Patent ID: 7980123

Claim:
A test stand adapted for having a power drive element drive a driven element, the test stand comprising: a power drive element mounted to an anchor bed; and a drive shaft assembly coupled at one end to the power drive element and at the other end to a driven element, where said drive shaft assembly is operable for effecting driving of the driven element by the power drive element, said drive shaft assembly including: first and second shaft portions, said first shaft portion having a first longitudinal axis of rotation and the second shaft portion having a second longitudinal axis of rotation, and one of said first shaft portion and said second shaft portion having at least one first pilot member and the other of said first shaft portion and said second shaft portion having at least a first bore for receiving said first pilot member therein, thereby fixing the first and second longitudinal axes of rotation against lateral offset at a pivot point of the first pilot member a predetermined amount; and a first yoke extending between and connecting the first and second shaft portions together for simultaneous rotation, where said first yolk is driven by said first shaft portion and has sufficient flexibility to drive the second shaft portion where the first and second longitudinal axes of rotation are at an angle of misalignment of at least about 0.05°.