Patent ID: 7971695

Claim:
An independent variable drive assembly for wheels on a snowblower, the drive assembly comprising: at least one axle on which a wheel is attached; a drive shaft for rotatably driving the axle; a transmission system for rotatably driving the drive shaft; at least one brake clutch disposed about an end of the shaft, the brake clutch comprising: a friction member including an integral brake surface and an integral clutch surface; a spring abutting the friction member; a brake member proximate to the brake surface; the brake member mounted relative to the friction member to permit relative rotation; a brake actuator connected to the brake member; a drive hub rotatably secured to the shaft, the drive hub configured to rotate with the shaft and configured to contact with the clutch surface of the friction member when the brake member is disengaged; a driven member in operable communication with the friction member, such that, when the friction member is rotated, the driven member is also rotated; and a drive gear rotatably secured to the driven member, the drive gear configured to transfer rotation from the drive shaft to the axle and wheel; and at least one control operably connected to the brake clutch and configured to actuate the brake clutch to stop rotation of the wheel.