Torque-limiting spindle
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsDrake Lunday, Adam M. Litwinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary torque-limiting spindle includes an input member, an output member, a clutch mechanism, and a bias mechanism. The input member extends along a longitudinal axis, is configured for connection with a handle, and includes a first engagement feature. The output member extends along the longitudinal axis, is configured for connection with a rotatable member of a lockset, and includes a second engagement feature. The clutch mechanism includes the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature. The bias mechanism is engaged with the input member and the output member and exerts a biasing force urging the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature into engagement with one another.
Claims21
A torque-limiting spindle, comprising:
- a first spindle portion comprising a radial lobe having a first shape;
- a second spindle portion;
- and
- a collar coupled for rotation with the second spindle portion and including a recess having a second shape in which the radial lobe having the first shape is received, wherein the second shape of the recess is different from the first shape of the radial lobe;
- wherein the collar is formed of an elastically-deformable material;
- wherein the collar is configured to retain a shape during transmission of a first torque between the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion;
- and
- wherein the collar is configured to elastically deform in response to application of a second torque greater than the first torque to thereby limit torque transmission to a threshold torque value.
A torque-limiting spindle, comprising:
- a first spindle portion comprising a first radial lobe having a first shape;
- and
- a second spindle portion comprising a collar, the collar comprising a plurality of recesses, including a first recess and a second recess, each of the first recess and the second recess having a second shape, wherein the first radial lobe having the first shape is seated in the first recess having the second shape, and wherein the second shape of the first recess is different from the first shape of the first radial lobe;
- wherein the collar is configured to selectively retain the first radial lobe in the first recess to thereby selectively prevent relative rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion;
- and
- wherein the collar is configured to elastically deform in response to application of a threshold torque to thereby permit the first radial lobe to travel from the first recess to the second recess during relative rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion.
A lockset, comprising:
- a torque-limiting spindle comprising:
- a first spindle portion;
- a second spindle portion;
- a radial lobe on one of the first spindle portion or the second spindle portion, the radial lobe having a first shape;
- and
- a collar coupled with the other of the first spindle portion or the second spindle portion, the collar comprising a recess having a second shape in which the radial lobe having the first shape is seated, and wherein the second shape of the recess is different from the first shape of the radial lobe;
- a handle coupled with the first spindle portion such that the handle is operable to rotate the first spindle portion;
- a latch mechanism engaged with the second spindle portion such that the latch mechanism is configured to actuate in response to rotation of the second spindle portion;
- wherein the collar is configured to transmit an applied torque between the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion when the applied torque is less than a threshold torque;
- and
- wherein the collar is configured to elastically deform to permit relative rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion when the applied torque is greater than the threshold torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.