Over torque proof socket

A torque adaptor comprising:

• a driving portion adapted to be connected with a torque applying handle and a receiving portion directly engageable with a rotatable workpiece, said driving portion being capable of relative rotation with respect to said receiving portion when a threshold amount of torque is exceeded;
• a first gear portion capable of being operatively driven by rotation of said driving portion in a fastening direction and an opposite releasing direction;
• a second gear portion slideably arranged with respect to said receiving portion, said second gear portion functionally cooperable to drive said receiving portion for rotating the workpiece, said second gear portion being constructed and arranged to engage with and be driven by said first gear portion, said driving engagement between said first gear portion and said second gear portion being released when a torque required to drive said second gear portion exceeds said threshold amount of torque;
• a biasing member that applies a force of engagement between said first gear portion and said second gear portion;
• and
• an adjusting member functionally cooperable with said biasing member to adjust a magnitude of the force of engagement between said first gear portion and said second gear portion so as to adjust said threshold amount of torque, said adjusting member being arranged in and retained by an inner surface of said receiving portion,
• wherein the driving portion is provided at a first end of the adapter and the receiving portion is provided at a second end of the adapter, and wherein the adjusting member is accessed through the second end of the adapter to adjust the threshold amount of torque.