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A fluid drive system for vertical mixer tubs is provided. Rotational power from the power take-off of a tractor or other suitable vehicle is increased in rotational speed by an input gearbox. The input gearbox is, in turn, coupled to a fluid coupler that locks up when the input rotational speed reac

A fluid drive system for vertical mixer tubs is provided. Rotational power from the power take-off of a tractor or other suitable vehicle is increased in rotational speed by an input gearbox. The input gearbox is, in turn, coupled to a fluid coupler that locks up when the input rotational speed reaches an optimum speed. The output of the fluid coupler is coupled to an output gearbox that reduces the rotational speed of the fluid coupler. The output of the output gearbox is connected to the drive mechanism of the mixer tub auger.

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1. A fluid drive system for coupling an input drive shaft receiving rotational power from a power take-off (“PTO”) unit, the PTO unit operatively coupled to an engine disposed in a motor vehicle, to an output drive shaft for operating a vertical feed mixing tub, the fluid drive system comprising: a)

1. A fluid drive system for coupling an input drive shaft receiving rotational power from a power take-off (“PTO”) unit, the PTO unit operatively coupled to an engine disposed in a motor vehicle, to an output drive shaft for operating a vertical feed mixing tub, the fluid drive system comprising: a) an input gearbox having an input and an output, the input capable of operatively coupling to the input drive shaft, the input gearbox configured whereby the output rotates faster than the input, the input drive shaft configured for operatively coupling to the PTO unit;b) a fluid coupler having an input and an output, the coupler input operatively coupled to the output of the input gearbox;c) a flex coupler disposed between the output of the input gearbox and the input of the fluid coupler; andd) an output gearbox having an input and an output, the input operatively coupled to the fluid coupler output, the output gearbox configured whereby the output rotates slower than the input, the output of the output gearbox capable of operatively coupling to the output drive shaft, the output drive shaft configured for operatively coupling to the vertical feed mixing tub. 2. The fluid drive system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at approximately the same rotational speed as the input drive shaft when the fluid drive system is coupled to the input and output drive shafts. 3. The fluid drive system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the input gearbox has a gear ratio of 1:2. 4. The fluid drive system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the output gearbox has a gear ratio of 2:1. 5. A method of coupling an input drive shaft receiving rotational power from a power take-off (“PTO”) unit, the PTO unit operatively coupled to an engine disposed in a motor vehicle, to an output drive shaft for operating a vertical feed mixing tub, the method comprising the steps of: a) rotatably coupling the input drive shaft to a first coupling shaft whereby the first coupling shaft rotates faster than the rotational speed of the input drive shaft, the input drive shaft configured for operatively coupling to the PTO unit;b) rotatably coupling the first coupling shaft to a second coupling shaft whereby there is slippage initially between the first and second coupling shafts when the first coupling shaft begins to rotate, wherein the first coupling shaft is rotatably coupled to the second coupling shaft via a fluid coupler, and wherein the first coupling shaft is coupled to the fluid coupler via a flex coupler; andc) rotatably coupling the second coupling shaft to the output drive shaft whereby the output drive rotates slower than the rotational speed of the second coupling shaft, the output drive shaft configured for operatively coupling to the vertical feed mixing tub. 6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at approximately the same rotational speed as the input drive shaft. 7. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first coupling shaft rotates at twice the rotational speed of the input drive shaft. 8. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at half the rotational speed of the second coupling shaft. 9. A motor vehicle having a power take-off (“PTO”) unit, the improvement comprising a fluid drive system for coupling the PTO unit to a vertical feed mixing tub, the fluid drive system comprising: a) an input drive shaft operatively coupling the PTO unit to an input gearbox having an input and an output, the input capable of operatively coupling to the input drive shaft, the input gearbox configured whereby the output rotates faster than the input;b) a fluid coupler having an input and an output, the coupler input operatively coupled to the output of the input gearbox;c) a flex coupler disposed between the output of the input gearbox and the input of the fluid coupler; andd) an output gearbox having an input and an output, the input operatively coupled to the fluid coupler output, the output gearbox configured whereby the output rotates slower than the input, the output of the output gearbox capable of operatively coupling to an output drive shaft operatively coupled to the vertical feed mixing tub. 10. The motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at approximately the same rotational speed as the input drive shaft when the fluid drive system is coupled to the input and output drive shafts. 11. The motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the input gearbox has a gear ratio of 1:2. 12. The motor vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the output gearbox has a gear ratio of 2:1. 13. A drive system for coupling a power take-off (“PTO”) unit disposed on a motor vehicle to a vertical feed mixing tub, the drive system comprising: a) first means for coupling an input drive shaft to a first coupling shaft whereby the first coupling shaft rotates faster than the rotational speed of the input drive shaft, the input drive shaft configured for receiving rotational power from the PTO unit;b) second means for coupling the first coupling shaft to a second coupling shaft whereby there is slippage initially between the first and second coupling shafts when the first coupling shaft begins to rotate;c) flex coupling means for coupling the first coupling shaft to the second means; andd) third means for coupling the second coupling shaft to an output drive shaft whereby the output drive shaft rotates slower than the rotational speed of the second coupling shaft, the output drive shaft configured for operatively coupling to the vertical feed mixing tub. 14. The drive system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at approximately the same rotational speed as the input drive shaft. 15. The drive system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first coupling shaft rotates at twice the rotational speed of the input drive shaft. 16. The drive system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the output drive shaft rotates at half the rotational speed of the second coupling shaft. 17. The drive system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second means further comprises a fluid coupler. 18. The drive system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the flex means further comprises a flex coupler.