Shaft locking device

Claim 1

IN A PORTABLE AGITATOR WHEREIN A VERTICALLY DEPENDING DRIVEN SHAFT OF SUBSTANTIAL FREE LENGTH INCLUDES A HOLLOW TUBE HAVING A SOLID GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SHAFT SECURED THERETO AND IS PROVIDED WITH A PROPELLER AT ONE END THEREOF, AN IMPROVED SHAFT LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING THE SOLID SHAFT IN TELESCOPING RELATION TO THE HOLLOW TUBE, COMPRISING A COLLET POSITIONED OVER SAID TUBE AND HAVING AT LEAST TWO SPACED THREADED APERTURES DISPOSED LENGTHWISE THEREON, SAID TUBE HAVING AT LEAST TWO SPACED APERTURES EACH ALIGNED WITH ONE OF THE APERTURES IN SAID COLLET, SAID SOLID SHAFT BEING PROVIDED WITH A FLAT SECTION LOCATED ALONG THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE THEREOF FACING EACH SAID APERTURE IN SAID TUBE, AND SET SCREW MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID THREADED APERTURES AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID COLLET AND SAID TUBE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLAT SECTION TO POSITION SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID TUBE IN FIRM DRIVING RELATION THEREWITH AND RELEASABLE TO ALLOW ADJUSTMENT OF SAID SHAFT WHILE PREVENTING REMOVAL OF SAID SHAFT FROM SAID TUBE, SAID FLAT SECTION OF SAID SHAFT BEING GREATER IN LENGTH THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID COLLET FOR ALLOWING TELESCOPING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID TUBE THEREBY TO PROVIDE ADJUSTMENT OF THE EFFECTIVE FREE LENGTH OF SAID SHAFT.