Torque Multiplier
I work with large, pressurized metering devices, and historically we’ve used impacts to tighten flange bolts. No torque wrench was used, so if the assembly passed the hydro/water-tight test, everyone was happy.
Recently we had an inventory issue where stainless bolts were ordered instead of the B7 bolts we’re supposed to use. That raised concerns about the major difference in torque requirements between stainless and B7 hardware, which snowballed into a larger discussion about needing to hit specified torque values on every flange every time.
The challenge is that these meters are bulky and top-heavy. Applying 500 ft-lbs manually is difficult without nesting the meter or clamping it down somehow. Right now, that’s not part of the process.
I don’t have much experience with torque multipliers, but I’m wondering if they actually help reduce the likelihood of the meter rolling/tipping during torquing. I understand the total torque is still there; the gearbox is just multiplying input torque. So intuitively it seems like the reaction forces still exist. Does the stabilizing/reaction arm make a significant difference in practice?
Has anyone dealt with something similar? Looking for practical, minimally intrusive ways to safely and consistently torque large flange assemblies without redesigning the whole setup.