Patent ID: 6361442
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B25B,F16D

Abstract:
A torque-limiting handle for a machinist's vise comprising:a drive clutch having a distal side for engaging a machinist's vise and a proximal side having and presenting a plurality of circumferential teeth with ramp surfaces; a shaft affixed to the drive clutch and extending distally therefrom; a pressure clutch, located about the shaft, having and presenting at a distal side a complimentary plurality of circumferential teeth suitable to engage the ramp surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the drive clutch; forcing means controllable for forcing along the shaft the pressure clutch into the drive clutch; an adjustment mechanism for controlling the force with which the forcing means does force the pressure clutch into the drive clutch; and means for rotating the pressure clutch; wherein drive torque applied to the pressure clutch by the means for rotating will produce a regular repeatable increase in angular displacement of the drive clutch until, a preset torque between the drive clutch and the pressure clutch as is determined by the adjustment mechanism being reached, the plurality of teeth of the drive clutch will ramp over and snap free of the teeth of the pressure clutch, and no further torquing of the drive clutch can be realized; wherein a machinist's vise engaged by the drive clutch of the torque-limiting handle can be tightened to an extent that is determined by the adjustment mechanism, and no tighter.