Shear bolt with safety feature

1. A safety shear bolt comprising:

a main bolt portion comprising:

a first head portion; and

a shaft portion;

a torque head portion rigidly connected to the main bolt portion, the torque head portion and the main bolt portion being a single integrated piece, the torque head portion comprising:

a second head portion, the second head portion has a width smaller than a width of the first head portion; and

a stem portion extending from a top surface of the first head portion of the main bolt portion to an underside surface of the second head portion, the stem portion configured to shear along a shear line when a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the second head portion; and

a coupling mechanism configured to maintain a connection between the second head portion and the main bolt portion after shearing of the stem portion, thereby preventing inadvertent dropping of the second head portion, the coupling mechanism allowing the second head portion to rotate with respect to the main bolt portion while preventing free longitudinal movement of the second head portion with respect to the main bolt portion.

2. The safety shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

an opening longitudinally disposed through the second head portion, the stem portion and into at least a portion of the main bolt portion; and

a fastening device releasably disposed in the opening and engaging with the main bolt portion.

3. The safety shear bolt of claim 2 , wherein the fastening device is a blind rivet.

4. The safety shear bolt of claim 2 , wherein the fastening device is a pin.

5. The safety shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the first head portion is polygonal in shape and includes first corners, and the second head portion is polygonal in shape and includes second corners.

6. The safety shear bolt of claim 5 , wherein the first corners are unaligned with the second corners prior to the shearing of the stem portion.

7. The safety shear bolt of claim 1 , wherein the stem portion has a frustoconical shape such that a thickness of stem portion changes along a length of the stem portion.

8. A safety shear bolt comprising:

a main bolt portion comprising:

a first head portion; and

a shaft portion;

a torque head portion rigidly connected to the main bolt portion, the torque head portion comprising:

a second head portion; and

a stem portion extending from a top surface of the first head portion of the main bolt portion to an underside surface of the second head portion, the stem portion configured to shear along a shear line when a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the second head portion; and

a coupling mechanism configured to maintain a connection between the second head portion and the main bolt portion after shearing of the stem portion, thereby preventing inadvertent dropping of the second head portion, the coupling mechanism allowing the second head portion to rotate with respect to the main bolt portion while preventing free longitudinal movement of the second head portion with respect to the main bolt portion,

wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a fastening device comprising a blind rivet.

9. The safety shear bolt of claim 8 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

an opening longitudinally disposed through the second head portion, the stem portion and into at least a portion of the main bolt portion,

the blind rivet releasably disposed in the opening and engaging with the main bolt portion.

10. A safety shear bolt having a central axis, comprising:

a main bolt portion comprising:

a first head portion; and

a shaft portion;

a torque head portion rigidly connected to the main bolt portion, the torque head portion comprising:

a second head portion; and

a singular stem portion surrounding the central axis of the safety shear bolt between the first head portion of the main bolt portion and the second head portion, the stem portion configured to shear along a shear line when a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the second head portion, the second head portion and the singular stern portion are formed as a single, integrated piece; and

a coupling mechanism configured to maintain a connection between the second head portion and the main bolt portion after shearing of the stem portion so as to prevent inadvertent removal of the second head portion from the main bolt portion, the coupling mechanism allowing the second head portion to rotate with respect to the main bolt portion while preventing free longitudinal movement of the second head portion with respect to the main bolt portion.

11. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes an opening extending into the main bolt portion and a pin that fits within the opening.

12. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the coupling mechanism device includes an opening extending into the main bolt portion and a rivet that fits within the opening.

13. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the coupling mechanism device includes a bushing.

14. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the stem portion has a frustoconical shape such that a thickness of stem portion changes along a length of the stem portion.

15. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the second head portion has a width smaller than a width of the first head portion.

16. The safety shear bolt of claim 10 , wherein the first head portion is polygonal in shape and includes first corners, and the second head portion is polygonal in shape and includes second corners.

17. The safety shear bolt of claim 16 , wherein the first corners are unaligned with the second corners prior to the shearing of the stem portion.

18. The safety shear bolt of claim 17 , wherein the second head portion has a width smaller than a width of the first head portion.