Tool shaft coupler

A tool shaft coupler for drivingly coupling a driving shaft with a mating tool shaft, the driving shaft being rotatable about a substantially longitudinal axis within a driving shaft housing, the coupler comprising:

• at least one torque transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft for axially slidingly mating with a mating tool shaft;
• tension transmission means spaced apart from said at least one torque transmission surface and comprising at least one tension transmission surface and at least one moveable tension-resisting member, said at least one tension-resisting member being reversibly and slidingly moveable to a tension-resisting position;
• at least one compression transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft;
• shaft locking means having an engagement surface and being slidably coupled to the driving shaft for reversibly locking said at least one tension-resisting member in a tension-resisting position;
• and
• attachment means reversibly coupled to the driving shaft housing for guiding said shaft locking means, said attachment means comprising at least one slot for accessing said shaft locking means.

A tool shaft coupler for drivingly coupling a driving shaft with a mating tool shaft, the driving shaft being rotatable about a substantially longitudinal axis within a driving shaft housing, the coupler comprising:

• at least one torque transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft and axially slidingly matable with a mating tool shaft;
• tension transmission means spaced apart from said at least one torque transmission surface and comprising at least one tension transmission surface and at least one moveable tension-resisting member, said at least one tension-resisting member being reversibly and slidingly moveable to a tension-resisting position;
• at least one compression transmission surface fixedly coupled to the driving shaft;
• a first substantially cylindrical member slidably coupled to the driving shaft, said first substantially cylindrical member having an inner cam surface for moving said tension transmission means into the tension-resisting position and an outer surface configured for engagement;
• a tubular member connected to the housing, said tubular member comprising at least one longitudinal slot and substantially enclosing said first substantially cylindrical member;
• and
• a second substantially cylindrical member operatively connected to said outer surface of said first substantially cylindrical member through said at least one longitudinal slot.

A tool shaft coupler for drivingly coupling a driving shaft with a mating tool shaft, the driving shaft being rotatable about a substantially longitudinal axis within a driving shaft housing, said coupler comprising:

• at least one torque transmission surface coupled to or integral with the driving shaft and axially slidingly matable with the mating tool shaft;
• at least one tension transmission surface coupled to or integral with the driving shaft;
• at least one tension-resisting member, said member being reversibly and slidingly moveable to a tension-resisting position in which said at least one tension-resisting member is proximate to said at least one tension transmission surface;
• at least one compression transmission surface coupled to or integral with the driving shaft;
• a first substantially cylindrical member slidably coupled to the driving shaft, said first substantially cylindrical member having an inner cam surface for moving said at least one tension-resisting member into the tension resisting position and an outer surface configured for engagement;
• a tubular member connected to the housing, said tubular member comprising at least one longitudinal slot and substantially enclosing said first substantially cylindrical member;
• and
• a second substantially cylindrical member operatively connected to said outer surface of said first substantially cylindrical member through said at least one longitudinal slot.