Guard for a drive shaft

Claim 1

A guard for enclosing a drive shaft assembly including a drive shaft and a universal joint connected to the drive shaft, comprising axially extending tubular means for laterally enclosing the drive shaft assembly, a bearing ring arranged to engage the drive shaft assembly so that it is secured against axial displacement on the assembly, said bearing ring having radially outwardly directed locking tongues, said tubular means includes a stop surface, said tubular means being axially displaceable over and relative to said bearing ring until said stop surface contacts said bearing ring, wherein the improvement comprises that said tubular means has axially extending passageways arranged to be aligned with and to receive said locking tongues so that said tubular means can be moved axially relative to said bearing ring with said locking tongues located within said passageways during such axial movement, said tubular means includes an axially extending funnel-shaped member, a tubular member, and an intermediate tubular part interconnecting said funnel-shaped member and said tubular member, said passageways being formed by said funnel-shaped member, said stop surface is formed on said intermediate tubular part, said funnel-shaped member having an end surface extending transversely of the axis thereof and spaced closely axially from and facing said stop surface, sand said funnel-shaped member being rotatable about the axis thereof from the position with said bearing ring in contact with said stop surface where said tongues aligned with said passageways to a position where said tongues are spaced angularly from said passageways and are located between said stop surface and said end surface on said funnel-shaped member, and said tubular means are held on the drive shaft assembly against axial displacement.