Patent ID: 8672110

Claim:
A torque overload clutch capable of rotation about a clutch axis, comprising: an outer member; an inner member positioned radially inward from the outer member; a recess formed in the outer member; an opening formed through the inner member and oriented substantially radially relative to the clutch axis; a driving member slideably captured in the opening such that the driving member moves along a driving member axis between an engaged position at which the driving member is extended radially outward to engage the recess and a disengaged position at which the driving member is retracted radially inward to disengage the recess; an actuator ring between the outer member and the inner member, and positioned adjacent the driving member; and a spring positioned adjacent the actuator ring and urging the actuator ring along the clutch axis into engagement with the driving member, thereby biasing the driving member toward the engaged position; wherein when the driving member is in the engaged position, an end of the driving member engages the recess defining an engagement plane oriented at an engagement angle that is approximately between thirty-four degrees and seventy degrees relative to a reference plane extending radially outward from the clutch axis along the driving member axis; and wherein the driving member includes a port extending along the driving member axis from an inward end opposite the end to an undercut portion.