Two part sprocket wheel

Abstract

A two part sprocket wheel engages modular belt modules in a conveyor belt. The sprocket wheel's periphery elements' outer edges form a full circle. On each inner periphery four engagement ridges are provided. When the sprocket wheel is mounted around the axle, only the engagement ridges touch and engage the axle. The sprocket wheel construction between the engagement ridges is removed from the drive axle. It is possible to flush and clean the areas around the drive axle being partly covered by the sprocket wheel in an easy and accessible manner. The engagement ridges have a very limited engagement area in order to contact the drive axle and thereby convey the torque forces from the drive axle to the teeth of the sprocket wheel. The engagement ridges are in very firm engagement with the drive axles, such that no material may remain where the engagement ridges engage the drive axles.

Claims

1. Two part sprocket wheel (1) adapted to engage modular belt modules in a conveyor belt, where the two part sprocket wheel (1) comprises: two periphery elements (10, 11), each periphery element (10,11) having an outer edge (13) and inner edge (12) and a web body (9) there between, where sprocket teeth (15) are provided on the outer edge (13), and where the inner edge (12) has an engagement surface, and where each periphery element (10, 11) has engagement ridges (16) for being connected and fastened to and adjacent periphery element (10, 11), such that the two periphery elements' outer edges (13) form a full circle, the circle being arranged in a common plane, wherein centrally in the sprocket wheel (1) an aperture (20) is provided, the aperture (20) being dimensioned to accommodate a substantially rectangular axle, where the longitudinal axis of the axle is perpendicular to the common plane of the two part sprocket wheel (1), where each part of the sprocket wheel (10, 11) has four engagement ridges (21, 22, 23, 24), which engagement ridges (21, 22, 23, 24) when the sprocket wheel is mounted around the axle will engage the axle, where a first pair of ridges (21, 22) are arranged orthogonal to each other, and where a bent out section (25), connects the two engagement ridges (21, 22), where a second pair of engagement ridges (23, 24) is mirrored the first pair (21, 22), such that the two engagement ridges (22, 23) of different pairs being in the same plane are separated by a cut-out (26), and where parallel to the inner edge, a certain distance away from the aperture (20), assembly flanges (27, 28) are provided, where each assembly flange is provided with an aperture (30) on either side of the web (9), where the aperture (30) is surrounded by an upstanding circumferential ridge (31), the ridge on its distal end being provided with centering and engagement elements (32), such that as two sprocket wheel parts (10, 11) are assembled to a sprocket wheel (1), the centering and engagement elements (32) on a first sprocket wheel part (10) engages and centers the corresponding centering and engagement elements (32) on the second sprocket wheel part (11), whereby the apertures (30) on the first and second sprocket wheel parts (10, 11) overlap, and assembly bolts (33) may be inserted in order to connect and fix the two parts of the sprocket wheel to each other.

2. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the engagement ridges (21, 22, 23, 24) extend a certain determined distance perpendicularly on either side of the web (9), a certain determined distance.

3. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1 wherein the circumferential ridges (31) create a distance between the inner edges (12) and the assembly flanges (27, 28).

4. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bent out sections (25) have a radius of between 5 mm and 25 mm.

5. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cut-out (26) separate adjacent ridges by between 5 mm and 40 mm, and that the cut-out (26) radially extends between 5 mm and 40 mm from the plane of the ridges (22, 23).

6. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the assembly bolt (33) comprises a head section (34) and a nut (35), and where a resilient gasket (36) is provided between the head section (34) and the assembly flange (27) and the nut (35) and the assembly flange (27).

7. Two part sprocket wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein a gasket or seal (39) is provided between the centering and engagement elements (32) of the two sprocket wheel parts, when assembled.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled two part sprocket wheel;

(3) FIG. 2a illustrates one type of periphery elements;

(4) FIG. 2b illustrates two halves of the two part sprocket wheel overlapping each other;

(5) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through an assembly of two sprocket wheel parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In FIG. 1 is illustrated an assembled two part sprocket wheel 1 according to the invention. The sprocket wheel 1 comprises two periphery elements 10, 11 where each periphery element has an outer edge 13 and an inner edge 12. Between the outer edge 13 and the inner edge 12 is defined a web which in the illustrated example is a solid section but in other applications the web 9 may be provided with cut-outs such that a spoke structure is present, but under any circumstances the web will be designed such that it can transfer the torque forces from the drive axle (not illustrated) to the drive teeth 15 in order to propel the conveying belt.

(7) Each half of the two part sprocket wheel comprises means 16 suitable to connect the two periphery elements 10, 11 such that the two periphery elements' outer edges will form a substantially full circle which is comparable to a normal wheel. The periphery element's outer edge 13 of both two periphery elements will when they are assembled be situated in a common plane.

(8) Centrally in the sprocket wheel is provided an aperture 20 which aperture has a size suitable to accommodate a drive axle (not illustrated). A suitable drive axle for driving the illustrated two part sprocket wheel will have a square cross-section such that the engagement means will as will be explained further below engage and come into contact with all four sides of the drive axle in order to transfer the torque forces from the drive axle to the conveyor belt.

