Split sprocket assembly
AssigneeUCC Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Gladczak, David P. Gruettner, Edward W. Mentzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A split power transmission element, such as a sprocket, mountable on a driven shaft. A pair of substantially identical sprocket halves each include a pair of aligned, hollow, fastener sleeves extending diagonally through the plane of the sprocket. A pair of fasteners within the sleeves join the sprocket halves to each other and clamp the sprocket onto the shaft. The diagonal orientation of the fastener sleeves permits convenient disassembly of the sprocket from an upwardly located, axially displaced position. The sprocket halves are substantially identical and can be economically molded using a single mold. A keyway insert distributes driving forces throughout the sprocket hub and increases the maximum torque capacity of the sprocket.
Claims32
A power transmission element mountable on a shaft, comprising:
- a pair of power transmission components, each of said power transmission element components having a generally semi-circular configuration and including a hub portion configured to overlie a portion of the shaft and further including a pair of substantially parallel fastener means on opposite sides of said hub portion oriented diagonally relative to the plane of rotation of said power transmission element component;
- and
- a fastener within each of said fastener means for joining said power transmission element components to each other to form a power transmission element having a central hub shaped and dimensioned to encircle the shaft.
A power transmission element half for a split power transmission element mountable on a drive shaft, said power transmission element half comprising:
- a generally semi-circular member having an outer circumference, a diametric edge and a pair of opposed faces;
- a hub portion formed along said diametric edge shaped to overlie a portion of the driveshaft and defining a central axis oriented coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft when said hub portion overlies the driveshaft;
- a first fastener sleeve on one side of said hub portion having a hollow interior, said hollow interior extending diagonally through said opposed faces substantially in a plane oriented substantially parallel to said central axis and substantially perpendicularly to said diametric edge;
- and
- a second fastener sleeve on the opposite side of said hub portion having a hollow interior oriented substantially parallel to the hollow interior of said first fastener sleeve.
A conveyor sprocket mountable on a shaft, comprising:
- a pair of sprocket elements, each of said sprocket elements having a generally semi-circular configuration and including a hub portion configured to overlie a portion of the shaft and further including a pair of substantially parallel fastener sleeves on opposite sides of said hub portion oriented diagonally relative to the plane of rotation of said sprocket element;
- and
- a fastener within each of said fastener sleeves for joining said sprocket elements to each other to form a sprocket having a central hub shaped and dimensioned to encircle the shaft.
A sprocket half for a split sprocket mountable on a drive shaft, said sprocket half comprising:
- a generally semi-circular member having an outer circumference, a diametric edge and a pair of opposed faces;
- a hub portion formed along said diametric edge shaped to overlie a portion of the driveshaft and defining a central axis oriented coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft when said hub portion overlies the driveshaft;
- a first fastener sleeve on one side of said hub portion having a hollow interior, said hollow interior extending diagonally through said opposed faces substantially in a plane oriented substantially parallel to said central axis and substantially perpendicularly to said diametric edge;
- and
- a second fastener sleeve on the opposite side of said hub portion having a hollow interior oriented substantially parallel to the hollow interior of said first fastener sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.