Patent ID: 8333921

Claim:
A coupling assembly for coupling a drive shaft and refractory shaft, comprising: a drive shaft having an upper end and a lower end and being adapted to be rotated by a motor at said upper end; a rotatable refractory shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of said shaft being adapted to be connected to a rotor, locking recesses formed in said upper end of said refractory shaft, said refractory shaft being formed of refractory material; and a rotatable coupling comprising: a body having an exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end, a device for affixing said lower end of said drive shaft to said upper end of said body, lever arms fastened to said body, pivots disposed in said body about which said lever arms are pivoted, a recess in said lower end of said body adapted for receiving said upper end of said refractory shaft and openings in said body extending from said exterior surface to said recess, each of said lever arms including a protruding locking member positioned in said opening in said coupling body, each of said locking members being adapted to engage one of said locking recesses of said refractory shaft, and a device that exerts a force against said lever arms forcing said locking members into said locking recesses.