Split topshaft sprocket for agricultural headers

A feeder housing shaft sprocket assembly comprising:

• a shaft configured to rotate about a center axis;
• a flange rigidly secured to and extending radially from the shaft, the flange comprising a plurality of flange drive surfaces extending away from the center axis;
• and
• a plurality of sprocket segments releasably secured to the flange, wherein each sprocket segment comprises:
• a sprocket segment body extending in a circumferential direction around a center axis from a leading edge to a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and trailing edge subtend a segment angle about the center axis, the segment angle being a first unit fraction of 360°,
• an outer sprocket perimeter comprising a plurality of teeth evenly arranged in the circumferential direction about the center axis with each tooth spaced by a tooth angle from each adjacent tooth, the tooth angle being a second unit fraction of 360°, and
• a plurality of engagement surfaces extending towards the center axis and facing in the circumferential direction and in contact with a respective one of the flange drive surfaces, the plurality of engagement surfaces being asymmetrical relative to a plane defined by the center axis and a radial projection from the center axis that bisects the sprocket segment body midway between the leading edge and the trailing edge.

A feeder housing shaft sprocket assembly comprising:

• a shaft configured to rotate about a center axis;
• a flange rigidly secured to and extending radially from the shaft and having a repeating pattern of flange drive surfaces;
• and
• a plurality of sprocket segments releasably secured to the flange, each sprocket segment having an outer sprocket perimeter comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality of engagement surfaces configured to engage only a respective portion of the repeating pattern of flange drive surfaces;
• wherein the teeth of the plurality of sprocket segments are configured to be spaced evenly about the center axis when all of the sprocket segments are secured to the flange,
• and the repeating pattern of flange drive surfaces and the plurality of engagement surfaces are configured to prevent connection of the plurality of sprocket segments to the flange in a reversed orientation, and wherein, for each sprocket segment, the plurality of engagement surfaces being asymmetrical relative to a plane defined by the center axis and a radial projection from the center axis that bisects the sprocket segment body midway between the leading edge and the trailing edge.

An agricultural vehicle comprising:

• a chassis configured for movement on a surface;
• a header configured to remove crop material from the surface;
• and
• a feeder assembly connected between the header and the chassis, and configured to convey the crop material from the header to the chassis, the feeder assembly comprising a feeder housing and a feeder conveyor located in the feeder housing and supported by a feeder shaft assembly, the feeder shaft assembly comprising:
• a shaft configured to rotate about a center axis;
• a flange rigidly secured to and extending radially from the shaft, the flange comprising a plurality of flange drive surfaces extending away from the center axis;
• and
• a plurality of sprocket segments releasably secured to the flange, wherein each sprocket segment comprises:
• a body extending in a circumferential direction around a center axis from leading edge to a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and trailing edge subtend a segment angle about the center axis, the segment angle being a first unit fraction of 360°,
• an outer sprocket perimeter comprising a plurality of teeth evenly arranged in the circumferential direction about the center axis with each tooth spaced by a tooth angle from each adjacent tooth, the tooth angle being a second unit fraction of 360°, and
• a plurality of engagement surfaces extending towards the center axis and facing in the circumferential direction and in contact with a respective one of the flange drive surfaces, the plurality of engagement surfaces being asymmetrical relative to a plane defined by the center axis and a radial projection from the center axis that bisects the sprocket segment body midway between the leading edge and the trailing edge.