Patent ID: 7302808

Claim:
A central shaft assembly for transmitting rotational power, comprising: a drive assembly including a rotor and a first rotating shaft having an axis of rotation; a first rotating magnet rigidly mounted coaxially about said rotating shaft; a first stationary housing sealing said first rotating magnet from environmental contamination, said rotating shaft rotatably supported within said first stationary housing; a second rotating magnet rotatably supported on said housing about said axis of rotation in axial alignment with said first rotating magnet; a first rotating housing including a coaxial sleeve portion receiving the second rotating magnet and coupled thereto and an axially extending member defining an axial bore, said first rotating housing rotatably supported on said first stationary housing; a second rotating housing including a second coaxial sleeve portion and a second axially extending member, said first and second axially extending portions axially overlapping and interlocking; a third rotating magnet received within said second coaxial sleeve portion; a fourth rotating magnet; a second stationary housing receiving said fourth rotating magnet and sealing said fourth rotating magnet from environmental contamination; said third rotating magnet and said second rotating housing rotatably supported on said second stationary housing about said axis of rotation, said third rotating magnet in axial alignment with said fourth rotating magnet; said first stationary housing including an third axially extending member and said second stationary housing including a fourth axially extending member, said third and fourth axially extending members overlapping and interlocking within said axial bore; and a second rotating shaft coupled to and rotating with said fourth rotating magnet.