Patent ID: 8783637

Claim:
A temporary shaft support system for use with an enclosure, comprising: a holder for engaging and holding a shaft within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure defines a space within which material is contained and the shaft is arranged within the space for processing the material within the enclosure, wherein the shaft is provided at a height with respect to the enclosure that defines a shaft height; and a lift that is connected to the holder and can actuate to move the holder in a generally vertical direction for temporarily supporting the shaft, the lift being supported by the enclosure and provided at a height with respect to the enclosure that defines a lift height that is higher than the shaft height, the lift further comprising a rod that is connected to the holder and a threaded actuator that translates movement to the holder and wherein the lift is configured to be temporarily supported by the enclosure and arranged with respect to the shaft and the holder to support the shaft at the shaft height within the space of the enclosure; wherein the threaded actuator includes a handle that can rotate and that engages a threaded segment of the rod so that rotation of the handle forces the rod and holder to travel upwardly or downwardly, the handle including a central hub having a threaded bore that accepts the threaded segment of the rod therethrough; and wherein the central hub of the handle includes a bottom surface and the lift includes a base that is engaged by the bottom surface of the handle, a slip surface being provided between the bottom surface of the central hub of the handle and the base for accommodating rotation of the handle with respect to the base of the lift.