Abstract: An inner tubular wall is concentrically located inside an outer tubular wall to form an annular space therebetween. A bearing is retained within the annular space. The bearing can include a pair of precision angular contact bearings, the bearing may also include an axial sleeve bearing. A frangible element such as an annular shear groove is associated with one of the outer tubular wall and the inner tubular wall. Separation occurs at the frangible element and the bearing supports the inner tubular wall member and the outer tubular wall member for rotation relative to each other upon the coupling assembly experiencing a shear event. In addition, the angular contact bearings may reduce any bending moments that might otherwise impact upon the frangible element during normal operation. The frangible element may be treated, for example, by shot-peening or coating to reduce deterioration of the frangible element during normal operation.

Abstract: A gearset for a gear spindle coupling or the like, and method for forming the same, comprising a sleeve gear and a hub gear which may be ground after surface hardening without the introduction of undesired structural weakening. The sleeve gear includes internal gear teeth and the hub gear includes external gear teeth in mesh with the sleeve gear teeth. Each internal sleeve gear tooth has an internal profile with the tooth height ranging from about 1.9 to about 2.2 divided by the diametral pitch of the sleeve gear, and each external hub gear tooth has a contact height less than the full tooth height. The contact height of the external tooth ranges from about 1.4 to about 1.6 divided by the diametral pitch of the hub gear, with the hub gear tooth region ranging between about 1.4/diametral pitch to about 1.6/diametral pitch. The whole depth of each external gear tooth ranges between about 1.5/diametral pitch to about 1.8/diametral pitch, and the whole depth of each internal gear tooth ranges between about 1.

Abstract: A torque overload release clutch is disclosed made up of a drive member and a driven member adapted to be connected between a power source and a load to transmit a torsional force and to release at a predetermined torque. The clutch release mechanism is made up of a plurality of spaced thermoplastic modules supported in the driven member and a plurality of spaced recesses in the drive member. The modules are each made up of a sleeve and a pin. The sleeve is supported on the driven member and it receives the pin. The pin has a first follower and a second follower member on it. The first follower engages the side of the recesses which acts as a cam and urges the pin toward the sleeve in proportion to the magnitude of the torsional force. The second follower engages a cam surface on the sleeve resisting the force that urges the pin toward the sleeve.