A compliant safe joint and manufacturing method thereof. The compliant safe joint includes an input axis circumferentially connected to a motor shaft of a DC motor; a movable bridge circumferentially mounted on the input axis and slidable along a axial direction of the input axis; multiple bearings, each of the multiple bearings having an inner ring fixed to the movable bridge and having an outer ring; a stationary bridge rotatably mounted on the movable bridge and having a helicoid surface, the outer ring of each bearing being movable along the helicoid surface; and a flexible component connected to the movable bridge. The stationary bridge rotates about the input axis when a torque which exceeds a predetermined threshold is applied to the stationary bridge by the motor shaft, such that the bearings move with respect to the helicoid surface to cause the flexible component to be compressed and extended through the movable bridge.

A method for operating a clutch in a power tool having an electric motor having an open-loop and closed-loop control device for closed-loop and open-loop control of motor power of the tool, and having a sensor, wherein the tool is operable in a first or second operating mode; in the first mode, the clutch is actuated after a predetermined time if a predetermined rotational speed threshold is undershot, and in the second mode, the clutch is actuated if a first predetermined motor current threshold value is exceeded. The method comprises setting the second mode; measuring the current of the motor; and reducing the motor rotational speed from a first rotational speed value to a second rotational speed value if a second predetermined current threshold value is exceeded, wherein a torque that can be generated by the tool is increased from a first torque value to a second torque value.

A method for operating a clutch in a power tool having an electric motor having an open-loop and closed-loop control device for closed-loop and open-loop control of motor power of the tool, and having a sensor, wherein the tool is operable in a first or second operating mode; in the first mode, the clutch is actuated after a predetermined time if a predetermined rotational speed threshold is undershot, and in the second mode, the clutch is actuated if a first predetermined motor current threshold value is exceeded. The method comprises setting the second mode; measuring the current of the motor; and reducing the motor rotational speed from a first rotational speed value to a second rotational speed value if a second predetermined current threshold value is exceeded, wherein a torque that can be generated by the tool is increased from a first torque value to a second torque value.

A torque limiting instrument is disclosed configured to drive a shaft to rotate in a select direction in response to an applied torque until the applied torque reaches a predetermined threshold. Thus, when the torque limiting instrument drives a bone screw into bone, the bone screw is advanced into the bone until the torque applied to the torque limiting instrument reaches the predetermined threshold, at which point the torque limiting instrument will no longer communicate the applied torque to the bone screw.

An actuator comprises an input shaft, a sliding collar arranged around the input shaft, and an output shaft. The input shaft, output shaft and sliding collar are arranged such that a torque applied to the input shaft can be transmitted via the sliding collar to the output shaft. The actuator comprises a torque-limiting device for limiting the transmission of torque between the input shaft and the output shaft if the torque exceeds a certain threshold. The torque-limiting device comprises one or more rolling elements arranged between the sliding collar and the input shaft to allow the sliding collar to move axially relative to the input shaft and engage with or disengage from the output shaft.

A torque transfer control tool has a rotary-stroking piston that is axially movable within a fluid chamber in response to rotation of mandrel having an upper end co-rotatably coupled to a first torsional drive system component and a lower end coaxially disposed and rotatable within the bore of a cylindrical housing. A lower end of the housing is co-rotatably coupled to a second torsional drive system component. Mandrel rotation in a first rotational direction moves the piston downward to pressurize a fluid in a lower fluid chamber below the piston. Fluid flow control means associated with the piston allows fluid flow out of the lower fluid chamber to prevent the fluid pressure therein from exceeding a first pre-set pressure, thus limiting the magnitude of the torque transferred to the second torsional drive system component in the first rotational direction via the tool housing.

A torque transfer control tool has a rotary-stroking piston that is axially movable within a fluid chamber in response to rotation of mandrel having an upper end co-rotatably coupled to a first torsional drive system component and a lower end coaxially disposed and rotatable within the bore of a cylindrical housing. A lower end of the housing is co-rotatably coupled to a second torsional drive system component. Mandrel rotation in a first rotational direction moves the piston downward to pressurize a fluid in a lower fluid chamber below the piston. Fluid flow control means associated with the piston allows fluid flow out of the lower fluid chamber to prevent the fluid pressure therein from exceeding a first pre-set pressure, thus limiting the magnitude of the torque transferred to the second torsional drive system component in the first rotational direction via the tool housing.

Embodiments of a two-way output reverse-torque clutch described herein may include a torque input having a segmented race, a pin removably disposed adjacent to, and between, at least two segmented race segments, a torque output rotatably disposed within the segmented race, and an outer race encircling the segmented race. The torque output may include a cam surface with an interference point corresponding to at least one of the one or more pins. The cam surface may have an interference point. The outer race may be in slideable contact with the segmented race. A torque exerted directly on the output may force the interference point against the pin, wedging the pin between the interference point and the outer race and preventing torque from being transmitted to the input from the output. The clutch may prevent torque from being transmitted to the torque input from the torque output with one pin.

A torque limiter assembly is provided and has a fixed torque member having a plurality of first retainers, a floating torque member having a plurality of second retainers, a plurality of torque transfer members between the first torque member and the floating torque member, and a shaft. A plurality of longitudinal transfer members are provided between the floating torque member and the shaft. The longitudinal transfer members rotationally fix the floating torque member to the shaft, but allow axial movement of the floating torque member. A spring member provides a force on the floating torque member to, at times, rotationally fix the floating torque member to the fixed torque member. A locking mechanism is used to adjust the force of the spring member on the floating torque member.

There is provided a ribbon winding mechanism including: a winding rotor; a first winding gear that is provided to be coaxial to the winding rotor and rotates the winding rotor; a second winding gear that is provided to be coaxial to the winding rotor and rotates the winding rotor via the first winding gear; a first torque limiter that limits torque, which is transmitted from the first winding gear to the winding rotor, to first torque; a second torque limiter that limits torque, which is transmitted from the second winding gear to the first winding gear, to second torque lower than the first torque; and a torque clutch that inputs power from a feed motor to the first winding gear when the first cartridge is mounted and inputs the power from the feed motor to the second winding gear when the second cartridge is mounted.