US Patent 7322430 Apparatus and method for reducing required torque

A method of reducing the torque required to provide relative rotation of two connected members includes providing impacts at or adjacent the connection between the two members at a rate of at least two impacts per second. An apparatus for reducing the torque required to provide relative rotation of two connected members includes an impact member adapted to provide an impact to at least one of the connected members, a driver for driving the impact member, wherein the driver is operable to cause the impact member to automatically and repeatedly impact upon the at least one member.