SAFETY CLUTCH Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC F16D43/20 

FIELD: engines and pumps.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to machine building and can be used in device to transmit torque from the engine to power drives operated mainly under overloads and impact loads, including locking of the power drive components. The clutch incorporates an outer holder with splines on its inner surface and an inner holder arranged in its chamber. The inner holder houses the drive and driven shafts with the groves, a flexible element and balls. The drive and drive shafts ends accommodate the drive and driven toothed semi-couplings with a barrel-like outline and outer teeth in mesh with the drive and driven sleeve inner teeth. The said sleeves are arranged opposite each other inside the outer holder to revolve therein and be shifted along the clutch axis of symmetry by centering collars. The flexible elements representing the plate compression springs are arranged between the said centering collars and backup rings O-ring-locked on the end parts in the outer holder chamber. Every backup ring hole ID equals OD of the sleeve hub and is aligned with the latter. The aforesaid opposite plates are arranged between the drive and driven sleeves and locked by the balls in the plate grooves and recesses on the drive and driven sleeve end faces. The sleeve end face recesses feature a drop-like shape with the deepest part equal to the ball half a diameter. The plate grooves are arc-like with variable depth smoothly decreasing towards the balls and cylindrical holes with a diameter equal to that of the balls. The thickness of every plate exceeds the ball diameter.

EFFECT: higher reliability, fast operation, longer life and higher manufacturability.

2 dwg