US4733471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool drive assembly and clamp
Assignee: JOHN DEERE CONSUMER PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1986-01-21
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2006-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool provides for assembly by a user and start-up without concern over the proper or improper orientation of the two shafts. The drive assembly includes components to secure the two shafts for start-up and use independently of whether an orientation condition exists for their rotational coupling to one another. A shaft coupling mechanism then accomplishes the coupling where an improper condition exists after the securing, in response to the initiation of the rotation of the driver shaft by the motor. The coupling mechanism employs a driver shaft which, with a shaft socket, for receiving the driven shaft, slides back and forth, against a spring and then under the recoil force of the spring, in providing for the securing under an improper orientation condition and the subsequent coupling upon start-up. A split clamp, which is used on a driver shaft tube and driven shaft tube is particularly adapted for rapid, easily accomplished and, at the same time, extremely sturdy clamping of elongated members such as the shaft tubes. The clamp employs a pair of clamp member which are formed, with respect to the elongated members, to a designed clamp face separation of less than or equal to about 3.4 percent and greater than or equal to about 0.5 percent of the diameter for the elongated members, among other significant features. Manually tightened and loosened connectors for one end of the clamp members and tool-operated tightening and loosening at the other end signifcantly contribute to the indicated goals.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon A. Rahe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:59
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/835; A01D34/90; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/57; Y10T403/5761; Y10T403/5766; Y10T403/5781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft to said driver shaft, said coupler means including, a spring to bias said driver shaft, and a socket member fixed to said driver shaft to move with said driver shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said driven shaft in an improper orientation and to move with said driver shaft under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling of said shafts ; said driver shaft being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft to said driver shaft, said coupler means including, a spring to bias said driver shaft, and a socket member fixed to said driver shaft to move with said driver shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said driven shaft in an improper orientation and to move with said driver shaft under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling of said shafts ; said driver shaft being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a tubular elongated member to extend about said driver shaft; a tubular elongated member to extend about said driven shaft; a pair of securing members each shaped to fit about part of the periphery of said elongated members; and connectors to join said securing members about said elongated members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein: said tubular elongated members define generally right, circular cylindrically-shaped outer surfaces along portions for fitting said securing members; and each of said pair of securing members has a pair of faces to oppose the pair of faces of the other securing member, and said securing members are formed, with respect to said elongated members, to an opposed face separation of less than or equal to about 3.4 per cent of the diameter for said elongated members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; securing means to secure said shafts independently of the orientation of said driven shaft, including, a tubular elongated member to extend about said driver shaft, a tubular elongated member to extend about said driven shaft, a pair of securing members each shaped to fit about part of the periphery of said elongated members, and connectors to join said securing members about said elongated members, a said securing member and a said elongated member including a projection, and having structure defining an elongated space to receive said projection and to prevent rotation of said elongated member in said securing members; and coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft secured in an improper orientation to said driver shaft in response to the initiation of rotation of said driver shaft by said motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; securing means to secure said shafts independently of the orientation of said driven shaft, including, a tubular elongated member to extend about said driver shaft, a tubular elongated member to extend about said driven shaft, a pair of securing members each shaped to fit about part of the periphery of said elongated members, and connectors to join said securing members about said elongated members, a said securing member and a said elongated member including a projection, and having structure defining an elongated space to receive said projection and to prevent rotation of said elongated member in said securing members; and coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft secured in an improper orientation to said driver shaft in response to the initiation of rotation of said driver shaft by said motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said projection comprises an elongated ridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said elongated ridge is adapted to extend in substantially the direction of elongation of said tubular elongated member associated with said ridge and elongated space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said tubular elongated member associated with said projection and elongated space is said tubular elongated member to extend about said driven shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said elongated space extends from an end of said tubular elongated member or of said securing member associated with said projection and elongated space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein: said elongated space comprises an elongated slot defined by said tubular elongated member associated with said projection and space, through said tubular elongated member; and said projection comprises an elongated ridge included on said securing member associated with said projection and elongated space, adapted to extend in substantially the direction of elongation of said tubular elongated member associated with said projection and elongated space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said coupler means includes: a spring to bias said driver shaft; and a socket member fixed to said driver shaft to move with said driver shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said driven shaft in an improper orientation and to move with said driver shaft under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling in response to said initiation of rotation by said motor; said driver shaft being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said driver shaft extends from the vicinity of said motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said driver shaft extends from the vicinity of said motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft to said driver shaft, said coupler means including, a spring to bias one of said driver and driven shafts, and a socket member fixed to said one of said driver and driven shafts to move with said shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said other one of said driver and driven shafts in an improper orientation and to move with said one of said driver and driven shafts under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling of said shafts; said one of said driver and driven shafts being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
161 words
A self-coupling split-shaft drive assembly for a tool comprising: a motor; a driver shaft; means to couple said driver shaft to said motor; a driven shaft for rotational coupling to said driver shaft having proper and improper orientations for said coupling; coupler means to rotatably couple said driven shaft to said driver shaft, said coupler means including, a spring to bias one of said driver and driven shafts, and a socket member fixed to said one of said driver and driven shafts to move with said shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said other one of said driver and driven shafts in an improper orientation and to move with said one of said driver and driven shafts under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling of said shafts; said one of said driver and driven shafts being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 13 further comprising: a tubular elongated member to extend about said driver shaft; a tubular elongated member to extend about said driven shaft; a pair of securing members each shaped to fit about part of the periphery of said elongated members; and connectors to join said securing members about said elongated members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein: said tubular elongated members define generally right, circular cylindrically-shaped outer surfaces along portions for fitting said securing members; and each of said pair of securing members has a pair of faces to oppose the pair of faces of the other securing member, and said securing members are formed, with respect to said elongated members, to an opposed face separation of less than or equal to about 3.4 per cent of the diameter for said elongated members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
A drive assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said coupler means includes: a spring to bias one of said driver and driven shafts; and a socket member fixed to said one of said driver and driven shafts to move with said shaft against the force of said spring under a force along said other one of said driver and driven shafts in an improper orientation and to move with said one of said driver and driven shafts under the return force of said spring upon said rotational coupling in response to said initiation of rotation by said motor; said one of said driver and driven shafts being a shaft of substantial length and extending from a substantial distance away from said socket member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |