Providing a Turn for the Better

About this technology

Overview

NASA engineers developed a torque wrench tool adapter that allowed for a full rotation of spanner nuts in confined spaces. The tool, which is similar to an open-ended crowfoot wrench and a fixed-face spanner wrench, contains two dowel pins that center and lock the wrench onto the nut. Kennedy Space Center provided AI Technologies with information about NASA's torque wrench tool adapter through a royalty-free, public domain technology transfer agreement. After the company acquired the information about the technology, it assembled a design concept and patented its product as Fastorque." The tool's applications span the aerospace automotive construction energy and petro-chemical industries. Durable and portable Fastorque is especially suited for hard-to-reach places and saves time in disconnect/connect procedures for troubleshooting connectors. AI Technologies believes the tool is a good alternative to conventional spanner wrenches which can be unwieldy and difficult to use especially in places allowing little clearance for the wrench to rotate. While Fastorque allows for the full rotation of spanner nuts in places with minimum clearance conventional spanner wrenches in tight spots can cause damage as the user tightens the nuts or withdraws the wrench. With samples of Fastorque tested and approved AI Technologies is distributing the product worldwide.."