Torque limiting coupling

Claim 2

A rotatable torque limiting coupling comprising, a driving member hAving an axially shiftable plate, a driven member, said plate and said driven member having opposed transverse surfaces, said plate surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets and reset pockets, said driven member surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets in radial alignment with the pockets of said plate, a plurality of balls located between and abutting against said plate surface and said driven member surface and engagable in said pockets, a ball cage for holding said balls captive therein, spring means located in at least some of said reset pockets of said plate, and resilient means urging said plate towards said driven member surface, whereby when torque over a predetermined amount is applied to said coupling, said balls ride out of said drive pockets, thereby axially separating said plate and driven member to cause disengagement of said coupling, and continued relative rotation between said plate and driven member causes said balls to engage in said reset pockets of said plate, whereby when the relative direction of rotation between said plate and driven member is reversed said spring means push said balls out of said reset pockets and said balls again engage in said drive pockets.

Claim 3

The coupling set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said ball cage has key means abuttable against said plate for holding the latter separated from said driven member surface until said relative rotation is reversed.

Claim 4

The coupling as described in claim 2 further characterized in that said plate has an opening in radial alignment with said key means for receiving the latter when said key means is not holding said plate axially separated from said driven member.

Claim 5

A torque limiting coupling comprising a generally cylindrical driving member having an axially extending annular flange, a shiftable plate mounted in said flange and fixed thereto for rotation therewith and axially movable relative thereto, a driven member journalled on said driving member and extending axially within said flange for sealing engagement therewith, said plate and said driven member having opposed transverse surfaces, said plate surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets and also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced reset pockets, said driven member surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets in radial alignment with the pockets of said plate, a plurality of balls located between said plate surface and said driven member surface and adapted to abut against said surfaces and engage in said pockets, a cage having a plurality of elongated openings for holding said balls captive therein, spring means located in at least some of said reset pockets of said plate, and resilient means urging said plate towards said driven member surface whereby when torque over a predetermined amount is applied to said coupling, said balls ride out of said drive pockets, thereby axially separating said plate and driven member to cause disengagement of said coupling, and continued relative rotation between said plate and driven member causes said balls to engage in said reset pockets of said plate, whereby when the relative direction of rotation between said plate and said driven member is reversed, said spring means push said balls out of said reset pockets and said balls again engage in said drive pockets.

Claim 6

A torque limiting coupling comprising a generally cylindrical driving member having an axially extending annular flange, a shiftable plate mounted in said flange and fixed thereto for rotation therewith and axially movable relative thereto, a driven member journalled on said driving member and extending axially within said flange for sealing engagement therewith, said plate and said driven member having opposed transverse surfaces, said plate surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets and also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced reset pockets, said driven member surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets in radial alignment with the pockets of said plate, a plurality of balls located between said plate surface and said driven member surface and adapted to abut against said surfaces and engage in said pockets, a cage having a plurality of elongated openings for holding said balls captive therein, spring means located in at least some of said reset pockets of said plate, and resilient means urging said plate towards said driven member surface whereby when torque over a predetermined amount is applied to said coupling, said balls ride out of said drive pockets, thereby axially separating said plate and driven member to cause disengagement of said coupling, and continued relative rotation between said plate and driven member causes said balls to engage in said reset pockets of said plate, whereby when the relative direction of rotation between said plate and said driven member is reversed, said spring means push said balls out of said reset pockets and said balls again engage in said drive pockets.

Claim 7

The coupling set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said ball cage has key means abuttable against said plate for holding the latter separated from said driven member surface until said relative rotation is reversed.

Claim 8

The coupling as described in claim 5 further characterized in that said plate has an opening in radial alignment with said key means for receiving the latter when said key means is not holding said plate axially separated from said driven member.

Claim 9

A torque limiting coupling comprising a driving member, said driving member having an axially shiftable plate, a driven member, said plate and said driven member having opposed transverse surfaces, said plate surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets and also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced reset pockets, said driven member surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets in radial alignment with the pockets of said plate, a plurality of balls located between said plate surface and said driven member surface and adapted to abut against said surfaces and engage in said pockets, a cage having a plurality of elongated openings for holding said balls captive therein and for limited circumferential travel of said balls in said openings, spring means located in said reset pockets of said plate, and resilient means urging said plate towards said driven member surface whereby when torque over a predetermined amount is applied to said coupling, said balls ride out of said drive pockets, thereby axially separating said plate and driven member to cause disengagement of said coupling, and continued relative rotation between said plate and driven member causes said balls to engage in said reset pockets of said plate, said cage having key means for holding said plate separated from said driven member surface until the relative direction of rotation between said plate and said driven member is reversed whereby said spring means push said balls out of said reset pockets and said balls again engage in said drive pockets, said plate having an opening in radial alignment with said key means for receiving the latter to permit axial movement of said plate towards said driven member.

Claim 10

A torque limiting coupling comprising a driving member, said driving member having an axially shiftable plate, a driven member, said plate and said driven member having opposed transverse surfaces, said plate surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets and also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced reset pockets, said driven member surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive pockets in radial alignment with the pockets of said plate, a plurality of balls located between said plate surface and said driven member surface and adapted to abut against said surfaces and engage in said pockets, a cage having a plurality of elongated openings for holding said balls captive therein and for limited circumferential travel of said balls in said openings, spring means located in said reset pockets of said plate, and resilient means urging said plate towards said driven member surface whereby when torque over a predetermined amount is applied to said coupling, said balls ride out of said drive pockets, thereby axially separating said plate and driven member to cause disengagement of said coupling, and continued relative rotation between said plate and driven member causes said balls to engage in said reset pockets of said plate, said cage having key means for holding said plate separated from said driven member surface until the relative direction of rotation between said plate and said driven member is reversed whereby said spring means push said balls out of said reset pockets and said balls again engage in said drive pockets, said plate having an opening in radial alignment with said key means for receiving the latter to permit axial movement of said plate towards said driven member.

Claim 11

A coupling as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said plate and driven member are fabricated from sheet metal stampings.