An over-torque protector device for a compressor having a drive shaft, said device having engaged and released states and comprising: a drive pulley defining a substantially central opening about a central axis and a face, said drive pulley comprising a plurality of receptacles extending from said face; and a drive hub comprising: a plate spaced from said drive pulley face and defining an opening for receiving the drive shaft, said drive hub being adapted for rotatably fixed engagement with the drive shaft, and a plurality of links extending from said plate, each said link having a first end pivotably engaged to said plate and a second end provided with coupling means for releasably coupling said drive hub and said drive pulley for unified rotation about said central axis through operative engagement with said receptacles in said device engaged state, characterized in that said coupling means being out of operative engagement with said receptacles, and said drive hub being uncoupled from said drive pulley, in said device released state; wherein relative rotation between said drive pulley and said drive hub about said central axis is imparted by driven rotation of said drive pulley and arrested rotation of said drive hub, said coupling means and said receptacles having relative axial movements in directions substantially parallel with said central axis induced by said imparted relative rotation between said drive pulley and said drive hub, the transition from said device engaged state to said device released state induced by said relative axial movements of said coupling means and said receptacles, whereby said drive pulley is continually rotatable about said central axis relative to and unencumbered by said drive hub in said device released state. a drive pulley defining a substantially central opening about a central axis and a face, said drive pulley comprising a plurality of receptacles extending from said face; and a drive hub comprising: a plate spaced from said drive pulley face and defining an opening for receiving the drive shaft, said drive hub being adapted for rotatably fixed engagement with the drive shaft, and a plurality of links extending from said plate, each said link having a first end pivotably engaged to said plate and a second end provided with coupling means for releasably coupling said drive hub and said drive pulley for unified rotation about said central axis through operative engagement with said receptacles in said device engaged state, a plate spaced from said drive pulley face and defining an opening for receiving the drive shaft, said drive hub being adapted for rotatably fixed engagement with the drive shaft, and a plurality of links extending from said plate, each said link having a first end pivotably engaged to said plate and a second end provided with coupling means for releasably coupling said drive hub and said drive pulley for unified rotation about said central axis through operative engagement with said receptacles in said device engaged state, wherein relative rotation between said drive pulley and said drive hub about said central axis is imparted by driven rotation of said drive pulley and arrested rotation of said drive hub, said coupling means and said receptacles having relative axial movements in directions substantially parallel with said central axis induced by said imparted relative rotation between said drive pulley and said drive hub, the transition from said device engaged state to said device released state induced by said relative axial movements of said coupling means and said receptacles, whereby said drive pulley is continually rotatable about said central axis relative to and unencumbered by said drive hub in said device released state.