Abstract: An overload coupling device includes a drive shank, a drive sleeve for driving the drive shank, a closure sleeve surrounding the drive sleeve, and a thrust ring. The drive sleeve is formed with a plurality of cage slots arranged in pairs to provide a first group of the cage slots of one width, which receive coupling balls of one group operative to transmit torque in the working drive direction, and a second group of the cage slots of a greater width which receive movable therein coupling balls of another group operative to transmit torque in the direction opposite to the working drive direction. The coupling device further includes an elastic element positioned in an annular groove between the closure sleeve and the drive sleeve and exerting on the respective coupling ball a prestressed radial force.