Displaceable spur gear torque controlled driver amd method

A driver for applying torque to a plurality of fasteners, said plurality of fasteners being arranged in a predetermined configuration, said driver comprising:

• a driver housing;
• a first shaft affixed to said driver housing having a first shaft axis extending longitudinally therethrough;
• a first gear carried by said first shaft for rotation about said first shaft axis;
• a plurality of displaceable gear support members, each disposed within said driver housing for displacement having a lateral component with respect to said first shaft axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
• a plurality of displaceable gears each carried for rotation by a respective one of said plurality of displaceable gear support members;
• and
• a plurality of flexible linkage members each secured for rotation with a respective one of said plurality of displaceable gears, each of said plurality of flexible linkage members transferring torque from a respective one of said plurality of displaceable gears to a respective one of said plurality of fasteners.

A driver for applying torque to a fastener, comprising:

• a driver housing;
• a first shaft carried by said driver housing having a first shaft axis extending longitudinally therethrough;
• a first gear carried by said first shaft for rotation about said first shaft axis, said first gear having first gear teeth mounted around a circumferential portion thereof;
• a displaceable gear support member for displacement having a lateral component with respect to said first shaft axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
• a biasing assembly to bias said displaceable gear support member toward said engaged position;
• a second gear carried by said displaceable gear support, said second gear having second gear teeth mounted around a circumferential portion thereof, said second gear teeth and said first gear teeth meshing when said displaceable gear support member is in said engaged position, at least one of said first and second gear teeth defining a tooth profile that is angled to produce a separating force in response to torque transfer between said first and second gears for moving said displaceable gear support member to said disengaged position to thereby limit torque transferred between said first and second gears and to said fastener, and
• said displaceable gear support member, in cooperation with said biasing assembly, comprising means for carrying said second gear to said disengaged position for limiting torque upon said separating force exceeding a predetermined level.

A method for limiting torque applied to a fastener, comprising:

• positioning first and second gears, having respective first and second axes of rotation, such that said first and second axes of rotation are substantially parallel;
• providing teeth having an angled tooth profile on at least one of said first gear and said second gears;
• producing a separating force having a laterally directed component of motion with respect to said first and second axes of rotation, said separating force arising between said first and second gears during transfer of torque between said first and second gears;
• biasing said second gear into meshing engagement with said first gear;
• and
• rotating said first gear and second gears to apply torque to said fastener until said separating force overcomes said biasing and separates said first and second gears to limit torque transfer between said first and second gears.