# US 5,706,922 A · Transmission and torque-limiting joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,922 A - Document ID: US5706922A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/620,006 - Filed: 1996-03-21 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-03-23 - Inventors: Edi Bondioli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706922A ## CPC - F16D 43/2028: {with at least one part moving radially between engagement and disengagement (F16D43/208 takes precedence)} - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A transmission and torque-limiting joint able to disengage the driven member from the driving member upon exceeding a maximum value of the transmitted torque and to allow re-engagement at a lesser value of the relative velocity, with cooperating recesses (5) and sliders (20); the sliders (20) are wedge-shaped so as to cooperate with pairs of shaped pads (10) urged towards one another by springs (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torque limiting joint comprising: an outer member having an inner circumferential surface, said outer member defining a plurality of receptive recesses, each of said receptive recesses includes a first radial flank, a circumferential bottom portion, an inclined flank positioned at an incline to a radial direction, and a junction surface between said inner circumference surface and said inclined flank; an inner member positioned inside said outer member, said inner member defining a plurality of tangential seats, each tangential seat extending orthogonally to said radial direction and lying parallel to a plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the joint, said inner member also defining a plurality of radial glide seats extending along said radial direction, each of said plurality of glide seats extending between a periphery of said inner member and one of said tangential seats; a plurality of glide pads, two of said glide pads being slidably positioned in each of said plurality of tangential seats, said two glide pads in each said tangential seat having opposed surfaces with symmetrical shapings; biasing means for biasing said opposed surfaces of each of said two glide pads together; a plurality of sliders, one of said sliders being slidably positioned in each of said glide seats, each of said sliders having an inner end with a wedge shaped profile means for penetrating between said two glide pads of a respective tangential seat and part said two glide pads, each of said sliders having an outer profile means cooperating with one of said plurality of receptive recesses to transmit torque between said inner and outer member, said outer profile means includes a first radial flank, a circumferential end surface, an inclined flank positioned at an incline to said radial direction, and a junction surface positioned between said end surface and said inclined flank, said outer profile means and said receptive recess also generating an inner radial force on said slider in relationship to transmitted torque between said inner and outer member, said inner radial force moving said slider out of said receptive recess, said two glide pads and said biasing means moving a respective said slider into a respective said receptive recess below a predetermined speed difference between said inner and outer member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said tangential seats are spaced from said axis of rotation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said sliders have a plate-like shape with parallel walls. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said wedge shaped profile means includes first opposed surfaces defining a ridge of a wedge, said first opposed surfaces being angularly spaced by a first angle, said wedge shaped profile means includes second opposed surfaces adjacent said first opposed surfaces, said second opposed surfaces being angularly spaced by a second angle, said second angle being less than said first angle, said wedge shaped profile means includes third opposed surfaces adjacent said second opposed surfaces, said second opposed surfaces being angularly spaced by a third angle, said second angle being less than said third angle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said opposing surfaces of said two glide pads each have a first opposing surface, said first opposing surfaces being angularly spaced from each other by a first angle, said opposing surfaces of said two glide pads each having a second opposing surface, said second opposing surfaces being angularly spaced from each other by a second angle, said second angle being less than said first angle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A joint in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said opposing surfaces of said two glide pads each have a first opposing surface, said first opposing surfaces of said two glide pads being angularly spaced from each other by said first angle, said opposing surfaces of said two glide pads each having a second opposing surface, said second opposing surfaces of said glide pads being angularly spaced from each other by said second angle, said second angle being less than said first angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A joint in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said third angle is equal to said first angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said outer profile means includes a radial flank; said radial flank of said receptive recesses and said outer profile means are parallel to said radial direction; said circumferential bottom portion is adjacent one side of said inclined flank of said receptive recess, said junction surface of said receptive recess is adjacent another side of said inclined flank of said receptive recess. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said junction surface of said outer profile and said junction surface of said receptive passage are substantially parallel and contactable with each other when said inner and outer surfaces engage and disengage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said sliders and receptive recesses are positioned symmetrically around said inner and outer members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said tangential seats are formed as blind holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said spring means includes a plurality of springs biasing each said glide pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a shape of said receptive recesses, said outer profile means, said wedge shaped profile means, and said opposing surfaces cooperate with said biasing means to move said sliders into said respective said receptive recesses below said predetermined speed difference between said inner and outer member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A joint in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said receptive recesses, said outer profile means, said wedge shaped profile means, and said opposing surfaces each have first and second flat slopes for varying a magnitude of radial force applied to said slider.