ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hydraulic torque wrench

Have you ever played with a bike pump and noticed how it gets harder to push down as the tire fills up with air? Well, imagine if you have a tool that works in a similar way but instead of filling up a tire, it helps to tighten or loosen really big nuts and bolts. This tool is called a hydraulic torque wrench.

A hydraulic torque wrench uses a liquid (usually oil) to create a lot of pressure. This pressure is used to turn the wrench and apply a lot of force to a nut or bolt. The tool has a special attachment that fits onto the nut or bolt and uses a lot of force to rotate it.

This force is measured in something called torque, which is like twisting force – the same way you twist the cap off a bottle of water. Depending on how big the nut or bolt is, you need more or less torque to turn it. That’s why hydraulic torque wrenches come in different sizes and for different purposes.

Hydraulic torque wrenches are really useful because they can open or tighten really big nuts and bolts very easily. It would take a person a long time to turn the wrench with their own hands and they may not be able to apply enough force to get the job done. But with a hydraulic torque wrench, you can do it quickly and easily, making it a really helpful tool in a lot of different industries.