Abstract: A small and compact rotation transmitter includes a torque limiter and an angular position holding apparatus. An outer race member is installed in a housing, and a coil spring is mounted on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Inside the outer race member, an internal space is formed, and an inner race member is installed concentrically with the outer race member. In the annular space between the outer and inner race members, a thin-plate elastic piece is pressed against the outer and inner race members, and either the outer or inner race member is connected to an input-side device while the other is connected to an output-side device. Even without rotation torque, the position of the output-side device is held by the coil spring. When the rotation torque from the input-side device becomes excessive, slippage occurs on the thin-plate elastic piece, whereby the outer and inner race members are disconnected.

Abstract: A slip coupling for a work machine includes a main clutch in the form of a friction-based and spring-operated slip clutch. The slip coupling further includes an auxiliary clutch configured to maintain a pre-set spring-induced clamping force on friction plates of the slip clutch, when the slip coupling rotates in a forward direction, and further configured to be able to increase the spring-induced clamping force, when the slip coupling rotates in a reverse rotational direction. The increase of the clamping force is enabled by the fact that one of two auxiliary clutch parts is axially movable when the slip coupling rotates in the reverse rotational direction, the axial movement actuating an increase in pre-tension of mechanical spring or springs of the slip clutch. A work machine such as a combine harvester equipped with the slip coupling is also described.

Abstract: A motor assembly broadly includes an electric motor and a clamp. The electric motor includes a motor housing and a shaft rotatably supported relative to the motor housing to rotate about a shaft axis, with part of the shaft being exposed relative to the motor housing. The motor housing includes a mounting base. The clamp is connected between the exposed part of the shaft and the mounting base. The clamp is selectively adjustable to apply a variable off-axis load to the exposed part of the shaft.

Abstract: A chain saw includes a housing, a sprocket wheel which is provided in the housing for driving a saw chain, and a chain guide for guiding the movement of the saw chain. The chain guide extends out longitudinally from the housing and is movable longitudinally relative to the housing. The chain saw includes a chain tensioning device. The chain tensioning device comprises a driven member arranged on the chain guide and a driving member which drives the driven member to move the chain guide longitudinally and a rotating device rotating the driving member. A stepless clutch device is arranged between the rotating device and the driving member. The chain tensioning device presses the chain guide while it tensioning the saw chain. Thus it prevents effectively the chain guide from loosing after the saw chain is tensioned. The operation of the chain tensioning device is labor-saving. The chain tensioning device has a stable structure and it is hard to be worn.

Abstract: A quick change rotary mower blade assembly includes a mower blade attached to a blade assembly pin that is inserted into an internal bore in a spindle extending through a housing under the mower deck. A blade retainer on the lower end of the spindle has a pair of notches holding and locking the mower blade in place.

Abstract: The inertia drive consists of a clutch subassembly including an input head shaft, a clutch plate stack, six clutch springs, and a clutch housing; and a screw shaft/pinion subassembly including a screw shaft, a pinion and a stop nut. Spline engagements and snap rings are used to couple the clutch housing and stop nut to the screw shaft. The use of splined engagements and snap rings eliminates the need for stop nuts to be threaded onto the screw shaft, reducing manufacturing cost and increasing durability. The use of splined engagements for coupling the screw shaft to the clutch housing and the stop nut to the screw shaft also allows both the clutch housing and stop nuts to be radially positioned on the screw shaft with incremental adjustability to selectively orientate the pinion relative to both the clutch housing and the stop nut.

Abstract: An elongated sweep apparatus for moving particulate matter in a bin may include a sweep assembly movable over the floor of the bin and a sweep drive assembly to move the sweep assembly. The sweep assembly may comprise a particulate sweep structure to move particulate matter toward one end of the elongated sweep apparatus. The sweep drive assembly may comprise at least one wheel to contact the floor and a slippage interface structure connected to the at least one wheel to transfer rotation to the at least one wheel and permit a degree of slippage of the rotational motion transferred to the at least one wheel when resistance to rotation of the at least one wheel exceeds a threshold resistance level.

