BALL PROTECTING CLUTCH Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: mechanical engineering. SUBSTANCE: clutch has driven clutch part 1 mounted on shaft 2 for free rotation and driving clutch part 3 spring-loaded with respect to the driven clutch part. Balls 4 are interposed between faces of the clutch parts. A control unit is made of spring 5 and lock nuts 6. Face of the clutch part 1 is provided with ring groove 7 having semi-round profile. Face of clutch part 3 is provided with straight slots 8 having the same profile. The middle part of the slots are positioned oppositely to axis of the groove 7 and their ends are positioned out of groove 7 on both sides of it. Depth of the slots is grater than depth of grooves 7. When the shaft rotates clockwise the clutch part 3 rotates too. Surface of slot 8 runs on balls 4 and presses them to the surface of groove 7. The balls are set in a wedge and transmit periphery effort from clutch part 3 to clutch part 1. When torque of resistance is exceeded the balls are set out of groove 7 on face of driven clutch part 1 and transmitting of periphery effort stops. For returning the clutch in initial position the shaft must be rotated in opposite direction. In so doing inclined surface of the slot sets the balls in the groove. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 4 dwg