Torque overload detection and control systems

A system comprising:

• a driving component including a motor;
• a driven component;
• a torque limiter positioned between the driving component and the driven component, the driving component being coupled to a driving end of the torque limiter, the driven component being coupled to a driven end of the torque limiter, the torque limiter being configured to assume a normal operating state with no slippage between the driving and driven ends of the torque limiter and an over-torque operating state with slippage occurring between the driving and driven ends of the torque limiter, the torque limiter including a metal moving part that assumes a first position when the torque limiter is in the normal operating state and a second position different than the first position when the torque limiter assumes the over-torque operating state;
• an inductive proximity sensor that is configured to generate an output signal upon detecting the metal moving part to be in one of the first position or second position, when the metal moving part is in the other of the first position or second position the inductive proximity sensor is configured not to generate the output signal;
• and
• a controller that is configured to receive the output signal of the inductive proximity sensor and to control at least one of a rotation rate of the motor and a rotation direction of the motor.

A system comprising:

• a driving component including a motor;
• a driven component;
• a torque limiter positioned between the driving component and the driven component, the driving component being coupled to a driving end of the torque limiter, the driven component being coupled to a driven end of the torque limiter, the torque limiter being configured to assume a normal operating state with no slippage between the driving and driven ends of the torque limiter and an over-torque operating state with slippage occurring between the driving and driven ends of the torque limiter, the torque limiter including a metal moving part that assumes a first position when the torque limiter is in the normal operating state and a second position different than the first position when the torque limiter assumes the over-torque operating state, the torque limiter being a ball detent type limiter, and the metal moving part is a floating plate that is supported at least in part by a plurality of balls;
• and
• an inductive proximity sensor that is configured to generate an output signal upon detecting the metal moving part to be in one of the first position or second position, when the metal moving part is in the other of the first position or second position the inductive proximity sensor is configured not to generate the output signal.