Torque limiting mechanism

A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power from an external drive source to a drive shaft of a compressor, comprising:

• a pulley, wherein the pulley is rotatably supported by the compressor and is coupled to the external drive source;
• an elastic member attached to the pulley;
• a hub, wherein the hub is attached to the drive shaft and has an engaging portion;
• a coupler member located between the pulley and the hub, wherein the coupler member is engaged with the elastic member and with the engaging portion such that power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub;
• and
• an urging member that urges the coupler member such that the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portion, wherein, when power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub, the elastic member maintains the coupler member engaged with the elastic member and with the engaging portion, wherein, when load generated in the compressor due to power transmission exceeds a predetermined level, the elastic member is deformed such that the coupler member is disengaged from the elastic member, and wherein, when disengaged from the elastic member, the coupler member is disengaged from the engaging portion.

A torque limiting mechanism for transmitting power from an external drive source to a drive shaft of a compressor, comprising:

• a pulley, wherein the pulley is rotatably supported by the compressor and is coupled to the external drive source;
• a plurality of elastic members attached to the pulley, wherein the elastic members are spaced apart by predetermined intervals;
• a hub, wherein the hub is attached to the drive shaft and has a plurality of engaging portions, the engaging portions corresponding to the elastic members;
• a plurality of coupler blocks located between the pulley and the hub, wherein each coupler block is engaged with one of the elastic members and with one of the engaging portions such that power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub;
• and
• a plurality of urging members, wherein the urging members urge the coupler blocks such that each coupler block is disengaged from the corresponding engaging portion, and wherein each urging member couples an adjacent pair of the coupler blocks, wherein, when power is transmitted from the pulley to the hub, each elastic member maintains the corresponding coupler block engaged with the corresponding elastic member and with the corresponding engaging portion, wherein, when load generated in the compressor due to power transmission exceeds a predetermined level, each elastic member is deformed such that the corresponding coupler block is disengaged from the corresponding elastic member, and wherein, when disengaged from the corresponding elastic member, each coupler block is disengaged from the corresponding engaging portion.