-2-This invention relates to a planetary geared drum
sprocket drive which is suitable for chain
conveyors employing two or more chains and
integrates the following main components, namely,
the sprockets, the reduction gear of multi stage
planetary type,the bearing supports and the shaft
connecting the sprockets into one compact pre-
assembled unit.
There is also a provision for mounting a flange type drive motor onto one of the bearing supports. The motor shaft fits into the hollow input shaft of the gear box. The whole unit along with the drive motor, can be simply and directly mounted on the conveyor supporting structure.
The planetary geared drum sprocket drive, according to this invention, comprises a rotating gear housing wherein multi-stage planetary gearing with ring gears form part of the said housing ;an input shaft for the said assembly which is hollow on one side to receive the drive motor shaft, said input shaft being connected to the first stage sun gear of the said assembly; and a plurality of chain sprockets coupled to the said

assembly, said chain sprockets being mounted directly on the said rotating housing.
This invention will now be described in further
detail by reference to the accompanying drawings
which illustrate, by way of example, one of its
various possible embodiments, wherein
Fig.l illustrates the general view of the total unit including the drive motor.
Fig.2 illustrates the general arrangement of the said embodiment
and
Fig.3 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the said embodiment.
The general arrangement is schematically shown in Fig. 2 in which three planetary stages are included. The actual number of planetary stages depends on the total reduction required from the drive motor rpm to sprocket rpm.
The input shaft 1 of the unit is made hollow on one side to receive the drive motor shaft and is

connected to the 1st stage sun gear 1-2 on the other, either through keys or splines. 1-3 are the 1st stage planets ( of which there are three in number) which freely rotate on planet pins attached to 1st stage planet carrier 1-4. The 1st stage ring gear 1-5 rotates with the sprocket rpm. The 2nd stage sun II-2 is connected to the 1st stage planet carrier 1-4 through splines with a clearance fit. II-3, II-4 and II-5 are the 2nd stage planets (three Nos), planet carrier and ring gear respectively and are similar to the 1st stage counterparts except that they are designed to transmit the higher torque at the sun gear II-2. The third stage sun III-2 is like-wise connected to the second stage planet carrier II-4 through splines with a clearance fit. This sun engages with the three planets III-3 which are mounted on the stationary third stage planet carrier III-4. The third stage ring gear III-5 is connected to the sprockets and rotates along with them and the other ring gears. The ring gears, the connecting parts 6 and end cover 7 and 8 form the housing for the speed reduction gears as well as replaces the

We Claim:
1 .A planetary geared drum sprocket drive comprising a rotating gear housing wherein multi¬stage planetary gearing with ring gears form part of the said housing: an input shaft for the said assembly which is hollow on one side to receive the drive motor shaft, said input shaft being connected to the first stage sun gear of the said assembly; and a plurality of chain sprockets coupled to the said assembly, said chain sprockets being mounted directly on the said rotating housing.
2.A planetary geared drum sprocket drive susbstantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.