Overload couplings

An overload coupling comprising two coupling members rotatable about a common axis, a first of said members supporting a plurality of frangible elements and at least one element rigidly interconnecting said members together for normal common rotational movement in at least one direction, said elements being mounted side-by-side on a holder and said elements together with said holder being connected to said coupling by releaseable connector means, a second of said members having abutment means and release means adjacent said abutment means for automatically releasing a broken fragment of said element from the abutment means, supporting parts on one of said members and said holder being fitted between said parts.

An overload coupling comprising a driving coupling member and a driven coupling member rotatable about a common axis, a control mechanism comprising at least one displaceable frangible element that normally interconnects the two coupling members for rotation together in at least one direction, said element being fracturable upon overload, whereupon one of said members can rotate relative to the other member and re-establish a connection between the coupling members upon the driving member reaching a reduced speed of rotation that is below a predetermined value, release means for releasing automatically a broken off fragment of said element.

An overload coupling comprising a driving member and a driven member that are normally rigidly interconnected for rotation about a common axis by frangible element means comprising at least one element, one of the members mounting holder means and said element being slideably received in said holder means to engage abutment means in the other coupling member, said element being fractured upon overload whereupon said driving member is rotatable relative to said driven member, advancement means urging said element out of said holder means to automatically engage said abutment means and re-establish a rigid connection between the coupling means, said advancement means being operative during rotation of said coupling only at a rotational speed below a predetermined value, said driven member including release means for releasing a broken-off fragment of said element from the abutment means, said release means comprising a channel that extends from said abutment means to the exterior of the coupling.

A shaft having at least one universal joint and including at least one overload coupling comprising two coupling members rotatable about a common axis, at least one frangible element being connected to one of the coupling members for displaced movement in at least one direction relative to that member, said element normally engaging at least one abutment on the other coupling member to establish a frangible connection that rigidly interconnects the coupling members for rotation together in at least one direction, the fracture of said element permitting relative rotation between said coupling members and advancement means bearing on said element to urge the remainder of said element automatically into re-engagement with the abutment and again establish a frangible connection, said one coupling member including release means for releasing a broken-off fragment of said element from said abutment means, said release means comprising a channel that extends outwardly from said abutment means to the exterior of said coupling.