Sprocket locking segments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794830-B2
Application number	US-202117155566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 22, 2021
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A sprocket segment includes a body with an attachment web including a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end. A sprocket region extends radially outwardly from the attachment web, including a plurality of lugs. The first circumferential end includes a dovetail recess including a first side flat surface extending circumferentially and radially from the first circumferential end, a second side flat surface extending circumferentially and radially from the first circumferential end, and an arcuate bottom surface extending radially between the first side flat surface and the second side flat surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sprocket assembly comprising:
a cylindrical hub defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction,
a plurality of mounting holes extending axially into the cylindrical hub;

a first sprocket segment including:
a first attachment web including a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, and
a first sprocket region extending radially outwardly from the first attachment web and including a first plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs,
wherein the first circumferential end includes a single dovetail recess,
wherein the first sprocket region defines a first sprocket region axial width, and
wherein the first attachment web defines a first web axial thickness that is less than the first sprocket region axial width; and

a second sprocket segment including:
a second attachment web including a first circumferential extremity and a second circumferential extremity, and
a second sprocket region extending radially outwardly from the second attachment web and including a second plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs,
wherein the first circumferential extremity includes a single dovetail projection that mates with the single dovetail recess of the first sprocket segment,
wherein the single dovetail projection includes a first side face,
wherein the first side face forms an acute angle with the radial direction that ranges from 2.0 degrees to 20.0 degrees,
wherein the second sprocket region defines a second sprocket region axial width, and
wherein the second attachment web defines a second web axial thickness that is less than the second sprocket region axial width.

2. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the single dovetail recess defines a recess outline, and
wherein the single dovetail projection defines a projection perimeter that is at least partially offset from the recess outline.

3. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the single dovetail recess includes a concave arcuate surface, and
wherein the single dovetail projection includes a convex arcuate surface that defines the first circumferential extremity, and
wherein the convex arcuate surface is offset from the concave arcuate surface an offset distance that ranges from greater than 0 mm to 10.0 mm.

4. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first circumferential end of the first sprocket segment is spaced circumferentially away from the second sprocket segment an offset distance that ranges from greater than 0 mm to 10.0 mm.

5. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the single dovetail recess includes a first undercut surface, and
wherein the first side face contacts the first undercut surface.

6. The sprocket assembly of claim 5 ,
wherein the single dovetail recess further includes a second undercut surface, and
wherein the single dovetail projection further includes a second side face that contacts the second undercut surface.

7. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the single dovetail projection includes a first undercut surface and a second undercut surface that are flat.

8. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first side face is flat.

9. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the single dovetail recess includes a first undercut surface, and
wherein the first side face is parallel to the first undercut surface.

10. The sprocket assembly of claim 1 wherein the first sprocket segment and the second sprocket segment have identical configurations.

11. A sprocket segment comprising:
a body with an arcuate surface defining a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of rotation,
the body including:
an attachment web including a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, and
a plurality of mounting apertures extending axially through the body; and

a sprocket region extending radially outwardly from the attachment web and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs;
wherein the first circumferential end includes a dovetail recess including:
a first side flat surface extending from the first circumferential end,
a second side flat surface extending from the first circumferential end, and
an arcuate bottom surface extending between the first side flat surface and the second side flat surface,
wherein a length of the arcuate bottom surface is greater than a distance that is spaced away from the arcuate bottom surface in the circumferential direction and is between the first side flat surface and the second side flat surface.

12. The sprocket segment of claim 11 , wherein the dovetail recess includes:
a first blend tangentially connecting the first circumferential end to the first side flat surface, and
a second blend tangentially connecting the first circumferential end to the second side flat surface.

13. The sprocket segment of claim 12 , wherein the dovetail recess further includes:
a third blend tangentially connecting the first side flat surface to the arcuate bottom surface, and
a fourth blend tangentially connecting the second side flat surface to the arcuate bottom surface.

14. The sprocket segment of claim 11 , wherein the second circumferential end is defined by a dovetail projection.

15. The sprocket segment of claim 11 ,
wherein the first circumferential end lacks a dovetail projection, and
wherein the second circumferential end lacks a dovetail recess.

16. A sprocket segment comprising:
a body with an arcuate surface defining a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of rotation,
the body including:
an attachment web including a first circumferential end and a second circumferential end, and
a plurality of mounting apertures extending axially through the body; and

a sprocket region extending radially outwardly from the attachment web and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending lugs;
wherein the first circumferential end includes a dovetail projection including:
a first side straight surface extending from the first circumferential end,
a second side straight surface extending from the first circumferential end, and
an arcuate top surface extending between the first side straight surface and the second side straight surface,
the arcuate top surface defining the first circumferential end, and
a length of the arcuate top surface being greater than a distance that is spaced away from the arcuate top surface in the circumferential direction and is between the first side straight surface and the second side straight surface.

17. The sprocket segment of claim 16 , wherein the dovetail projection includes:
a first transitional surface connecting the arcuate top surface to the first side straight surface, and
a second transitional surface connecting the arcuate top surface to the second side straight surface.

18. The sprocket segment of claim 17 ,
wherein the first transitional surface is a first radius that tangentially connects the arcuate top surface to the first side straight surface,
wherein the second transitional surface is a second radius that tangentially connect the arcuate top surface to the second side straight surface, and
wherein the dovetail projection includes:
a third radius that tangentially connects the first side straight surface to a first radially extending surface, and
a fourth radius that tangentially connecting the second side straight surface to a second radially extending surface.

19. The sprocket segment of claim 16 , wherein the second

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Hunt Lewis C
• Kalmes Donald John
• Hakes David J

Classifications

• B62D55/13 Primary

  readily interchangeable modular type · CPC title

• B62D55/12 Primary

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets · CPC title