Patent ID: 7621158

Claim:
A coupling apparatus comprising: an inner shaft rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of rotation, said inner shaft comprising a plurality of inner shaft external splines; an outer shaft concentric with said inner shaft for selective rotation about said longitudinal axis, said outer shaft configured to be rotatably driven by said inner shaft with said outer shaft engaged with said inner shaft, said outer shaft comprising a plurality of outer shaft external splines; a coupler movable along a length of said inner shaft with respect to the longitudinal axis between a first position engaging said outer shaft to said inner shaft for rotation therewith, and a second position disengaging said outer shaft from said inner shaft for relative rotation therebetween, said coupler comprising a plurality of first splines engaging said plurality of inner shaft external splines and a plurality of second splines engaging said plurality of outer shaft external splines in said first position; and an actuator positioned to move said coupler between said first position and said second position.