Drive assembly for a cover system for open-topped containers

A cover system for an open topped container comprising:

• a cover sized to extend across the open top of the container;
• an arm assembly engaged to one end of the cover and pivotably mounted to the container to retract or extend the cover as the arm assembly pivots relative to the container;
• an axle supporting the cover for the cover to be wound onto and unwound from as the cover is retracted and extended over the open top of the container;
• a drive assembly coupled to the axle to provide rotational force to the axle, the drive assembly including;
• a drive motor disposed including a drive shaft having a hypoid pinion gear;
• a hypoid ring gear rotatably supported in meshed engagement with the hypoid pinion gear;
• a transfer gear engaged to said hypoid ring gear for rotation therewith;
• an output gear in meshed engagement with said transfer gear;
• and
• an output shaft engaged to the output gear for rotation therewith, said output shaft coupled to said axle to transmit rotation from the drive assembly to said axle,
• wherein said hypoid ring gear, said transfer gear and said output gear are sized and arranged so that the output gear overlaps the hypoid ring gear, and so that said hypoid pinion gear and said output gear are on the same side of said hypoid ring gear and laterally overlap each other.