Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC

Estel Owens

Darren Brent Antoine

Adalbert Zimmer

Roger Lee O'Quinn

Todd William Wampler

Steven Murray Shaffer

A sprocket is disclosed. The sprocket may have a cylindrical hub having a first hub end and a second hub end disposed opposite the first hub end. The sprocket may also have a sprocket wheel disposed on the cylindrical hub between the first hub end and the second hub end. The sprocket may further have at least one tooth disposed on the sprocket wheel. The at least one tooth may have a tooth bottom disposed on a root circle. The at least one tooth may also have a tooth flank extending radially outward from the root circle to an outer surface of the at least one tooth. In addition, the at least one tooth may have a flat extending from the tooth bottom at a generally obtuse angle relative to a radial axis of the at least one tooth.

Sprocket for a track-type machine

A continuous mining machine may include a stationary boom member, a stationary gear and bearing housing attached to the boom member, and a cutter drum assembly rotatably mounted on the stationary gear and bearing housing. Cutting elements and spray nozzles may be mounted on the rotatable cutter drum assembly. The spray nozzles may be configured to direct liquid spray at a mine face as mine material is dislodged by rotation of the cutter drum assembly and contact of the cutting elements with the mine face. Stationary liquid passageways may be provided through the gear and bearing housing, and rotatable liquid passageways may be provided through the rotatable cutter drum assembly and configured to convey liquid to the spray nozzles. A liquid distribution cavity may be defined within the cutter drum assembly between two labyrinth-type, non-contacting seal assemblies, the liquid distribution cavity configured to convey liquid from the stationary liquid passageways to the rotatable liquid passageways and to the spray nozzles.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, PA, United States of America

Estel Owens