Windmill Drive Adapter

A windmill drive adapter assembly comprising:

• a gearbox hub lock configured for being secured to a gearbox shaft extending from a gearbox assembly;
• a gearbox drive plate, said gearbox hub lock engaging said gearbox drive plate wherein said gearbox drive plate is configured to rotate with the gearbox shaft, said gearbox drive plate having a planar disc section;
• a motor hub lock configured for being secured to a motor shaft extending from a motor assembly;
• a motor drive plate, said motor hub lock being coupled to said motor drive plate such that said motor hub lock and said motor drive plate rotate together, said motor drive plate being coupled to said gearbox drive plate;
• an adapter, said adapter having a first end being configured for coupling to the gearbox assembly, said adapter having a second end being configured for coupling to the motor assembly, said adapter being positioned around said motor drive plate and said gearbox drive plate wherein said adapter is configured to secure said gearbox drive plate and said motor drive plate in alignment with the gearbox assembly and the motor assembly, said adapter comprising
• a first end plate,
• a second end plate, and
• a plurality of spacers coupled to and extending between said first end plate and said second end plate, said spacers being radially arranged and spaced around a perimeter of said adapter wherein said adapter has an open peripheral sidewall wherein each of said fasteners is engageable to said associated one of said couplers while said gearbox drive plate is positioned within said adapter;
• a plurality of couplers being coupled to said planar disc section, said plurality of couplers being positioned inset into said planar disc section;
• a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners being engageable to an associated one of said couplers;
• a plurality of apertures extending through said motor drive plate, each of said apertures aligned with a respective one of said couplers, each of said fasteners being extended through an associated one of said apertures to engage said associated one of said couplers wherein said fasteners couple said motor drive plate to said gearbox drive plate;
• and
• a coupling disc pack, said coupling disc pack being positioned between and coupling said motor hub lock to said motor drive plate.

A method for converting a male to female windmill connection to a male to male windmill connection, the steps of the method comprising:

• replacing a female connector in a windmill coupling such that the windmill coupling has a gearbox shaft extending from a gearbox and a motor shaft extending from a motor;
• coupling a motor drive plate to the motor shaft;
• coupling a gearbox drive plate to the gearbox shaft;
• coupling an adapter to said gearbox and said motor such that said motor drive plate and said gearbox drive plate are positioned within said adapter;
• and
• coupling said gearbox drive plate and said motor drive plate together such that said motor drive plate and said gearbox drive plate rotate together.