US 12,276,178 B2
Clutch apparatuses, systems and methods
Garrett S. Boyd, Granbury, TX (US); and Mitchell A. Boyd, Haslet, TX (US)
Assigned to FLOWCO PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, LLC, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by FLOWCO PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS, LLC, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/900,206.
Prior Publication US 2024/0068326 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 34/06 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F04B 47/12 (2006.01); F16D 63/00 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 34/06 (2013.01) [E21B 43/121 (2013.01); F16D 63/008 (2013.01); F04B 47/12 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tool comprising:
a body;
a shaft having at least an intermediate portion with an outer surface having a first outer diameter and a first holding portion having an outer surface with a second outer diameter than is smaller than the first outer diameter, wherein the shaft is slidably mounted on the body such that the shaft can move into and out of at least a first holding position relative to the body; and
a one-piece, unitary clutch ring that is mounted on the body and that surrounds an outer surface of the shaft, the clutch ring comprising a generally cylindrical sidewall with a generally cylindrical inner surface, wherein a grasping portion is located on the cylindrical inner surface;
wherein when the shaft is in the first holding position relative to the body, the grasping portion of the unitary clutch ring surrounds and grasps the first holding portion of the shaft in order to hold the shaft at the first holding position, and wherein the clutch ring is configured such that the clutch ring can elastically deform to allow the shaft to move relative to the body out of the first holding position; and
wherein when the shaft moves out of the first holding position, the unitary clutch ring surrounds at least a part of the intermediate portion of the shaft.