Patent ID: 8517159

Claim:
A drive apparatus, comprising: a prime mover and a first pulley powered by the prime mover; a transmission comprising a housing and an input shaft having an external end disposed outside the housing; a second pulley disposed on the input shaft; a belt connecting the first and second pulleys to transmit force from the prime mover to the transmission; a brake mechanism comprising a rotatable pivot rod having one end external to the housing, wherein the pivot rod rotates about its longitudinal axis, and a brake arm assembly disposed external to the housing for engaging and rotating the pivot rod, the brake arm assembly having a first position where the brake mechanism is engaged and a second position where the brake mechanism is disengaged; a first bias member engaged to the brake arm assembly and providing a first spring force for biasing the brake arm assembly toward the first position; a movable assembly engaged to the belt, and comprising a contact member, whereby tension from the belt retains the contact member in a position away from the brake arm assembly; and a second bias member engaged to the movable assembly and providing a second spring force to bias the contact member towards the brake arm assembly, whereby when tension from the belt is removed from the movable assembly, the second bias member forces the contact member into engagement with the brake arm assembly to actuate the brake mechanism.