Rotary shaft decoupling mechanism

Claim 1

A rotary shaft decoupling device comprising: an input shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis; a driving component fixed on said input shaft for rotation therewith and fixed against axial movement, said driving component having a first diameter and characterized by a plurality of axially extending first external grooves spaced about the periphery thereof; an output shaft aligned with said input shaft for rotation about said axis; a driven component fixed on said output shaft for rotation therewith and fixed against axial movement, said driven component being disposed immediately adjacent said driving component with a discontinuity therebetween and having a like plurality of axially extending, second external grooves spaced about the periphery thereof, said second external grooves being aligned with said first external grooves; force transmitting means formed of a high impact resistant synthetic plastic material and comprising a plurality of force transmitting elements and having a first position wherein said elements are engaged in said aligned first and second external grooves so as to span said discontinuity and key said driving and driven components together for positive simultaneous rotation; slide means, coaxially mounted for rotation with one of said components and surrounding said force transmitting means, said slide means being mounted for axial movement relative to said components and operative to shift said force transmitting means from said first position to a second position wherein said elements are entirely to one side of said discontinuity, whereby said driven component is decoupled from positive simultaneous rotation with said driving component; biasing means yieldably urging said slide means in a direction for holding said force transmitting means in said first position; and actuator means for effecting said axial movement of said slide means in response to rotation thereof.