Torque-limiting couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10756482-B2
Application number	US-201615271166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2016
Priority date	Sep 20, 2016
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A coupling can include a barrel that includes a communication pathway, such as an electrical contact or optical pathway. The coupling can include a nut that is configured to engage with a corresponding portion of a mating connector, such as via a threaded connection. When the coupling and the mating connector are engaged, the nut secures the coupling and the mating connector together, and respective termination elements of the coupling and the mating connector are in communication with each other. The coupling can include a torque-limiting mechanism. The torque-limiting mechanism can be configured to enable the transmission of torque up to a limit amount, and to inhibit or prevent the transmission of torque above the limit amount.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A coupling configured to engage with a mating connector, the coupling comprising:
a barrel;
a coupling nut positioned radially outward of the barrel, the coupling nut comprising threads that are configured to engage with mating threads of the mating connector;
a coupling sleeve positioned radially outward of the coupling nut, the coupling sleeve configured to rotate relative to the barrel in response to an applied torque;
a first clicker member comprising a first plurality of teeth, the first clicker member connected with the coupling sleeve such that the first clicker member and the coupling sleeve rotate as a first unit;
a second clicker member comprising a second plurality of teeth that are engaged with the first plurality of teeth, the second clicker member connected with the coupling nut such that the second clicker member and the coupling nut rotate as a second unit;
wherein, when the applied torque is less than a limit amount, the first unit and the second unit rotate together relative to the barrel; and
wherein, when the applied torque is greater than or equal to the limit amount, the first unit rotates relative to the second unit and to the barrel, and the first plurality of teeth slide along the second plurality of teeth, thereby emitting an audible clicking sound;
wherein the second clicker member comprises a plurality of engagement features that are configured to engage with the coupling nut.

2. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the second clicker member against the first clicker member.

3. The coupling of claim 1 , further comprising a friction disk.

4. The coupling of claim 3 , wherein the friction disk is disposed about the coupling nut.

5. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the first clicker member and the second clicker member are identical.

6. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second clicker member is disposed about the coupling nut.

7. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth are located on a first side of the first clicker member and the plurality of engagement features are located on a second side of the first clicker member.

8. The coupling of claim 7 , wherein the coupling sleeve comprises a plurality of engagement projections configured to engage with the plurality of engagement features on the second side of the first clicker member.

9. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of teeth are located on a first side of the second clicker member and the plurality of engagement features are located on a second side of the second clicker member.

10. The coupling of claim 9 , wherein the coupling nut comprises a plurality of projections configured to engage with the plurality of engagement features on the second side of the second clicker member.

11. The coupling of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of projections are disposed on an outside surface of the coupling nut.

12. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of teeth includes a cammed surface positioned at an angle, wherein the angle is at least 20°.

13. The coupling of claim 12 , wherein the angle of the first plurality of teeth is between about 20° and 70°.

14. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of teeth includes a cammed surface positioned at an angle, wherein the angle is at least 20°.

15. The coupling of claim 14 , wherein the angle of the second plurality of teeth is between about 20° and 70°.

16. A coupling configured to engage with a mating connector, the coupling comprising:
a barrel;
a coupling nut positioned radially outward of the barrel, the coupling nut comprising threads that are configured to engage with mating threads of the mating connector;
a coupling sleeve positioned radially outward of the coupling nut, the coupling sleeve configured to rotate relative to the barrel in response to an applied torque;
a first clicker member comprising a first plurality of teeth, the first clicker member connected with the coupling sleeve such that the first clicker member and the coupling sleeve rotate as a first unit;
a second clicker member comprising a second plurality of teeth that are engaged with the first plurality of teeth, the second clicker member connected with the coupling nut such that the second clicker member and the coupling nut rotate as a second unit;
wherein, when the applied torque is less than a limit amount, the first unit and the second unit rotate together relative to the barrel; and
wherein, when the applied torque is greater than or equal to the limit amount, the first unit rotates relative to the second unit and to the barrel, and the first plurality of teeth slide along the second plurality of teeth, thereby emitting an audible clicking sound;
wherein the first clicker member and the second clicker member are positioned radially between the coupling nut and the coupling sleeve.

Assignees

• Itt Mfg Enterprises Llc

Inventors

• Burns Cameron
• Tran Hung Duc
• Hyzin Peter
• Nguyen Le

Classifications

• F16D41/22

  with clutching ring or disc axially shifted as a result of lost motion between actuating members (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/623

  Casing or ring with helicoidal groove · CPC title

• G02B6/3878

  comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means · CPC title

• H01R13/622 Primary

  Screw-ring or screw-casing (H01R13/623 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3894

  Screw-lock type · CPC title