Abstract: A guiding belt pulley, which is configured to engage a belt with belt teeth, includes a ring configuration having a root circle at an edge thereof and a plurality of pulley teeth projected from the root circle of the ring configuration, wherein each of the pulley teeth slants related to a radial line of the ring configuration. A shift gap and a move gap are left between each pair of the pulley teeth and the belt teeth to provide spaces for the deformed belt. It may reduce a risk of disengagement of the belt and provide a safe way of power transmission.

Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprocket members and a supporting member. The plurality of sprocket members have a rotational center axis. The plurality of sprocket members are arranged in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The plurality of sprocket members each include a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth. The plurality of sprocket teeth extend radially outwardly from the sprocket body with respect to the rotational center axis. The supporting member is a separate member from the plurality of sprocket members. The supporting member includes a supporting portion and a hub engagement portion. The supporting portion is configured to support the plurality of sprocket members. The sprocket body of each of the plurality of sprocket members is attached to the supporting portion of the supporting member without using a separate metallic fastening member.

Abstract: A chain and sprocket drive system that includes an inverted tooth chain assembly configured to mesh with a laminated sprocket assembly is provided. The inverted tooth chain assembly includes a plurality of rows of links. The laminated sprocket assembly includes a plurality of plates, each of the plates including a plurality of teeth that are aligned with adjacent teeth. Each tooth has an engaging flank and a disengaging flank. The engaging flank of the teeth on one of the plurality of plates has an enlarged profile in a radially outwardly extending direction in comparison to corresponding ones of the teeth of an adjacent one of the plates, such that a first contact position with a link of the chain assembly carried thereon is located radially outward from a second contact position of the link with the corresponding teeth of the adjacent one of the plurality of plates.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain drive system includes a sprocket supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and including a plurality of teeth defined relative to respective tooth centers. The tooth centers are spaced evenly in a circumferential arrangement about the axis of rotation, and each of the plurality of teeth includes an engaging flank. An inverted tooth chain is engaged with the sprocket and includes a plurality of rows of links each structured for inside flank engagement with the sprocket, with leading inside flanks of each row of links projecting outwardly relative to the trailing outside flanks of a preceding row of links. The leading inside flanks of each row are positioned to make initial meshing contact with the engaging flank of one of the sprocket teeth. At least some of the teeth are standard teeth and other ones of the teeth are flank-relieved teeth.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain drive system includes an inverted tooth chain structured for inside flank engagement. The chain includes link rows each including leading inside flanks that project outwardly relative to trailing outside flanks of a preceding link row. The system further includes a sprocket with which said inverted tooth chain is drivingly engaged. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth circumferentially spaced about an axis of rotation, each tooth comprising an engaging flank and a disengaging flank. Some of the teeth are defined with a first tooth form in which said engaging flank thereof is defined with a first pressure angle and others of said teeth are defined with a second tooth form in which the engaging flank thereof is defined with a second pressure angle that is different from the first pressure angle in order to stagger or modulate the initial meshing impacts between the leading inside flanks of the chain and engaging flanks of the sprocket teeth.

Abstract: A toothed plate for a toothed-plate plate-link chain, wherein the toothed plate includes two teeth, each having an inner flank, and an indentation between the teeth. The indentation includes a transition between a tooth flank and a curved innermost region. The transition has a convex curvature and is positioned at a junction of one of the inner flanks and the innermost region.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain drive system defines a meshing contact angle Tau (?) between the tangent line TL and an initial contact reference line that passes through a controlling pin center and the initial contact location. A link plate entrance angle Beta (?) is defined between the initial contact reference line and an inside flank reference line that passes through an arc center of the inside flank radius and the initial contact location. A meshing impact angle Sigma (?) is defined between the tangent line and the inside flank reference line such that ?=?+?, wherein ??9° and ??34°. The pressure angle of the sprocket tooth can be adjusted and the chain optimized such that ??7° and ??31°. The system thus provides a reduction of the link impact force FL and the resultant impact energy E. The inverted tooth chain, itself, defines a pitch P and an inside flank projection Lamda (?) such that 0.007×P???0.017×P when said chain is pulled straight.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain and sprocket drive system in which the initial contact distance ICD, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?), the link plate entrance angle Beta (?), and other aspects of the meshing geometry are controlled and optimized to reduce noise and vibration by using a particular chain link plate form and, in preferred cases, by modifying the sprocket tooth pressure angle. The system can include first and second sprockets for which the pressure angle can be controlled to ensure that the desired values for the initial contact distance ICD, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?), and the link plate entrance angle Beta (?) are equal for both sprockets even though the sprockets have different tooth counts. For a chain pitch P in the range of 6.35 mm to 7.7 mm, the initial contact distance ICD is controlled such that 0.49P?ICD?0.53P, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?) is controlled such that ??34°, and the link plate entrance angle Beta (?) is controlled such that ??9°.

Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system including conical pulleys. The chain includes a number of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain and within openings in the link plates. The rocker members and link plates bear against each other along curved contact surfaces to transmit power. Rocker member pairs roll against each other on facing curved rolling surfaces at a contact point that moves from an upper area above the center of mass of the rocker member cross section to a lower area below it. The ratio of the distance from the end of the upper area to the center of mass and the distance from the end of the lower area to the center of mass lies in a range of from about 1.1 to about 2.

Abstract: In chain and sprocket systems with at least two resonance modes, two or more tension reducing sprockets are oriented to cancel each other at a first resonance mode and have no effect to increase tensions at such first resonance mode. The tension reduction sprockets, however, are oriented with each other so that tensions will be reduced at a second resonance mode. Hence, two or more tension reducing sprockets are used to reduce tensions at a second resonance mode from sources outside the chain and sprocket system while minimizing tension increases at first resonance mode.

Abstract: In a silent chain transmission, the distance between the centers of front and rear pin holes of each of the inner link plates of the chain is smaller than the length of the smallest chord obtained by dividing, by the number of sprocket teeth, the circumference of a circle having a radius extending from the center of the sprocket to the center of a pin hole of a link plate of the chain when the last-mentioned link plate is fully engaged with the sprocket.

Abstract: A belt and chain drive for vehicles or for use in drive technology with an input shaft and an output shaft supported on a frame, the input shaft and the output shaft project out of the frame, with the following features: a) gear transmissions with gear wheels, which are embodied as belt and chain drives, are located between the input shaft and the output shaft, b) all of the gear wheels are constantly in rotation during operation, c) the gear transmissions located between the input shaft and the output shaft are embodied as belt and chain drives with toothed belts as traction mechanisms and with pulleys as gear wheels, d) the traction mechanism are reinforced with aramide, Kevlar, carbon fibers or other fibrous materials, is characterized in that e) the traction mechanism is pressed into a kidney-like shape onto the pulleys by at least one component during no-load rotation, and that under the effect of load this component does not touch the traction mechanism, and f) the kidney-like shape of the traction mech

Abstract: In a chain transmission using a hybrid chain having inner and outer links with bushings, or with bushings and rollers, the rollers mesh with a central sprocket, and the link plates have teeth that function as a silent chain, meshing with side sprockets fixed to the central sprocket. The teeth of the link plates of the inner links have a shape different from that of the teeth of the link plates of the outer links. The outer flanks of the teeth can all have the same shape, and the shape difference can be in the shapes of the inner flanks.

Abstract: When disposing pins of different shapes at random, pins of small involute base circle radius are made not to be arranged contiguously, pins of relatively small length are made not to be arranged contiguously, and pins of relatively outward offset are made not to be arranged contiguously.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain drive system includes a sprocket supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and including a plurality of teeth defined relative to respective tooth centers. The tooth centers are spaced evenly in a circumferential arrangement about the axis of rotation, and each of the plurality of teeth includes an engaging flank. An inverted tooth chain is engaged with the sprocket and includes a plurality of rows of links each structured for inside flank engagement with the sprocket, with leading inside flanks of each row of links projecting outwardly relative to the trailing outside flanks of a preceding row of links. The leading inside flanks of each row are positioned to make initial meshing contact with the engaging flank of one of the sprocket teeth. At least some of the teeth are standard teeth and other ones of the teeth are flank-relieved teeth.

Abstract: A sprocket for an inside flank engagement inverted tooth chain includes tooth spaces each defined at least partially by the engaging flank of one tooth, the disengaging flank of another tooth, and a root surface that is located between the engaging flank and the disengaging flank of the tooth space. The engaging flank of each tooth space is defined as a mirror image of the disengaging flank of each tooth space relative to a tooth space centerline such that each tooth space is symmetrically defined about its tooth space centerline. The sprocket teeth include Type A Standard Teeth, Type B Standard Teeth, Type A Relieved Teeth, and Type B Relieved Teeth. The engaging flank of each Type A Relieved Tooth and both the engaging and disengaging flanks of each Type B Relieved Tooth are relieved or negatively offset.

