Flexible clutch
First Claim
1. A clutch for releasably coupling an axially rotatable driving shaft to a coaxial driven shaft comprising:
- a gear, having a plurality of cogs, coaxially secured to one of said driving shaft or said driven shaft; and
a receptor coaxially secured to the other of said driving shaft or said driven shaft, said receptor comprising a hub and a plurality of flexible extension segments defining a cavity matingly engaging said gear cogs, each of said extension segments comprising a first elongated shoulder and a second elongated shoulder spaced apart from said first shoulder to define a channel for capturing a portion of a cog therebetween and each of said first elongated shoulders having a height greater than each of said second elongated shoulders;
whereby, when said driven shaft encounters rotational resistance greater than a range of normal operation, said segments flex out of engagement with said gear cogs to allow rotation of said driving shaft without rotation of said driven shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clutch is provided for releasably coupling an axially rotatable driving shaft to a coaxial driven shaft. The clutch comprises a gear, having a plurality of cogs, coaxially secured to one of said driving shaft or said driven shaft; and a receptor coaxially secured to the other of said driving shaft or said driven shaft. The receptor comprises a hub and a plurality of flexible extension segments defining a cavity matingly engaging the gear cogs. When the driven shaft encounters rotational resistance greater than a range of normal operation, the extension segments flex out of engagement with the gear cogs to allow rotation of the driving shaft without rotation of the driven shaft.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A clutch for releasably coupling an axially rotatable driving shaft to a coaxial driven shaft comprising:
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a gear, having a plurality of cogs, coaxially secured to one of said driving shaft or said driven shaft; and a receptor coaxially secured to the other of said driving shaft or said driven shaft, said receptor comprising a hub and a plurality of flexible extension segments defining a cavity matingly engaging said gear cogs, each of said extension segments comprising a first elongated shoulder and a second elongated shoulder spaced apart from said first shoulder to define a channel for capturing a portion of a cog therebetween and each of said first elongated shoulders having a height greater than each of said second elongated shoulders; whereby, when said driven shaft encounters rotational resistance greater than a range of normal operation, said segments flex out of engagement with said gear cogs to allow rotation of said driving shaft without rotation of said driven shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification