What safety feature is designed to break before equipment is damaged due to excessive torque?

Shear pins are designed to break under conditions of excessive torque, serving as a critical safety feature in mechanical systems. When components in machinery are subjected to higher-than-normal loads, particularly during startup or in the event of a jam, shear pins will break at a predetermined torque limit. This action prevents further damage to the components or equipment, protecting more expensive or critical parts from failure due to overload.

In essence, shear pins act as sacrificial components that do their job by failing in a controlled manner, allowing the machine to disengage or operate in a safe condition until repairs can be made. This makes them essential for maintaining system integrity under varying operational stresses.