Patent ID: 6062363
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A shaft mountable drive engagement mechanism for providing selective engagement with a drive shaft, the drive shaft having a diameter and a surface having a discontinuity, the drive engagement mechanism riding on the drive shaft while in a first, engaged, position and while in a second, disengaged, position, the drive engagement mechanism comprising:a hub adapted for mounting along the drive shaft, the hub having an external surface, a first end and a second end, and an axis extending from the first end towards the second end, the second end having a power transmission component, the hub further having an aperture extending along the axis from the first end towards the second end, so that the hub is adapted to receive the drive shaft through the first end towards the second end, a first portion of the aperture next to the first end of the hub being of a diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the drive shaft, so that the diameter of the aperture next to the first end of the hub allows rotational and sliding support of the hub against the drive shaft, a second portion of the aperture near the second end of the hub providing a means for engaging the discontinuity of the drive shaft, the means for engaging the discontinuity occupying a portion of the aperture and extending less than a length of the aperture, so that the means for engaging the discontinuity is not in contact with the discontinuity on the drive shaft when the hub is in the second position; andmeans for moving said hub from said first position to said second position, so that when the hub is in the first position the hub engages the discontinuity on the drive shaft to transmit power from the drive shaft to the power transmission component, and when the hub is slid to the second position the hub is disengaged from the discontinuity on the drive shaft.