Torque tools plumb the depths
An
Industrial Measurements product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 4, 2005
IML's ROV torque tool is a reliable and successful product which can be fitted to almost any remotely operated vehicle for subsea applications.
IML's involvement in the offshore industry spans more than two decades, and since the introduction of the ROV torque tool nearly a decade ago, it has been proven to be a reliable and successful product.
Almost all ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) now offer a torque tool with their vessel, ie a robot arm which is capable of checking that valves and other oil pipeline equipment is operating correctly by checking the actuation torque.
Originally the torque was set by hydraulic pressure, and then an additional torque transducer was introduced into the housing between the gearbox and the nose cone.
This, though satisfactory, added more weight and extended the length of the tool and, as an additional item, added cost.
The standard IML torque tool replaces the existing housing with a strain-gauged tube.This enables designers of the ROV to change the interfaces and reduce sise.
Each tool supplied by IML has the same basic electrical operation but the mechanics differ for each unit.
IML works closely with the major ROV suppliers to ensure that the technical performances of new designs are fully tested prior to introduction to the marketplace.
The basic unit covers the range from 100 to 4000Nm with a stated accuracy of 0.5% for most installations.
the gauges are coated with several specialist materials to withstand oil under pressure and are compensated for bend and temperature effects.
Each unit is standardised for interchangeability, and will interface with all of the major electronic intervention suppliers' equipment.
Depths in excess of 1000m have proved to be of no problem for the units.
Each transducer is works calibrated and issued with a traceable certificate, valid for either one or two years.
To complement the torque tools, TSSF deck analysers were introduced soon after the first units went into service.They are designed to fit into a bucket arrangement so that the tool can be set up before subsea use.
A simple square drive flange enables the device to be fitted to a multitude of different buckets.
The 3kNm standard unit will cover tools one through four with an accuracy of better than 1%.
A handheld meter is supplied with RS232 interface.
Other ranges are also available to cover tools 5 and 6.
Again these units come complete with a calibration certificate and are standardised to enable interchangeability.
Taking the experience from the underwater torque tool, a stainless steel subsea version of the deck analyser has been introduced.
This, with suitable undersea electronics, allows the ROV operator to set the torque levels in situ at depth and at the local temperature.
Future developments will include an analyser that can be used in even more hazardous areas and a rugged display unit for very harsh conditions.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Industrial Measurements
Tel +44 1332 810240
Other Industrial Measurements stories
-
Torque meters identify machinery problems
TCO clamp-on torque meters from Industrial Measurements are designed to avoid plant downtime by identifying processing machinery problems in their early stages. -
Torque measuring systems available from IM
Industrial Measurements designs and builds reliable torque measuring systems that can be installed onto most drive set ups. -
Cost-effective option in torque measurement
The new TLT torque transducer from Industrial Measurements is not the most accurate, not the fastest and not the cheapest in the world, but it's great value. -
Torque transducers test tools and more
The TB and TL torque transducers are designed for tool-testing applications but can be used in other situations. -
Torque measurement system copes with higher speeds
Retrofit torque measurement has become much more cost effective in recent years, and the latest system is designed to fit any shaft diameter from 100 to 250mm.
Browse by category
-
Capital Equipment (3,518)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (539)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,132)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (475)
- Production line blowers and fans (74)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (974)
- Consultancy and Services (922)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,128)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (817)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (190)
- Control and Instrumentation (3)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (296)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (203)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,203)
- Plantwide control (1,353)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (575)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (392)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,437)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (2)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,290)
- Industrial Motors (502)
- Linear Drives and Motors (121)
- Precision Motors and Gears (430)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,090)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,307)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (583)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (717)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (649)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (3)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (375)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (722)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (430)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (828)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,368)
- 2D CAD software (203)
- 3D CAD software (1,194)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (583)
- Data, document management software (322)
- Electrical design software (167)
- Engineering Design Software (17)
- FEA and structural analysis software (377)
- File conversion software, data capture (358)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (339)
- Materials design and moulding design software (152)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (325)
- PLM and collaboration software (664)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (269)
- Publishing and documentation software (234)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (206)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (958)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,212)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Conferences (438)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (850)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (577)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (366)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (636)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Seminars (418)
- Engineering Training Courses (458)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (180)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (285)
- Health and Safety Legislation (403)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (115)
- Machine Building (4,621)
-
Materials and Processing (3,035)
- Materials and components (2,267)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials processing and testing (292)
- Rapid Prototyping (471)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,653)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (490)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (505)
- Data loggers (425)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (643)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (762)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (449)
- Materials testing equipment (431)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (158)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (520)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,269)
-
Powertrain Design (3,712)
- Bearings (983)
- Chains and belts (333)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,476)
- Hydraulic Components (475)
- Lubricants (441)
- Powertrain Design (3)
-
Sensors (7,286)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (449)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (644)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (290)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (158)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (538)
- Linear Position Sensors (415)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (729)
- Pressure sensors (640)
- Proximity Sensors (713)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (563)
- Sensors (11)
- Temperature sensors (622)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,411)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (2,043)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,725)