(9) In order to engage the drive axle the means 16 are provided in the shape of engagement ridges 21, 22, 23, 24. The engagement ridges are arranged in pairs such that each pair comprises two ridges arranged orthogonal to each other suitable to be arranged around a 90 degree corner of the drive axle. That is to say that once the drive axle is inserted through the aperture 20 in the sprocket wheel construction as depicted in FIG. 1, one engagement ridge 21 of a pair will engage one side of the corner whereas the other engagement ridge 22 of the same pair of engagement ridges 21, 22 will engage a side face arranged at a 90 degree angle to the side face of the drive axle from which the first engagement ridge 21 of the pair engages the drive axle. In this manner as depicted in FIG. 1 four pairs of engagement ridges will engage the drive axle with two engagement ridges on each side face of a rectangular drive axle.

(10) Furthermore, two engagement ridges 21, 22 of a pair will be arranged with a bent-out section 25 between the ridges such that when the drive axle is inserted in the aperture 20 an opening will be provided by the bent-out section 25 making it possible to thoroughly clean this opening by flushing or spraying water through the space between the bent-out section 25 and the corner of the drive axle. See also FIG. 2a.

(11) Furthermore, adjacent pairs of engagement ridges on each periphery element 11, 12 will be separated by a relatively large cut-out 26, again in order to make flushing or jets of water able to penetrate and thoroughly clean the area around the drive axle where the sprocket wheel is arranged.

(12) In order to assemble the two periphery elements 10, 11 making up the two part sprocket wheel 1 assembly flanges 27, 28 are provided where in each assembly flange 27, 28 two apertures are provided, one on either side of the web 9. In this manner, once the periphery elements 10, 11 are brought up adjacent to each other the apertures in the assembly flanges 27, 28 on each periphery element 10, 11 will overlap whereby it is possible to insert for example a connection bolt 33 and tighten the two parts around the drive axle.

(13) By tightening the bolts 33, i.e. two bolts on either side of the web, the engagement ridges 21, 22, 23, 24 of each periphery element 10, 11 will come into firm and solid engagement with the drive axle thereby being able to transfer the torque forces from the drive axle to the sprocket teeth 15 arranged along the outer edge 13 of the periphery elements 10, 11. At the same time the contact will hinder any foreign matter in being lodged between the axle and the engagement ridges.

(14) In FIG. 2 is illustrated a single periphery element 10, 11. The periphery elements are identical such that it is only necessary to manufacture one type of periphery element as they are symmetrical around a common plane passing through the web whereby it is possible to assemble two identical periphery elements 10, 11 into a two part sprocket wheel.

(15) The periphery element 10, 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 has a web 9 and sprocket teeth 15 as already discussed above. Furthermore, the assembly flanges 27, 28 are clearly visible and it is clear that the assembly flanges as well as the engagement ridges 21, 22, 23, 24 extend a certain distance in the longitudinal direction of the drive axle (not illustrated) on either side of the web 9.

(16) Furthermore, in the assembly flanges 27, 28 are provided apertures 30 which apertures are surrounded by upstanding circumferential ridges 31. The circumferential ridges may be provided on both assembly flanges 27, 28 or the circumferential flanges may be of different design on one of the flanges such that as will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 when the two upstanding circumferential ridges are assembled they will overlap each other in order to centre and close off the space created by the overlapping apertures in order to hinder any ingress of liquids or debris.

(17) Alternatively, as is illustrated with reference to FIG. 2a one type of periphery elements 10, 11 may be provided with the upstanding circumferential ridge 31 whereas the other half of the two part sprocket wheel may be provided with circumferential ridges 31′ having a larger diameter than the circumferential ridges 31 of the first part of the sprocket wheel whereby when assembled the larger diameters of upstanding circumferential ridges 31′ as illustrated in FIG. 2b will overlap and enclose the circumferential ridges 31 of the first part thereby creating a closed space 40 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(18) Turning to FIG. 3 a cross-section through an assembly of two sprocket wheel parts is illustrated. In this cross-section part of the drive axle 45 is illustrated and it is clear that the engagement ridges 21, 22, 23, 24 are in close contact with the drive axle 45.

(19) The bent-out section 25 clearly provides a relatively large opening 41 which may easily be cleaned.

(20) Furthermore, the assembly flanges 27, 28 including the centering and engagement means 32, for example in the shape of upstanding circumferential ridges 31 are clearly visible. Furthermore, a bolt 33 is illustrated having a head section 34 and provided with a nut 35 such that by turning the nut relative to the thread provided on the bolt the two assembly flanges 27, 28 will be urged towards each other thereby clamping the drive axle by means of the engagement ridges 21, 22, 23, 24 into a firm and torque conveying engagement.

(21) In order to foresee that the apertures provided in order to accommodate the bolt 33 do not accumulate debris or fluid, gaskets or seals 36 may be provided between the head and nut respectively and the assembly flanges 27, 28. Likewise, a further seal 39 may be provided between the centering and engagement means 32 in order to seal off the space 40.

(22) As explained above an easy-to-clean and hygienically acceptable two part sprocket wheel construction is provided by the present invention.