Abstract: A plate-link chain composed of a plurality of plates that form plate sets, which are connected to an adjacent plate set with a hinge joint. At least some of the plates have a stopping means that limits bending of the plate-link chain in a direction opposite to the bend direction the chain undergoes when it passes over and around a pulley or a gear with which the chain comes into contacting engagement when the pulley or gear rotates.

Abstract: A sprocket includes teeth defined relative to respective tooth centers spaced evenly about an axis of rotation. An inverted tooth chain includes rows of links each structured for inside flank engagement with the sprocket, with leading inside flanks of each row projecting outwardly relative to the trailing outside flanks of a preceding row. The leading inside flanks of each row are positioned to make initial meshing contact with an engaging flank of one of the sprocket teeth. At least some of the teeth are standard teeth and other ones of the teeth are flank-relieved teeth. The engaging flanks of the flank-relieved teeth are negatively offset as compared to the engaging flanks of the standard teeth measured relative to their respective tooth centers. The root surfaces leading the flank-relieved teeth are raised relative to the root surfaces leading the standard teeth.

Abstract: The plates of transmission chain for an engine are formed with a guide-contacting configuration composed of spaced flat surfaces that come into sliding contact with a flat chain guide, and convex surfaces, continuous with and between the flat surfaces, for sliding contact with a convex chain guide. The convex surfaces are connected by a concave surface that, with the guide surface, forms an oil-retaining clearance. The radius of curvature of the convex curved surfaces of the plate preferably increases gradually from the location where they meet the flat surfaces toward the location where they meet the concave surface. The plates can have the same configuration on the side facing the inside of chain loop as on the side facing the outside of the chain loop.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain and sprocket drive system in which the initial contact distance ICD, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?), the link plate entrance angle Beta (?), and other aspects of the meshing geometry are controlled and optimized to reduce noise and vibration by using a particular chain link plate form and, in preferred cases, by modifying the sprocket tooth pressure angle. The system can include first and second sprockets for which the pressure angle can be controlled to ensure that the desired values for the initial contact distance ICD, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?), and the link plate entrance angle Beta (?) are equal for both sprockets even though the sprockets have different tooth counts. For a chain pitch P in the range of 6.35 mm to 7.7 mm, the initial contact distance ICD is controlled such that 0.49P?ICD?0.53P, the meshing impact angle Sigma (?) is controlled such that ??34°, and the link plate entrance angle Beta (?) is controlled such that ??9°.

Abstract: A fixed pulley face of a drive V-pulley of a V-belt type continuously variable transmission includes a belt sliding contact disc having a conical belt sliding contact surface and fixed to a crankshaft so as to be integrally rotated, and a cooling fan fixed to the crankshaft so as to be integrally rotated in adjacent to a side surface opposite to the belt sliding contact surface of the belt sliding contact disc, and a starter driven gear is formed in an outer peripheral portion of the cooling fan.

Abstract: An improved sprocket profile for engaging a roller or bush chain smoothly and preventing radial impact with the root of the tooth during engagement. Contact between the sprocket teeth and the roller chain is altered by providing teeth with a root radius equivalent to that of the chain engaging component, with the center point of the root radius located one chordal distance inside the sprocket's pitch circle. This profile allows chain rollers or bushings to impact sprocket teeth tangentially on their flanks rather than radially on their tooth root.

Abstract: An inverted tooth chain drive system defines a meshing contact angle Tau (?) between the tangent line TL and an initial contact reference line that passes through a controlling pin center and the initial contact location. A link plate entrance angle Beta (?) is defined between the initial contact reference line and an inside flank reference line that passes through an arc center of the inside flank radius and the initial contact location. A meshing impact angle Sigma (?) is defined between the tangent line and the inside flank reference line such that ?=?+?, wherein ??9° and ??34°. The pressure angle of the sprocket tooth can be adjusted and the chain optimized such that ??7° and ??31°. The system thus provides a reduction of the link impact force FL and the resultant impact energy E. The inverted tooth chain, itself, defines a pitch P and an inside flank projection Lamda (?) such that 0.007×P???0.017×P when said chain is pulled straight.

