Shaft mountable gear drive

A shaft mountable gear drive for transferring power between a power source and an accessory shaft to be driven, comprising:

• an input shaft adapted to be connected with a power source;
• an output shaft having an axial opening for receiving one end of an accessory shaft, said axial opening having an outwardly divergent tapered configuration;
• gearing connecting the input shaft and the output shaft;
• coupling means engageable with the output shaft and accessory shaft and for establishing driving engagement therebetween in response to axial advancement of the coupling means along the output shaft, said coupling means comprising a tubular bushing interposed between the output shaft and the driven shaft, and said tubular bushing having a tapered end for seating in the tapered axial opening;
• a retaining nut rotatably engaged with the output shaft, the retaining nut and the output shaft having complementary helical threads whereby relative angular displacement of the retaining nut and the output shaft causes axial displacement of the retaining nut along the output shaft for moving the tapered bushing relative to the output shaft in response to rotation of the input shaft;
• and
• a locking apparatus engageable with the retaining nut to prevent the retaining nut from rotating when the output shaft is rotated.

A shaft mountable gear drive for transferring power between a power source and an accessory shaft to be driven, comprising:

• an input shaft adapted to be connected with a power source;
• an output shaft operatively associated with the input shaft and having an axial opening for receiving one end of an accessory shaft;
• coupling means having a portion interposed between the output shaft and the accessory shaft for establishing driving engagement therebetween in response to axial advancement of the coupling means along the accessory shaft;
• a retaining nut rotatably engageable with the output shaft and guided for axial movement along the accessory shaft for moving the coupling means relative to the output shaft in response to rotation of the input shaft;
• and
• a locking apparatus for preventing the retaining nut from rotating relative to the output shaft, the locking apparatus comprising a pivotal latch and a groove formed in the retaining nut, the latch being pivoted into engagement with the groove to prevent the retaining nut from rotating when the output shaft is rotated by the input shaft.

A shaft mountable gear drive for transferring power between a power source and an accessory shaft to be driven, comprising:

• an input shaft adapted to be connected with a power source;
• an output shaft having an axial opening for receiving one end of an accessory shaft, said axial opening having an outwardly divergent tapered configuration;
• gearing connecting the input shaft and the output shaft;
• coupling means engageable with the output shaft and accessory shaft and for establishing driving engagement therebetween in response to axial advancement of the coupling means along the output shaft, said coupling means comprising a tubular bushing interposed between the output shaft and the driven shaft, and said tubular bushing having a tapered end for seating in the tapered axial opening;
• a retaining nut rotatably engaged with the output shaft, the retaining nut and the output shaft having complementary helical threads whereby relative angular displacement of the retaining nut and the output shaft causes axial displacement of the retaining nut along the output shaft for moving the tapered bushing relative to the output shaft in response to rotation of the input shaft;
• and
• a locking apparatus engageable with the retaining nut to prevent the retaining nut from rotating when the output shaft is rotated, the locking apparatus comprising a pivotal latch and a groove formed in the retaining nut, the latch being pivoted into engagement with the groove to prevent the retaining nut from rotating when the output shaft is rotated by the input shaft.