The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2001
John M. Seipold, Glasford, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A removable shaft assembly having a drive shaft with internal splines defined therein and an output shaft positioned within the drive shaft and having a first set of external splines defined thereon adapted to engage the internal splines of the drive shaft is disclosed. The assembly further includes a cap axially aligned with the drive shaft having internal splines defined thereon which are adapted to prevent an axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a first position and hallow axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a second position. The output shaft may be removed from the drive shaft when the cap is placed in the first position by axially sliding the first set of external splines through the internal splines of the cap. A method of operating a removable shaft assembly is also disclosed.