Drive sprocket for a roller chain for material removal implement

摘要

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.