Patent ID: 7930872

Claim:
A drive system for providing rotational power to a rotating cutter shaft assembly of a housing enclosed flail mower, said rotating cutter shaft assembly including a hollow tubular shaft having flails hingedly affixed to the external surface thereof, said drive system comprising: a motor including an externally splined output shaft; first and second cylindrical shafts mounted within either end of the hollow tubular shaft to be co-axial with the hollow tubular shaft; an internally splined collar constructed and arranged for thermal interfitment within said first solid cylindrical shaft to be co-axial with the axis of rotation of the rotating cutter shaft assembly; a mounting bracket for affixing said motor to the housing and for containing a bearing enabling rotation of the rotating cutter shaft assembly which enables the insertion of the said externally splined output shaft from the motor into said internally splined collar within the rotating cutter shaft assembly; whereby a direct drive of the rotating cutter shaft assembly by said motor is provided by mechanical contact between said externally splined output shaft and said internally splined collar.