Patent ID: 8096907

Claim:
An apparatus for driving and braking a shaft powered by an engine, the apparatus comprising: a shaft in a housing; a pulley driven by the engine, the pulley being positioned above the housing; means for biasing the pulley downward toward the housing, means for translating the pulley away from the housing; wherein the apparatus has a stopped position in which the pulley and the housing are in contact at a friction surface between the pulley and the housing, wherein the apparatus has a driving position in which the pulley and the housing are not in contact at the friction surface and the shaft rotates, wherein, when power is delivered from the engine to drive the pulley, the means for translating transitions the apparatus from the stopped position to the driving position such that the pulley and the housing are not in contact at the friction surface and the pulley drives the shaft and the shaft rotates, and wherein, when power ceases being delivered from the engine to drive the pulley, the apparatus moves from the driving position to the stopped position such that the pulley and the housing are placed in contact at the friction surface and the shaft stops, and wherein the means for biasing the pulley is on a side of the pulley opposite the housing.