Patent ID: 8715092

Claim:
A compact torque limiting clutch for a hollow shaft electric motor, comprising: an input hub secured to a hollow shaft electric motor; an output hub secured to a shaft that passes through said hollow shaft electric motor; a friction pack interposed between said input and output hubs, said friction pack comprising a plurality of friction plates interposed between a plurality of separator plates, said friction and separator plates being sandwiched between an end plate and a disc spring, said disc spring received by a seal ring that engages said input hub and wherein a seal is interposed between said seal ring and said output hub, said disc spring urging said friction and separator plates into forceful engagement with each other; and wherein said disc spring urges said forceful engagement between said input hub and said end plate and wherein said disc spring has a characteristic relationship between force and deflection and wherein said relationship is substantially constant throughout a useful operating life of said friction pack.