초록 ▼

A sprocket is disclosed for driving a chain with a plurality of chain rollers. The sprocket may be used to drive a material removal chain of a trencher. The sprocket has various cut-aways or reliefs on each face thereof to more effectively clear particulate debris from beneath chain rollers during c

A sprocket is disclosed for driving a chain with a plurality of chain rollers. The sprocket may be used to drive a material removal chain of a trencher. The sprocket has various cut-aways or reliefs on each face thereof to more effectively clear particulate debris from beneath chain rollers during cutting or digging operations. The sprocket also has asymmetrical teeth designed to help minimize changes in pitch diameter due to debris entrained beneath chain rollers. Reducing changes in pitch diameter greatly reduces premature wear of the sprocket and its chain. Reducing changes in pitch diameter also greatly reduces the tendency for the chain to bind.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A material removal implement, which comprises:(a) a roller chain having a plurality of chain rollers, the roller chain carrying a plurality of cutter blades or bits that remove material as the roller chain is driven; (b) a drive sprocket and at least one idler member around which the roller chain

1. A material removal implement, which comprises:(a) a roller chain having a plurality of chain rollers, the roller chain carrying a plurality of cutter blades or bits that remove material as the roller chain is driven; (b) a drive sprocket and at least one idler member around which the roller chain is entrained, wherein the drive sprocket has a plurality of radially outwardly extending teeth that engage against the chain rollers of the chain; (c) a drive system coupled to the drive sprocket for rotating the drive sprocket in at least a forward direction to thereby drive the roller chain in a forward direction in which the cutter blades or bits remove material; and (d) wherein the drive sprocket has asymetrically shaped teeth with each tooth having a leading flank and a trailing flank taken with respect to the forward direction of rotation of the drive sprocket, wherein the drive sprocket has a plurality of gullets formed between adjacent teeth thereof with each gullet receiving a single chain roller when the chain passes around the sprocket with each single chain roller simultaneously contacting a leading flank of one tooth and a trailing flank of an adjacent tooth when each single chain roller is in fully engaged contact with the drive sprocket in a gullet between adjacent teeth, and wherein the trailing flank has a larger angle with respect to a radial line extending from a center of the drive sprocket through an apex of the trailing flank than the angle formed between the leading flank and a radial line extending from a center of the drive sprocket through an apex of the leading flank.