Device for limiting a torque to be transferred

1. A device for limiting torque, comprising:

first and second shafts having a longitudinal axis;

at least first and second transfer elements arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the first and second shafts, the first transfer element associated with the first shaft and the second transfer element associated with the second shaft;

the two transfer elements having substantially complementary engaging faces;

at least one elastic element configured to bias the engaging faces of the first and second transfer elements into engagement with each other;

wherein an engaging face of the first transfer element has a first engageable contour, and an engaging face of the second transfer element has a second engageable contour, wherein first and second engageable contours each have first and second active angles and a first passive angle;

wherein the first and second active angles of at least the first engageable contour are substantially unequal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first active angle of the first engageable contour is substantially equal to the first passive angle of the first engageable contour.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first active angle of the first engageable contour is substantially unequal to the first passive angle of the first engageable contour.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first active angle of the first transfer element is acute with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first passive angle of the first transfer element is between about 45 and about 90 degrees with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second active angles of the first transfer element and the first passive angle of the first transfer element are 90 degrees or less with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one engageable contour has a rounded-off portion.

8. The device of claim 7 , the rounded-off portion having a radius, wherein the radius of the rounded-off portion is between about 0.1 mm and about 1.0 mm.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first engageable contour further comprises an apex, wherein the distance between the apex and the respective engaging face is between about 0.3 mm and about 2.0 mm.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic element is a spring.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the spring can be compressed to a pre-tensioned force of between about 500 N and about 2,500 N.

12. A device for limiting torque, comprising:

first and second shafts having a longitudinal axis;

at least first and second transfer elements arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the first and second shafts, the first transfer element associated with the first shaft and the second transfer element associated with the second shaft;

the two transfer elements having substantially complementary engaging faces;

at least one elastic element configured to bias the engaging faces of the first and second transfer elements into engagement with each other;

wherein an engaging face of the first transfer element has a first engageable contour, and an engaging face of the second transfer elements has a second engageable contour, wherein first and second engageable contours each have a first and second active angle and a first and second passive angle;

wherein the first and second active angles of at least the first engageable contour are substantially unequal; and

wherein the first and second passive angles of at least the first engageable contour are substantially unequal.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first active angle of the first engageable contour is substantially equal to the first passive angle of the first engageable contour.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first active angle of the first engageable contour is substantially unequal to the first passive angle of the first engageable contour.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first active angle of the first transfer element is acute with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second passive angles of the first transfer element are between about 45 and about 90 degrees with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second active angles of the first transfer element and the first and second passive angles of the first transfer element are 90 degrees or less with respect to the engaging face of the second transfer element.

18. The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one engageable contour has a rounded-off portion.

19. The device of claim 18 , the rounded-off portion having a radius, wherein the radius of the rounded-off portion is between about 0.1 mm and about 1.0 mm.

20. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first engageable contour further comprises an apex, wherein the distance between the apex and the respective engaging face is between about 0.3 mm and about 2.0 mm.

21. The device of claim 12 , wherein at least one elastic element is a spring.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the spring can be compressed to a pre-tensioned force of between about 500 N and about 2,500 N.