Patent ID: 6848998

Claim:
A wedge clutch assembly comprising: a pinion gear having a top surface and a bottom surface, said pinion gear defining a centrally disposed throughbore having a frustoconical configuration; a wedge clutch spring washer centrally disposed on the top surface of said pinion gear; a bronze clutch cup having a frustoconical configuration and defining an upper aperture and a lower aperture, wherein the lower aperture is substantially larger than the upper aperture, said clutch cup being inserted within the throughbore of said pinion gear; a cylindrical pinion shaft including: an upper externally threaded neck extending through the throughbore and protruding from the top surface of said pinion gear; a frustoconical section adjacent said threaded neck, said frustoconical section being dimensioned to fit within said clutch cup; an increased diameter section depending from said frustoconical section and extending below the bottom surface of said pinion gear, said increased diameter section having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said upper neck; a gear section adjacent said increased diameter section; and a decreased diameter section having a diameter substantially less than the diameters of said increased diameter section and said gear section; and a fastener threaded on said upper neck and engaging said wedge spring washer for adjusting an applied torque to a drive shaft of a tool.