| Copyright ZipNut Technology, LLC, 2008 |
3. What is Double ZipNut®?
The Double ZipNut® design is a simple modification to the original ZipNut®
Technology design. The difference is an additional part that connects to the
thread segments inside and allows the manual retraction of those thread
segments. This addition generally is a sleeve that surrounds the outer body.
Let's take a look:
This is similar to the example on the previous page where the bolt was
pushing up, except the threads can now be manually expanded, whether it
be by hand or through some other mechanical means. In addition,
mechanical interference prevents expansion of the thread segments while
the mechanism is under load, so the segments cannot be expanded
inadvertently!
You will notice that the sleeve has two pieces extending into the interior of
the Double ZipNut®. These are the pull pins, which separate to the thread
segments. In two dimensions, there are only two pins pictured, whereas in
practice, there would be a pin between each thread segment.
As the sleeve is pulled back, the pull pins force the thread segments towards
the top cap and accordingly expand the thread segments:
This is similar to the example on the previous page where the bolt was
pushing up, except the threads can now be manually expanded, whether it
be by hand or through some other mechanical means. In addition,
mechanical interference prevents retraction while the mechanism is under
load, so it cannot be expanded inappropriately!
Industrial Applications
Industrial Gas Connections
The Double ZipNut® Design was first used commercially to produce a
quick-connect and quick-disconnect high-pressure gas connection. The
application was perfect-- oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, nitrous oxide, helium,
argon, propane, carbon dioxide, helium, refrigerant gases, etc. are generally
delivered to the user in a steel cylinder at pressures of 3,000 psi and above.
This industry, due to safety concerns with high-pressure gas, uses screw
threads for cylinder connections, so the cylinder filling process is highly labor
intensive. ZipNut® engineers, in partnership with Superior Products, Inc. of
Cleveland Ohio, entered this industry in 1996 with a robust Double ZipNut®
connection for filling cylinders. The industrial gas Double ZipNut® replaces a
simple brass hex coupling, but its use creates significant cost benefits
including quick connection and removal without multiple rotation, and
reduction of operator repetitive hand injury. See www.superiorprod.com.
Hazardous Environment Tooling
ZipNut® engineers and its partners have developed robust fast acting
tooling for hazardous environments other than space where time is critical.
FASTORQ Bolting Systems, Inc., of Houston, Texas, and ZipNut® engineers
incorporated the designs into offshore oil field stud tensioners. Taking
advantage of ZipNuts® superior strength and speed, FASTORQ now offers
AutoZip tensioners for all oilfield-bolting projects. (See www.fastorq.com)
Oilfield workers can now attach a tensioner to a stud, tighten the joint and
remove the unit much faster and easier than ever before.
ZipNut® engineers to develop Double ZipNut® Nozzle Dam Bolt for workers
inside nuclear reactors during maintenance outages. These tools have
dramatically reduced worker radiation exposure for the utilities such as TVA
and Carolina Power and Light.
Power Tooling
The Double ZipNut® Design permits power tooling such as rams, jacks and
struts with screw threads to be installed quickly, powered to tension and be
locked for safety. When the load is released, they can be quickly collapsed
and stored. Power Hawk Technologies, Inc, introduced a power ram in 1997
for auto extrication and building collapse that totally depends on a Double
ZipNut® mechanism. (See www.powerhawk.com)
Robotics Tooling
All robotic mechanisms have difficulty with screw threads because of cross
threading and multiple rotation. Double ZipNut® designs with hydraulic or
solenoid actuation of the retraction means therefore holds great promise in
the robotics industry. The first commercial robotics application of the
technology has been by Sonsub, which in 1999 introduced its newest remote
operated vehicle (ROV) for deep-sea pipeline construction. The unit,
designated "BRUTUS," employs 10 Double ZipNut®, hydraulic actuated bolt
tensioners supplied by FASTORQ to robotically assemble pipeline on the
floor of the North Sea.
FASTORQ has also developed a robotic flange puller for aligning pipeline
flanges on the ocean floor. Countless other robotic applications are possible
with the same designs. (See www.fastorq.com)
The Double ZipNut® design is a simple modification to the original ZipNut®
Technology design. The difference is an additional part that connects to the
thread segments inside and allows the manual retraction of those thread
segments. This addition generally is a sleeve that surrounds the outer body.
Let's take a look:
This is similar to the example on the previous page where the bolt was
pushing up, except the threads can now be manually expanded, whether it
be by hand or through some other mechanical means. In addition,
mechanical interference prevents expansion of the thread segments while
the mechanism is under load, so the segments cannot be expanded
inadvertently!
You will notice that the sleeve has two pieces extending into the interior of
the Double ZipNut®. These are the pull pins, which separate to the thread
segments. In two dimensions, there are only two pins pictured, whereas in
practice, there would be a pin between each thread segment.
As the sleeve is pulled back, the pull pins force the thread segments towards
the top cap and accordingly expand the thread segments:
This is similar to the example on the previous page where the bolt was
pushing up, except the threads can now be manually expanded, whether it
be by hand or through some other mechanical means. In addition,
mechanical interference prevents retraction while the mechanism is under
load, so it cannot be expanded inappropriately!
Industrial Applications
Industrial Gas Connections
The Double ZipNut® Design was first used commercially to produce a
quick-connect and quick-disconnect high-pressure gas connection. The
application was perfect-- oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, nitrous oxide, helium,
argon, propane, carbon dioxide, helium, refrigerant gases, etc. are generally
delivered to the user in a steel cylinder at pressures of 3,000 psi and above.
This industry, due to safety concerns with high-pressure gas, uses screw
threads for cylinder connections, so the cylinder filling process is highly labor
intensive. ZipNut® engineers, in partnership with Superior Products, Inc. of
Cleveland Ohio, entered this industry in 1996 with a robust Double ZipNut®
connection for filling cylinders. The industrial gas Double ZipNut® replaces a
simple brass hex coupling, but its use creates significant cost benefits
including quick connection and removal without multiple rotation, and
reduction of operator repetitive hand injury. See www.superiorprod.com.
Hazardous Environment Tooling
ZipNut® engineers and its partners have developed robust fast acting
tooling for hazardous environments other than space where time is critical.
FASTORQ Bolting Systems, Inc., of Houston, Texas, and ZipNut® engineers
incorporated the designs into offshore oil field stud tensioners. Taking
advantage of ZipNuts® superior strength and speed, FASTORQ now offers
AutoZip tensioners for all oilfield-bolting projects. (See www.fastorq.com)
Oilfield workers can now attach a tensioner to a stud, tighten the joint and
remove the unit much faster and easier than ever before.
ZipNut® engineers to develop Double ZipNut® Nozzle Dam Bolt for workers
inside nuclear reactors during maintenance outages. These tools have
dramatically reduced worker radiation exposure for the utilities such as TVA
and Carolina Power and Light.
Power Tooling
The Double ZipNut® Design permits power tooling such as rams, jacks and
struts with screw threads to be installed quickly, powered to tension and be
locked for safety. When the load is released, they can be quickly collapsed
and stored. Power Hawk Technologies, Inc, introduced a power ram in 1997
for auto extrication and building collapse that totally depends on a Double
ZipNut® mechanism. (See www.powerhawk.com)
Robotics Tooling
All robotic mechanisms have difficulty with screw threads because of cross
threading and multiple rotation. Double ZipNut® designs with hydraulic or
solenoid actuation of the retraction means therefore holds great promise in
the robotics industry. The first commercial robotics application of the
technology has been by Sonsub, which in 1999 introduced its newest remote
operated vehicle (ROV) for deep-sea pipeline construction. The unit,
designated "BRUTUS," employs 10 Double ZipNut®, hydraulic actuated bolt
tensioners supplied by FASTORQ to robotically assemble pipeline on the
floor of the North Sea.
FASTORQ has also developed a robotic flange puller for aligning pipeline
flanges on the ocean floor. Countless other robotic applications are possible
with the same designs. (See www.fastorq.com)
ZipNut Technology, LLC
Phone: (703) 442-7339
Toll free: (888) 894-7688
E-mail info@zipnut.com
Phone: (703) 442-7339
Toll free: (888) 894-7688
E-mail info@zipnut.com
ZipNut Technology, LLC
ZipNut® Technology
1. What is ZipNut® technology?
2. How does it work?
3. What is Double ZipNut®?
1. What is ZipNut® technology?
2. How does it work?
3. What is Double ZipNut®?
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