Readily resettable torque-limiting coupling device
US4263996A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1979 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 1999 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D43/206
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention concerns a torque limiting coupling wherein a driven clutch member is normally constrained to rotate with a driving clutch member by balls confined in ball pockets in those two members, opening to their opposing flat faces. The clutch members are biased relatively towards one another so that the balls can roll out of the pockets when the driven member is excessively loaded. Coaxially between those members and rotatable relative to them are a disc-like synchronizing cage and a disc-like transfer cage. The synchronizing cage has a radial slot for each ball that maintains the ball in predetermined circumferentially spaced relation to the other balls. The transfer cage has a first hole for each ball that registers with ball pockets and through which the ball extends during normal drive. It also has a groove extending from each first hole in a fractional-turn spiral and terminating at a second hole. Upon overload, each ball is guided along its groove and into the second hole. While rolling along the groove the ball forces the transfer cage flatwise against the adjacent clutch member to frictionally confine the transfer cage against rotation relative to that member. When in…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.