Abstract: A transmission chain for a transmission having a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket with chain guides between the sprockets, at least one of the guides having a curved surface on which one of the runs of the chain slides in its travel between the sprockets. The chain has inner and outer link plates which respectively mount bushings and connecting pins which pass through the bushings with a clearance. The link plates have sliding surfaces which slide on the guide. The transmission chain has a chain pitch defined as P1, and the maximum clearance formed between the connecting pins and the bushings is defined as C. The sliding surfaces are curved like the guide and the curved surfaces of one of the outer and inner link plates, has a curve width X, and the curved surface of the other of the inner and outer link plates, has a curve width Y.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to decreasing noise from the onset of engagement with the sprocket teeth till seating thereon and also to reducing wear to the silent chain and the sprocket. A face (a) of a sprocket tooth, which contacts the chain at the onset of engagement, has a tooth profile that is an envelope (1) of trajectories described by the inner flank surface (23) of the link plate (2) when the chain moves linearly toward the sprocket (S) and engages with the sprocket (S) without causing a chordal action. A crest (b) of the sprocket tooth, which contacts the chain (S) at the time of seating on the sprocket tooth, has a tooth profile that is an envelope (m) of trajectories described by the crotch (25) of the link plate (2) when the link plate (2) rotates around the connecting pin during the wrapping motion of the chain around the sprocket (S).

Abstract: A chain drive with at least two sprocket wheels provided with teeth having an evolvent spline, and a toothed chain that engages therewith, especially for a vehicle propulsion system, which toothed chain includes individual rows of link plates that have openings, wherein the link plates are movably connected with each other by rocker pieces penetrating the openings and have chain teeth. The chain drive is characterized in that the tooth flanks of at least one tooth of least one of the sprocket wheels are designed differently.

Abstract: A discontinuous linear drive comprises a guiding component and an engaging means. The engaging means engages in a member to be driven and guided by guiding components in at least two places by means of a respective movable engaging component. The member to be driven is driven by a phase-shifted effecting and releasing of the engagement of the moved engaging components.

Abstract: Power transmission chains (10, 40, 60) which are suitable for automotive uses as well as other uses and which have a reduced susceptibility to wear and corrosion, in which such chains (10, 40, 60) are constructed to include a plurality of sets (12, 14) of links (11, 13) joined at overlapped ends (11a, 13a) thereof by a pivot (16) including at least one ceramic joint component (16), such as a pivot means (16). Such chains (10) also include means (18a, 18b) to drivingly engage sprocket teeth (37) of a sprocket drive (35).

Abstract: In a transmission having a silent chain meshing with a sprocket, each link plate of the chain includes inside engaging surfaces and outside engaging surfaces having the same shape as that of a tooth profile of a hob cutter for shaping the sprocket teeth. The sprocket, which engages the outside engaging surfaces of the link plates when the chain is seated on the sprocket teeth, includes tooth head portions shaped to avoid contact interference with inwardly curved portions of the link plates. The silent chain transmission device controls the engagement time of the inside engaging surface, and thereby decreases vibration noise and impact noise, and prevents stress concentration and wear loss on the inside engaging surface, the inwardly curved inside portion of the link plate, and the tooth head portion of the sprocket, thereby improving durability, making assembly easier, and improving production accuracy.

Abstract: A silent chain for preventing chordal action and conducting a smooth wrapping around a sprocket comprising a plurality of link plates that are arranged in lateral and longitudinal directions and pivotably connected by connecting pins. Each of the link plates has a pair of teeth and pin apertures into which the connecting pins are inserted. Each of the teeth are formed of an inside flank and an outside flank. The inside flank is formed of a first circular arc on the addendum side and a second circular arc on the dedendum side. Inequalities, R1≧2*P and R1>>R2, are satisfied where the radius of curvature of the first circular arc is R1, the radius of curvature of the second circular arc is R2, and the chain pitch is P.

Abstract: A sprocket drive system for a modular conveyor belt that compensates for drive-shaft twist under load. The drive system includes a plurality of belt drive surfaces spaced apart across the width of the underside of each row of a modular conveyor belt. A drive shaft supports a group of sprockets at spaced-apart locations. Sprocket drive surfaces are spaced apart circumferentially around the peripheries of the sprockets and arranged in rows across the sprocket to engage corresponding belt drive surfaces in the belt rows. The belt is wrapped around the sprockets on the drive shaft. The engagement of the sprocket drive surfaces with the belt drive surfaces drives the belt. Either the sprocket drive surfaces or the belt drive surfaces, or both, in each row are arranged in an out-of-phase relationship with each other when the conveyor belt is at no load. Once the conveyor belt is operating at load and the shaft twists, the drive surfaces assume an in-phase relationship for improved belt driving and tracking.

