Drive mechanism and accessory system
AssigneeTSI Products, Inc.
InventorsStephen William O'Brien, Christopher Delmont Corfman, Charles J. Martis, Kerry Wayne Whitaker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive mechanism that connects to a rotary drive component for transferring rotary motion to another component. The drive mechanism may be a conversion assembly to facilitate a connection to an existing rotary drive component and transfer the rotary motion to another component. The drive mechanism may include a drive shaft, a housing with a rotary bearing and seal, an enclosure and a drive pulley or other transfer component.
Claims24
A rotary drive system for connecting to an existing rotary drive, the rotary drive system comprising:
- a. a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first connector and the second end includes a second connector, and wherein the first connector is configured to form a connection with the existing rotary drive, and the drive shaft rotates during operation based on the connection and rotation of the existing rotary drive;
- b. a drive shaft support between the first end and the second end of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft support comprises a drive shaft housing, a rotary bearing and a seal, which connects to the drive shaft housing and holds the rotary bearing in place, wherein the drive shaft housing is configured to fit in an opening of a component housing of a rotary driven component having the existing rotary drive and around the drive shaft to support the drive shaft during the operation;
- and
- c. a drive wheel secured to the second end of the drive shaft, wherein the drive wheel rotates with the drive shaft during operation and is configured to link with a second component that is driven by rotary movement.
A drive mechanism for adding an additional rotary drive component to an existing rotary drive component, which includes an existing rotary drive, the drive mechanism comprising:
- a. a drive shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first connector and the second end includes a second connector, and wherein the first connector attaches to the existing rotary drive;
- b. a drive shaft support between the first end and the second end and having a housing, a rotary bearing and a seal, which connects to the housing and holds the rotary bearing in place, wherein the drive shaft support is configured to fit around the drive shaft and support the drive shaft during operation;
- and
- c. a drive wheel secured to the second end of the drive shaft.
A method for installing a drive mechanism through an alternator, comprising the steps of:
- a. removing a flywheel connector from a rotary drive, wherein the flywheel connector attaches a flywheel to the rotary drive;
- b. connecting a first end of a drive shaft to the rotary drive, wherein the drive shaft connects the flywheel to the rotary drive;
- c. connecting a drive shaft support to an access hole in an alternator housing of the alternator, wherein the drive shaft support includes a housing, a rotary bearing and a seal, which connects to the housing and holds the rotary bearing in place, wherein the drive shaft support fits around the drive shaft and supports the drive shaft;
- and
- d. securing a drive wheel to a second end of the drive shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.