Torque limiting fastening assemblies and fluid coupling assemblies including the same

A fluidic coupling assembly comprising:

• a male fitting having an insert portion;
• a female fitting having a receiving portion adapted to accommodate the insert portion of the male fitting;
• a rotatable fastening assembly comprising:
• a drive collar having at least one driving surface and at least one collar abutment;
• and
• a driven member at least partially accommodated within the drive collar, the driven member having an internal threaded wall, at least one forcible surface, and at least one driven-member abutment;
• and
• at least one resilient member having a spring bias that defines a threshold torque of the rotatable fastening assembly,
• wherein:
• the female fitting comprises a thread-engaging portion that engages the internal threaded wall of the driven member;
• rotation of the drive collar in a tightening direction with an applied torque imparts a compressive force on the at least one resilient member when the at least one forcible surface moves across the at least one driving surface;
• when the applied torque is less than the threshold torque, the compressive force is less than the spring bias, the at least one driving surface is forced against the at least one forcible surface, the driven member rotates with the drive collar, and the receiving portion of the female fitting is tightened into the insert portion of the male fitting;
• when the applied torque is greater than the threshold torque, the compressive force exceeds the spring bias, the at least one resilient member yields and allows the at least one driving surface to bypass the at least one forcible surface, the driven member does not rotate with the drive collar, and further tightening of the receiving portion of the female fitting into the insert portion of the male fitting is prevented;
• rotation of the drive collar in a loosening direction forces the at least one driven-member abutment against the at least one collar abutment and forces the driven member to rotate with the drive collar.