# US 2014/0197004 A1 · Gearbox Lock Mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197004 A1 - Document ID: US20140197004A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/157,236 - Filed: 2014-01-16 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16 - Assignees: King Kutter, Inc. - Applicants: King Kutter, Inc. - Inventors: J. Phillip Fraley; John W. Davis, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197004A1 ## CPC - E02F 9/202: {Mechanical transmission, e.g. clutches, gears (clutches per se F16D, gears per se F16H)} - E02F 3/06: with digging screws {(earth drilling E21; for digging trenches or ditches E02F5/04)} - E21B 7/02: Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting - E21B 17/02: Couplings; joints {(expandable couplings or joints E21B43/106)} - E21B 19/18: Connecting or disconnecting drill bit and drilling pipe - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The gearbox lock mechanism for a post bole auger has a collar coupled to a lower end of a right angle gearbox, the collar rotatable upon operation of the gearbox. The collar comprises a semi-circular outer edge and a fiat side. A male-threaded nipple extends from the collar and threads onto the auger shaft. A lock bar is coupled to the gearbox and acts as a positive lock to lock the collar in place for removal of the shaft from the gearbox. The lock bar is rotatable from a locked position whereby the lock bar is aligned with and contactable with the flat side of the outer edge of the collar, to an unlocked position whereby the lock bar does not contact the flat side of the outer edge of the collar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gearbox lock mechanism for a post hole digger, the mechanism comprising: a collar coupled to a lower end of a right angle gearbox, the collar rotatable upon operation of the gearbox, the collar comprising a semi-circular outer edge, the outer edge comprising a flat side; a male-threaded nipple extending from the collar; an auger shaft comprising female threads, the auger shaft releasably coupled to the male threaded nipple; a lock bar coupled to the gearbox, the lock bar rotatable from a locked position whereby the lock bar is aligned with and contactable with the flat side of the outer edge of the collar, the lock bar rotatable to an unlocked position whereby the lock bar does not contact the flat side of the outer edge of the collar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the nipple is unitary with the collar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a lock bar support, the lock bar support rigidly coupled to the gearbox between the gearbox and the collar, the lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock bar support via one or more fasteners. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mechanism of claim 3, the lock bar support further comprising a support plate, the support plate comprising a generally flat plate coupled to the gearbox via a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mechanism of claim 4, the lock bar support further comprising a block stop rigidly affixed to the support plate adjacent to the lock bar when the lock bar is in the locked position, the block stop comprising a substantially rectangular box. ### Claim 6 The mechanism of claim , the block stop substantially parallel to the flat side of the outer edge of the collar when the collar is locked, the block stop spaced apart from the flat side of the outer edge of the collar by a distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mechanism of claim 6, wherein a width of the lock bar is slightly less than the distance, such that the lock bar fits between the flat side of the outer edge of the collar and the Hock stop when the lock bar is in the locked position. ### Claim 8 A gearbox lock mechanism for a post hole digger, the mechanism comprising: a collar extending beneath the gearbox, the collar rigidly affixed to a nipple that releasably affixes a shaft of the post hole digger to the gearbox, the collar rotatable upon operation of the gearbox, the collar comprising a semi-circular outer edge, the outer edge primarily semicircular and the outer edge comprising a flat side; a lock bar support rigidly coupled to an outer body of the gearbox, the outer body of the gearbox not rotatable upon operation of the gearbox; a lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock bar support via a fastener, the lock bar extending downwardly from the lock bar support when the lock bar is in an unlocked position such that the post hole digger is operational, the lock bar positioned adjacent to and contactable with the flat side of the outer edge of the collar when the lock bar is in a locked position, thus preventing the shaft of the post hole digger from rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mechanism of claim 8, the lock bar support comprising a support plate, the support plate comprising a generally flat plate coupled to the outer body of the gearbox via a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The mechanism of claim 9, the lock, bar support further comprising a block stop rigidly affixed to the support plate adjacent to the lock bar when the lock bar is in the locked position, the block stop comprising a substantially rectangular box. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The mechanism of claim 10, the block stop substantially parallel to the fiat side of the outer edge of the collar when the collar is locked, the block stop spaced apart from the flat side of the outer edge of the collar by a distance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The mechanism of claim 11, wherein a width of the lock bar is slightly less than the distance, such that the lock bar fits between the flat side of the outer edge of the collar and the block stop when the lock bar is in the locked position. ### Claim 13 A gearbox lock mechanism for a post hole digger, the mechanism comprising: a collar coupled with a gearbox shaft and rotatable with the gearbox shaft, the collar comprising a flat side on its outer edge; a rotatable lock bar engagable with the fiat side of the collar, the lock bar adjacent to and contacting the flat side when the lock bar is in a locked position, the lock bar preventing rotation of the gearbox shaft when the lock bar is in the locked position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a lock bar support, the lock bar support rigidly coupled to an outer body of the gearbox, the lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock bar support via one or more fasteners. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mechanism of claim 14, the lock bar support further comprising a support plate, the support plate comprising a generally flat plate coupled to the gearbox via a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The mechanism of claim 15, the lock bar support further comprising a block, stop rigidly affixed to the support plate adjacent to the lock bar when the lock bar is in the locked position, the block stop comprising a substantially rectangular box. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The mechanism of claim 16, the block stop substantially parallel to the flat side of the outer edge of the collar when the collar is locked, the block stop spaced apart From the flat side of the outer edge of the collar by a distance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The mechanism of claim 17, wherein a width of the lock bar is slightly less than the distance, such that the lock bar fits between the flat side of the outer edge of the collar and the block stop when the lock bar is in the locked position.