Abstract: A torque limiting device includes: a clutch disc clamp plate 17 having a surface area 13 where the surface and the outer area surface of the flywheel press or come in contact with each other, and is provided with an opening 16 at the center middle part of the clutch disc clamp plate 17 so that a concave space 14 is formed between the clutch disc clamp plate 17 and the fly wheel 2 when the clutch disc clamp plate 17 is fastened to the fly wheel 2; a clutch disc 18 fitted in the concave space, and connected to the driven apparatus; a clutch pressing plate 22 fitted between the clutch disc 18 and the fly wheel 2; and, at least one pressing means fitted to and in the flywheel 2 and presses the clutch pressing plate 22 in a surface contact condition.

Abstract: A gear mechanism with torque limiter includes a felt member 14 that is held between a first gear 13 and a second gear 15 coaxially arranged first gear 13 and second gear 15, for transmitting drive power between the gears, such that coupling of drive power between the gears is restricted by slippage of the felt member 14 when an excessive load is applied thereto, wherein multiple protrusions 19a are provided concentrically on the surface of one of the gears 13 (15) in contact with the felt member 14, and concentric grooves 20a corresponding to the protrusions are provided on the surface of the other gear (13) 15.

Abstract: A decoupling mechanism for a power tool having a motor driving a drive shaft that drives a rotating component includes a shaft gear disposed around the drive shaft. The shaft gear has a first side and a second side. The second side has at least one shallow receiving structure and at least one deep receiving structure. At least one friction plate is disposed on the drive shaft adjacent to the first side. At least one pressure plate is disposed on or integrally part of the drive shaft adjacent to the friction plate and configured for rotation with the drive shaft. A spring assembly is biased against the shaft gear. The spring assembly includes a plate disposed around the drive shaft and a spring member. At least one cam is disposed between the plate and the shaft gear, and is configured to engage with the shallow and deep receiving structures.

Abstract: A generator system is disclosed. The generator system includes an input gear, a gear train coupled to the input gear, and a clutch associated with the input gear, wherein the clutch is exposed to the gear train.

Abstract: A slip clutch acts between a shaft and a housing. The slip clutch includes an oil reservoir within the housing and one or more slipping surfaces disposed in the oil reservoir that are keyed to the shaft and possibly alternately to the housing. The slipping surfaces may include stacked plates or washers. Each of the washers includes an oil groove or other structure on one surface thereof that maintains a consistent film of oil on the washer surfaces. The stacked washers slip relative to one another such that the shaft rotates relative to the housing upon an application of torque that exceeds a predetermined torque.

Abstract: A torque limiter includes a driving bushing, a clutch spring wound around an outer circumference of the driving bushing, and a housing receiving a driving force via the clutch spring. The housing includes a first catch portion engaged with a first end portion of the clutch spring, and a second catch portion engaged with a second end portion of the clutch spring. The second catch portion is movable with respect to the first catch portion to change an angle between the first and second end portions of the clutch spring.

Abstract: A steering assist system which transmits the rotation of an electric motor to a steering shaft via a worm shaft and a worm wheel meshed with a worm of the worm shaft, where an output shaft of the electric motor and the worm shaft are interconnected via a joint. The joint includes a cylindrical first transmission member mounted on the output shaft, a cylindrical second transmission member to which the worm shaft is mounted, and a cylindrical elastic body interposed between the first and second transmission members. The joint may further include a torque limiter including a spring which is interposed between an end surface of the second transmission member and a spring seat formed at an end surface of a third transmission member in opposed relation with the end surface of the second transmission member for inhibiting relative rotation between the second and third transmission members.

Abstract: A drive train protection device for a miniature racing vehicle is provided. The device is disposed along the drive train between the vehicle motor and the transmission. The vehicle motor rotates an engagement wheel about an axis of rotation. The engagement wheel is frictionally engaged to a shaft section by a clutch. The shaft section is engaged to the transmission. An impeller is disposed about the shaft section within an impeller housing. The impeller is free to rotate about the shaft section but the impeller housing is affixed to the shaft section and, therefore, must rotate with the shaft section. The impeller is linked to rotate with the engagement wheel. The impeller housing is filled with a viscous liquid which resists the rotation of the impeller. Thus, the drive train is protected from over-torquing by the clutch connection between the engagement wheel and the shaft section, but slippage under normal racing conditions is minimized by the resistance to impeller rotation provided by the viscous liquid.

