DESC:PRIORITY CLAIM:
This application claims priority from the provisional application numbered 201841042112 filed with Indian Patent Office, Chennai on 08th November 2018 titled “Snap-Fit Assembly For Drive Shaft”, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
[0001] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical field of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates in general, to a locking mechanism that is used to positively secure and fasten the drive shaft to transmit power along the drive chain. Specifically, it relates to the snap-fit assembly to positively secure the drive shaft to the gear-box.
Background of the invention
[0003] Depending on the operating environment and its location in the entire system, a drive shaft is either enclosed or bare.
[0004] A system operating in a dusty environment often encounters the issue of dust clogging various parts. So also, a system in which the drive shaft is easily accessible renders the environment hazardous. Under these operating environments, it is better to enclose the drive shaft as it not only avoids dust but also improves the overall safety of the entire system. Additionally, it adds to the aesthetics whilst reducing noise and vibration.
[0005] This requirement of securing the drive shaft enclosure to the gear-box is addressed by using fasteners which interconnect gear-box and drive shaft enclosure.
[0006] Predominantly, the drive shaft enclosure is secured to the gear-box by an arrangement of groove, latch and pin or by an arrangement of bayonet recesses/protrusions assembly, which is characterised by the risk of disconnection and increased wear & tear due to multiple moving parts. Coupled to this, the presence of multiple grooves or bayonet recession introduces an area of failure and structural weakness in the fasteners.
[0007] The U.S. Patent Publication No. US6729250B2 titled “Coupling for a flexible rotatable drive shaft” discloses a flexible rotatable drive shaft provided with a first male coupling that is received in a second female coupling located on a gear-box. The male coupling therein has two circumferential grooves that define a first fully engaged position and a second intermediate engaged position. In both engaged positions the male coupler is mounted to the gear-box, however, in fully engaged position is the flexible rotatable drive shaft in a driving relationship with the gear-box. The female coupler is provided with a latch pin for selectively engaging the first and second circumferential grooves. The latch pin is provided with a circumferential surface for engaging the grooves and latching the flexible rotatable drive shaft to the gear-box and a recessed section for unlatching the flexible rotatable drive shaft from the gear-box.
[0008] The U.S. Patent Publication No. US20150342113A1 titled “Reversible seeder transmission and seeder drive apparatus” discloses an apparatus for transmitting power from a drive shaft to a seed meter shaft of a seed metering device includes a transmission. A transmission housing has a first housing section and an identical second housing section. The first housing section and the second housing section together define a first internal passageway and a second internal passageway. The transmission further includes a first transmission element rotatably supported by the first housing section and the second housing section in the first internal passageway. The first transmission element connects to one of drive shaft and the seed meter shaft. The transmission further includes a second transmission element rotatably supported by the first housing section and the second housing section in the second internal passageway. The second transmission element engages the first transmission element and connects to the other of the drive shaft and seed meter shaft. The flexible shaft assembly includes a housing that supports two identical transmission couplings near opposite ends of the shaft assembly. Each coupling includes bayonet recesses for receiving the bayonet protrusions and thereby securing the couplings to the transmission housings.
[0009] Hence there exists a need for securing the drive shaft enclosure in an efficient way.
Summary of the invention:
[0010] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an apparatus for securing the drive shaft enclosure to the gear-box. The apparatus comprises of a drive shaft enclosure which is secured to the gear-box through a snap-fit assembly consisting a pair of snap-fit hooks that are provided on either sides the gear-box and are projected outwards beyond the opening to secure the drive shaft enclosure to the gear-box.
[0011] Further, the apparatus consists of a ferrule that establishes a connection between the draft shaft enclosure and the gear-box. It is inserted into the gear-box at the drive shaft opening by a manual gentle push. The ferrule is secured into the housing with a ‘click’ of the snap-fit hooks.
[0012] The present invention prevents the disconnection of the gear-box with the drive shaft enclosure by employing a snap-fit assembly which ensures a strong connection between the gear-box and the drive shaft enclosure. Further, the snap-fit assembly comprising a pair of snap-fit hooks employs a minimalistic design and ensures increased shelf-life and decreased wear and tear of the apparatus due to the limited number of moving parts.
[0013] Brief description of the drawings:
[0014] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
Figure 1, Figure 1A and Figure 1B are the isometric, lateral and top view of the snap-fit assembly for drive shaft respectively.
Figure 2, Figure 2A and Figure 2B are the isometric, lateral and top view of the Gear box respectively.
Figure 3 and Figure 3A are the isometric and top view of the Gear box respectively.
Detailed description of the invention:
[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.
[0016] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of disconnection and increased wear & tear due to multiple moving parts. Mainly, it overcomes the drawback of structural weakness introduced by the presence of grooves, latch and pin or bayonet recesses/protrusions.
[0017] Figure 1, Figure 1A and Figure 1B illustrate an apparatus comprising a pair of snap-fit fastener(s) according to one embodiment of the invention. The apparatus mainly comprises a gear-box (101) that is connected to the drive shaft enclosure (103). The gear-box (101) secures the drive shaft enclosure (103) via a snap-fit assembly. The snap-fit assembly consists of snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) which secures the drive shaft enclosure (103) to the gear-box (101). The snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) are moulded on the gear-box (101) and the ferrule (104) collar as the mating parts.
[0018] Figure 2, Figure 2A and Figure 2B illustrate the gear-box (101) with the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B). The snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) illustrated in Figure 2, provided externally on either sides of the gear-box (101) are projected outwards beyond the opening for the drive shaft.
[0019] Figure 3 and Figure 3A illustrate the ferrule (104). The drive shaft enclosure terminates with a ferrule (104). The ferrule (104) is designed with a collar on its circumference for the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) of the gear-box (101) to on which the snap-fit hooks.
[0020] According to one or more embodiment of the present invention, the ferrule (104) is inserted into the gear-box (101) at the drive shaft opening by a gentle push manually. The ferrule (104) is secured into the housing with a ‘click’ of the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B).
[0021] Hence the present invention discloses an assembly to positively secure the drive shaft to the gear-box via snap-fit assembly while transmitting the torque and rotational power along the drive chain. It also overcomes the risk of disconnection and increased wear & tear due to multiple moving parts. The structural integrity of the ferrule is intact and not compromised as there are no groves or bayonet recession.
[0022] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist.
Reference numbers:
Components Reference Numbers
Gear-box 101
Snap-fit hooks 102A, 102B
Drive shaft enclosure 103
Ferrule 104
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An apparatus for securing a drive shaft enclosure (103) to a gear-box (101), the apparatus comprising:
a. at least one drive shaft enclosure (103) wherein the drive shaft enclosure (103) reduces wear and tear of the drive shaft;
b. at least one gear-box (101) wherein the gear-box (101) is connected to the drive shaft enclosure (103);
c. at least one pair of snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) wherein the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) secures the drive shaft enclosure (103) to the gear-box (101);
d. at least one ferrule (104) wherein the ferrule (104) is inserted into the gear-box (101) at the drive shaft opening by a manual gentle push.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear-box (101) is secured to the drive shaft enclosure (103) via a snap-fit assembly comprising of a pair of snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B) are provided on either side of the gear-box (101) and are projected outwards beyond the opening to secure the drive shaft enclosure (103) to the gear-box (101).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ferrule (104) is secured into the housing with a ‘click’ of the snap-fit hooks (102A, 102B).