Patent ID: 11858746
Assignee: CATERPILLAR INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 7:
8. A method for monitoring wear in a sprocket for use with at least one chain, the sprocket including:
a body mounted for rotation about an axis, and
a plurality of teeth projecting radially outwardly from the body with respect to the axis;
the teeth including wear surfaces configured to engage respective links of the at least one chain, wherein in use the wear surfaces are progressively worn by contact with the chain to define a varying wear profile of the teeth;
the method comprising:
arranging at least two datum connection portions spaced apart axially along the sprocket, the datum connection portions forming part of the sprocket but not part of the wear surfaces;
releasably engaging a datum body with the datum connection portions to extend axially along the sprocket between the datum connection portions, wherein the datum body is supported by the datum connection portions in a predefined position relative to the sprocket and proximate a respective one or ones of the wear surfaces, said predefined position being independent of the wear profile; and then
determining a distance between the wear surfaces and the datum body; and then
disengaging the datum body from the datum connection portions.