Patent ID: 8763484

Claim:
A breakaway drive system comprising: an actuator; an actuator breakaway operably connected to the actuator, the actuator breakaway configured to be rotated when the actuator is displaced; a shaft breakaway comprising a breakaway mechanism providing a first connection of the actuator breakaway to the shaft breakaway, wherein the first connection is a disengageable connection, the shaft breakaway rotating in unison with the actuator breakaway when operably engaged, the shaft breakaway not rotating in unison with the actuator breakaway when disengaged; and a drive shaft operably connected to the shaft breakaway such that rotation of the shaft breakaway causes rotation of the drive shaft, wherein an external force on the drive shaft that exceeds a threshold causes rotation of the shaft breakaway such that the breakaway mechanism disengages the shaft breakaway and the actuator breakaway, and a return spring providing a second connection of the actuator breakaway to the shaft breakaway, wherein the return spring is configured to bias a surface of the shaft breakaway toward a surface of the actuator breakaway.