Importance

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Abstract

A torque-limiting assembly includes a collar, a locking ring, and a sleeve member. The collar is co-axially and rotatably coupled to a fitting. The locking ring is non-rotatably coupled to the collar, and includes a plurality of elongate tangs arranged circumferentially around the ring. The sleeve member is non-rotatably and co-axially coupled to the fitting, and has a plurality of contact surfaces that form an outer circumference of the sleeve member. Torque is applied to the collar by way of a plurality of substantially flat surfaces disposed along an outer circumference of the collar. The torque is transferred to the locking ring by way of the fixed geometric relationship between the collar and the ring. The locking-ring tangs securely grasp the sleeve-member contact surfaces when the applied torque is below a predetermined amount, and thereby transfer a substantial entirety of the applied torque to the fitting. The tangs flex and slip along the contact surfaces when the applied torque exceeds the predetermined amount, thereby preventing torque greater than the predetermined amount from being transferred to the fitting.

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First Claim