Abstract: A rotary component is provided, including a body that has a non-circular periphery and a plurality of teeth positioned about the periphery of the body. The non-circular periphery of the body causes variation in the tension generated in an endless drive member engaged with the rotary component during rotation of the rotary component about an axis. A valley separates each tooth from each adjacent tooth. At least one of the width of each valley and the tooth pitch is generally related to the amount of tension generated in the endless drive member during rotation of the rotary component about the axis at a time when the valley receives a belt tooth. In a preferred embodiment, both the valley width and the tooth pitch are generally related to the amount of tension generated in the endless drive member during rotation of the rotary component about the axis at a time when the valley receives a belt tooth.

Abstract: A pulley has a hub and a rim. The hub is configured to be mountable on a driving shaft. A driving connection between the hub and rim is provided. In a first embodiment, a drive mechanism is operable to configure the rim between a circular profile and a non-circular profile. The non-circular profile produces a counteracting torque to offset load torques produced by the engine. The drive mechanism can be electrical, inertial, hydraulic or any combination thereof. In a second embodiment, the rim is fixed with a non-circular profile.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus that includes a continuous loop elongate drive structure and first and second driven rotors that are configured to cooperate with the continuous loop elongate drive structure to generate first and second opposing fluctuating corrective torques, respectively, that are configured to at least partly counteract first and second periodic fluctuating load torques, respectively.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly.

Abstract: A rotary component with a rotor having a plurality of teeth arranged around the perimeter of the rotor. Each tooth has a crown and each pair of adjacent teeth has a valley therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the rotor. The perimeter of the rotor has a non-circular profile with at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions, in which the distance between the midpoints of the crowns of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, the profile of the valley between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, and the distance between the midpoint of each crown and the axis of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.

Abstract: A tensioner assembly for a drive system, including a chain, of an internal combustion engine, includes a housing that is fixedly secured to the internal combustion engine. A piston is disposed within the housing. The piston is moveable between retracted and extended positions. The piston generates a force. A pivoting guide operatively extends between the chain of the drive system and the piston. The pivoting guide applies a first portion of the force against the chain. A lever is operatively connected to the piston between the piston and the pivoting guide. The lever translates the force from the piston to the pivoting guide. The tensioner assembly also includes a cam member that is pivotally coupled to the housing and is slidingly engaged with the pivoting guide. The cam member abuts the lever such that movement of the lever by the piston pivots the cam member in a manner that applies a second portion of the force against the pivoting guide in a varying magnitude.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly.

Abstract: A pulley has a hub and a rim. The hub is configured to be mountable on a driving shaft. A driving connection between the hub and rim is provided. In a first embodiment, a drive mechanism is operable to configure the rim between a circular profile and a non-circular profile. The non-circular profile produces a counteracting torque to offset load torques produced by the engine. The drive mechanism can be electrical, inertial, hydraulic or any combination thereof. In a second embodiment, the rim is fixed with a non-circular profile.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus that includes a continuous loop elongate drive structure and first and second driven rotors that are configured to cooperate with the continuous loop elongate drive structure to generate first and second opposing fluctuating corrective torques, respectively, that are configured to at least partly counteract first and second periodic fluctuating load torques, respectively.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly.

Abstract: A rotary component with a rotor having a plurality of teeth arranged around the perimeter of the rotor. Each tooth has a crown and each pair of adjacent teeth has a valley therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the rotor. The perimeter of the rotor has a non-circular profile with at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions, in which the distance between the midpoints of the crowns of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, the profile of the valley between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same, and the distance between the midpoint of each crown and the axis of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.

Abstract: A non-circular sprocket component comprises a rotor (11) having a plurality of teeth (16) arranged around the perimeter of the rotor, each tooth having a crown (9), and each pair of adjacent teeth having a valley (8) therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the rotor. The perimeter has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions (22, 23) alternating with receding portions (24, 25). The distance between the midpoints (V) of the crowns (9) of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same. The profile of the valley (8) between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same. The distance between the midpoint (V), of each crown (9) and the axis (A) of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.

Abstract: A vibration canceling rotor and a synchronous drive employing such rotors is provided wherein 1.5 order vibrations in the synchronous drive can be reduced by employing the vibration canceling rotor on a rotating member of the synchronous drive that rotates at one half the speed of another rotating member of the drive. To cancel 1.5 order vibrations, the rotor has a three-lobed non-circular radial profile to engage the continuous-loop elongate drive structure of the synchronous drive. To cancel 1.5 order and 3rd order vibrations, the rotor has a six lobed non-circular radial profile overlaid on the three lobed profile to create a non-circular composite profile to engage the continuous-loop elongate drive structure. The continuous-loop elongate drive structure can be a chain or a toothed belt.

Abstract: A pulley has a hub and a rim. The hub is configured to be mountable on a driving shaft. A driving connection between the hub and rim is provided. In a first embodiment, a drive mechanism is operable to configure the rim between a circular profile and a non-circular profile. The non-circular profile produces a counteracting torque to offset load torques produced by the engine. The drive mechanism can be electrical, inertial, hydraulic or any combination thereof. In a second embodiment, the rim is fixed with a non-circular profile.

Abstract: A tensioner assembly for a drive system, including a chain, of an internal combustion engine, includes a housing that is fixedly secured to the internal combustion engine. A piston is disposed within the housing. The piston is moveable between retracted and extended positions. The piston generates a force. A pivoting guide operatively extends between the chain of the drive system and the piston. The pivoting guide applies a first portion of the force against the chain. A lever is operatively connected to the piston between the piston and the pivoting guide. The lever translates the force from the piston to the pivoting guide. The tensioner assembly also includes a cam member that is pivotally coupled to the housing and is slidingly engaged with the pivoting guide. The cam member abuts the lever such that movement of the lever by the piston pivots the cam member in a manner that applies a second portion of the force against the pivoting guide in a varying magnitude.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus and method, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of rotors comprising at least a first and a second rotor. The first rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging sections of an elongate drive structure, and the second rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging section of the elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly is coupled to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the first and second rotors. The first rotor is arranged to drive the elongate drive structure and the second rotor is arranged to be driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions.

Abstract: A non-circular sprocket component comprises a rotor (11) having a plurality of teeth (16) arranged around the perimeter of the rotor, each tooth having a crown (9), and each pair of adjacent teeth having a valley (8) therebetween. The crowns of the teeth lie on a curved envelope forming the perimeter of the motor. The perimeter has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions (22, 23) alternating with receding portions (24, 25). The distance between the midpoints (V) of the crowns (9) of each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same. The profile of the valley (8) between each pair of adjacent teeth is substantially the same. The distance between the midpoint (V), of each crown (9) and the axis (A) of the rotor varies around the perimeter to produce the said non-circular profile.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus and method, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of rotors comprising at least a first and a second rotor. The first rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging sections of an elongate drive structure, and the second rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging section of the elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly is coupled to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the first and second rotors. The first rotor is arranged to drive the elongate drive structure and the second rotor is arranged to be driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions.

Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus and method, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of rotors comprising at least a first and a second rotor. The first rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging sections of an elongate drive structure, and the second rotor has a plurality of teeth for engaging the engaging section of the elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly is coupled to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the first and second rotors. The first rotor is arranged to drive the elongate drive structure and the second rotor is arranged to be driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions.