project saw Hytorc develop a tool to work in conjuction with RotaBolt's tension control fastener to deliver fast and flexible hydraulic torque tightening and tension control accuracy to ±5%.
As a complete system, it quickly and simply installs to the correct design tension and allows the easy monitoring of the tension throughout the life of the bolted joint through the control technology incorporated in each RotaBolt. Once installed and tightened to its pre-set tension, the Rotacap becomes finger loose if any tension is lost across the joint.
