Patent ID: 8079569

Claim:
A cable drawworks for a drilling rig, comprising: a) a frame adapted for mounting on a drilling rig, the frame having a floor member and two opposing sidewall members; b) motor means for operating a cable drum, the motor means mounted on the frame, the motor means having a drive shaft; c) a drum shaft having first and second ends, the drum shaft rotatably disposed in the frame; d) primary drive means for rotatably coupling the drive shaft to the first end of the drum shaft; e) the cable drum rotatably mounted on the drum shaft, the cable drum located between the first and second ends on the drum shaft; f) secondary drive means for rotatably coupling the second end of the drum shaft to the cable drum; and g) an oscillating plate assembly adapted for operatively attaching the secondary drive means to the frame, wherein the secondary drive means can move or flex in the frame when rotating.