Drive shaft connection assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US9556914B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Drive shaft connection assembly",
  "abstract": "A drive shaft connection assembly includes a first coupler having a top end and a bottom end. The top end has an upper well for releasably engaging a drive shaft. A second coupler has an upper end and a lower end. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the upper end. An auger connector is attached to and extends downwardly from the lower end. The bottom end has a lower well extending upwardly therein to removably receive the post. The post is rotatable with respect to the first coupler to selectively engage or disengage the first coupler. A sleeve is slidably mounted on the perimeter wall and is removably slidable over the first and second couplers prevent their movement with respect to each other.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A drive shaft connection assembly for an auger connection post, said assembly including: a first coupler having a top end, a bottom end and a perimeter wall being attached to and extending between said top and bottom ends; said top end having an upper well therein configured for receiving and releasably engaging a drive shaft; a second coupler having an upper end, a lower end and a peripheral wall extending between said upper and lower ends, a post being attached to and extending upwardly from said upper end; an auger connector being attached to and extending downwardly from said lower end; said bottom end having a lower well extending upwardly therein to removably receive said post, said post being rotatable with respect to said first coupler to selectively engage or disengage said first coupler; a sleeve being slidably mounted on said perimeter wall, said sleeve being removably slidable over said peripheral wall such that said sleeve engages each of said first and second couplers to prevent said first coupler from rotating with respect to said second coupler, wherein said sleeve is disengageable from said second coupler to allow rotation of said post with respect to said first coupler to release said post from said lower well; and wherein said post has a notch therein extending around a periphery of said post, a disc being defined between said notch and a terminal end of said post, said disc having a cut out therein such that an outer surface of said disc parallel to a longitudinal axis of said post includes an arcuate section and a planar section to facilitate passage of a pin from said notch to an area beyond said terminal end, a second pin receiver extending through said lower well and through said perimeter wall, a lower pin being positioned in said second pin receiver, said post being rotatable to engage or disengage from said lower pin.",
    "2. The drive shaft connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first coupler has a first pin receiver therein extending through said upper well and said perimeter wall, said first pin receiver being configured to receive an upper pin extendable through said drive shaft.",
    "3. A drive shaft connection assembly for an auger connection post, said assembly including: a first coupler having a top end, a bottom end and a perimeter wall having a polygonal outer surface being attached to and extending between said top and bottom ends; said top end having an upper well therein configured for receiving and releasably engaging a drive shaft, said first coupler having a first pin receiver therein extending through said upper well and said perimeter wall, said first pin receiver being configured to receive an upper pin extendable through said drive shaft; a second coupler having an upper end, a lower end and a peripheral wall extending between said upper and lower ends, a post being attached to and extending upwardly from said upper end, said post having a notch therein extending around a periphery of said post, a disc being defined between said notch and a terminal end of said post, said disc having a cut out therein such that an outer surface of said disc parallel to a longitudinal axis of said post includes an arcuate section and a planar section to facilitate passage of a pin around said notch to an area beyond said terminal end; an auger connector being attached to and extending downwardly from said lower end; said bottom end having a lower well extending upwardly therein to removably receive said post, a second pin receiver extending through said lower well and through said perimeter wall, a lower pin being positioned in said second pin receiver, said post being rotatable to engage or disengage from said lower pin; and a sleeve being slidably mounted on said perimeter wall, said sleeve being removably slidable over said peripheral wall such that said sleeve engages each of said first and second couplers to prevent said first coupler from rotating with respect to said second coupler, wherein said sleeve is disengageable from said second coupler to allow rotation of said post with respect to said first coupler to release said post from said lower well."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure relates to drive shaft connection devices and more particularly pertains to a new drive shaft connection device for allowing quick disconnections between an auger motor and an auger blade.\n\nAn embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a first coupler having a top end, a bottom end and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom ends. The top end has an upper well for receiving and releasably engaging a drive shaft. A second coupler has an upper end, a lower end and a peripheral wall extending between the upper and lower ends. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the upper end. An auger connector is attached to and extends downwardly from the lower end. The bottom end has a lower well extending upwardly therein to removably receive the post. The post is rotatable with respect to the first coupler to selectively engage or disengage the first coupler. A sleeve is slidably mounted on the perimeter wall and is removably slidable over the peripheral wall such that the sleeve engages each of the first and second couplers to prevent the first coupler from rotating with respect to the second coupler. The sleeve is disengageable from the second coupler to allow rotation of the post with respect to the first coupler to release the post from the lower well.\n\nThere has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16D 1/112",
    "E21B 17/046",
    "F16B 7/042",
    "F16B 7/20",
    "F16D 1/06",
    "F16D 1/0894",
    "F16D 1/108",
    "Y10T 403/7018"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 17/046",
    "F16B 7/04",
    "F16D 1/06",
    "F16D 1/108",
    "F16D 1/112"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Donald Dupéré"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-05-14",
  "publication_date": "2017-01-31",
  "grant_date": "2017-01-31",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-14",
  "application_number": "US-201514712005-A",
  "family_id": "57276930",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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  ]
}