Importance

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Abstract

A retractable shaft structure for interconnecting a unit, such as a constant speed drive, to a power source, such as an engine gear box, wherein the unit has an input drive axis and the gear box has an output drive axis and the unit is moved transversely to said axes to bring the axes into alignment. A drive shaft defining the input drive axis and carried by the unit has a drive input end extending beyond said unit for connection into driving relation with an output shaft of the gear box. The drive shaft is mounted for adjusting movement along the input drive axis to have the drive shaft retracted during said transverse movement, followed by extension thereof. Rotatable mounting structure, independent of the unit, mounts the drive input end of the input shaft and is held in fixed relation therewith to move with the drive shaft during said adjusting movement and said rotatable mounting structure is releasably connectable to the gear box to be held in fixed relation thereto.

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First Claim