Abstract: A slipping clutch having opposed driving and driven members, and a friction plate disposed therebetween such that a slipping torque may be obtained between the driving and driven members. The friction plate is made of fiber of high strength, and the member which slips relative to the friction plate is made of engineering plastics. In a preferred embodiment, a friction plate of high strength fiber is frictionally engaged on axially opposite sides of the driven member, which member is made of engineering plastics.

Abstract: A clutch for telescopic antenna including a disk shape clutch element and a shallow, cylindrical clutch element facing each other. The cylindrical clutch element is provide with a recess on its inner wall, and the disk shape clutch element is provided with a pair of sliding contacts which are urged in the radial directions and can come into contact with the inner wall surface of the cylindrical clutch element. An engagement ball provided in one of the sliding contacts can engage with the recess of the second element, securing the coupling of the two clutch elements.

Abstract: A clutch/damper for isolating and absorbing vibration induced reactive torques from adversely affecting a motor drive system. A friction plate variably engages a gear coupled to the drive motor and to a load mass to permit normal drive in the absence of excessive reactive torque forces and to allow the motor to continue to drive against a slipping load in the presence of excessive reactive torque forces. Feedback is employed in the drive system to compensate for the small errors induced by the slippage.

Abstract: A drive train system for rotating an axle in an external system about an axis which is perpendicular to a driven shaft. The driven shaft has a drive screw thereon and is rotatable about a fixed axis. A drive nut is located on the drive screw and is movable along the length thereof as the drive screw is rotated. A two-part, slidably interconnected crank arm has one part fixed to the axle and the other part slidably interconnected with the drive nut. A power drive is operably connected to the driven shaft through a friction drive including a driven member mounted on the shaft by means of a slip fit through a center hole and a friction plate rotating with the shaft through a center opening. An annular-ring surface between the driven member and the friction plate creates an interface which limits the frictional drive force developed thereby.

Abstract: A friction clutch including a clutch disc member retained in a clutch outer member securely mounted on one of two opposing shafts and pressed against a rotationally blocked friction disc on the other shaft to transmit torque thereto. The clutch outer member has a notched cylindrical body, and the clutch disc member, which is accommodated in the cylindrical body, has a projection extending radially outwardly from a circumferential portion thereof and loosely fitted in the notch. The clutch construction ensures smooth coupling of the two shafts in spite of abrupt changes in load conditions, thus protecting the associated component parts from mechanical shocks.

Abstract: In an actuator system (10) having an air motor (12) for supplying a ball-screw actuator (14) with rotary input. The ball screw actuator (12) has a friction clutch mechanism (206) that limits the torque applied to the screw (176) when the ball nut (166) reaches first and second extreme positions. Thus, the maximum output from the air motor (12) can be applied to ball screw actuator (14) without braking before the positions are reached. A torsion bar and a cam 274 act to regulate the clutch (206) slipping torque to narrow limits, thereby easing strength requirements in the actuation mechanism (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting the amount of torque to a driven shaft having a tool for applying power to a workpiece is continuously adjustable throughout a predetermined range. A housing defines a cylindrical chamber open at one end having an adjustable plate disposed therein. First and second shafts enter the housing through opposite ends and have first and second disks attached thereto within the housing. Disks are frictionally coupled by a force generated by a spring disposed about the first shaft between the adjustable plate and the first disk. When the preselected limit of torque is exceeded the disks slip with respect to one another thus, limiting the amount of torque delivered by the apparatus. Adjustment of the plate selectively increases or decreases the compression of the spring and thus, alters the maximal amount of torque that can be delivered. An alternative embodiment is disclosed for incorporating the apparatus within the housing of a power tool such as a drill motor.

Abstract: In a fishing spinning reel of the type wherein a rotor is rotated by a handle through a main drag mechanism and a drag shaft, a boss of the handle is connected through screw threads to a sleeve which supports the main drag mechanism, the drag shaft extends through the sleeve, and a drag knob is connected to one end of the drag shaft, there is provided an auxiliary drag mechanism interposed between the handle bars and the drag knob. The auxiliary drag mechanism comprises an annular ring interposed between the drag knob and the handle boss and a torque spring interposed between the annular ring and the handle boss so that when the handle is rotated in one direction the torque spring is compressed against the drag knob. The sleeve is provided with multiple threads and a polygonal portion adjacent the multiple threads, and the annular ring is provided with a polygonal opening to receive the polygonal portion.