Abstract: A short pitch tooth chain that reduces the level of impact noise generated during operation is disclosed. A chain system includes a first sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by a first distance, a second sprocket also having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by the first distance, and a short pitch tooth chain wrapped around the first and second sprockets. The short pitch tooth chain includes a first link having a first aperture spaced from a second aperture by a second distance, a second link having a first toe spaced from a second toe by the first distance, the second link having a third aperture and being connected to the first link by a first pin extending through the first and third apertures, and a third link having a third toe spaced from a fourth toe by the first distance, the third link having a fourth aperture and being connected to the first link by a second pin extending through the second and fourth apertures.

Abstract: In a silent chain, the inner, toothed, plates and the outer guide plates are formed so that, when the centers of the holes for receiving connecting pins are disposed on a straight pitch line, the back surfaces of the guide plate are lower than the back surfaces of the inner plates by at least ½ of the difference between the inner diameters of the pin holes of the inner plates and the outer diameter of the connecting pins. As a result, the backs of the guide plates are either in flush relationship with, or below the backs of the inner plates. Pressure exerted by a guide on the back of the chain is distributed uniformly over a large area, and concentrated loads on the guide plates, which can cause dislodgment of the pins from the pin holes in the guide plates are avoided.

Abstract: A silent chain power transmitting apparatus includes a silent chain and two or more sprockets with different number of teeth, wherein the sprockets each have a tooth form formed by hobbing with a hob cutter having teeth profiled similarly with the profile of a series of trapezoidal teeth formed by the inside flanks of longitudinally overlapping link plates of the silent chain so as to cut the periphery of a cylindrical workpiece with an amount of addendum modification set in such a manner that an engagement height of the inside flank at the onset of the meshing engagement between the silent chain and the sprocket is in equal to the distance between the sprocket center and the connecting pin centers when the silent chain is wrapped around and seated on the sprocket. The outside flanks of the silent chain have a first portion profiled by an envelope that is tangent to every one of a group of tooth forms of the sprockets when the silent chain is wrapped around the sprockets with different numbers of teeth.

Abstract: A link plate for silent chains 10 includes a pair of teeth or toes 10a each formed of an inside flank 11 and an outside flank 12 and a pair of pin apertures 10b to insert connecting pins 3 thereinto. A moment M around a pin 3 is shown as follows: M=F×Lo where F is a force applied by a tooth 21 of a sprocket 20 against a meshing point 12e on the outside flank 12, and Lo is a length of a perpendicular drawn from a center O of a pin aperture 10b to an action line m of the force F. In order to decrease this moment M, the length Lo of the perpendicular is shortened, said link plate having an engaging point E with a tooth of a sprocket on an intersection between a straight line n and a flank, said straight line n and the direction of a central line connecting each center O of pin apertures forming a pressure angle &agr;, and being in contact with a circle C, said circle C having a center located at a center O of said pin aperture and a radius r≦0.25×P, where P is a pin aperture pitch.

Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain with offset series of drive links and guide links is disclosed. The sprocket has teeth that extend radially outwardly at the periphery of the sprocket that support a chain engaging the sprocket. The sprocket teeth are separated from adjacent teeth by a distance that is approximately the length of the links of the chain. A power transmission chain is disclosed that has rows of pivotally connected, interleaved drive links and guide links. One guide link is included in each row of links and the guide links are positioned on alternate lateral sides of the chain by each row.

Abstract: A silent chain and sprocket assembly is disclosed for use with a chain tensioner that provides driving contact on both sides of the chain and improved system wear, noise and vibration characteristics without adding to the chain's weight or material costs. The front-side sprockets employ sprocket teeth and engage the front-side silent chain links in conventional fashion. The back-side driven sprockets differ from prior silent chain sprockets in that the sprockets employ small protrusions instead of traditional teeth. The silent chain engages a back-side sprocket protrusion using the geometry of either a single link, or that of two adjacent links, as the chain wraps on the back-side sprocket.

Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain and for limiting motion of the chain along the radial direction of the sprocket is disclosed. The sprocket supports the chain at sprocket teeth to limit chain motion in the radial direction of the sprocket at the sprocket teeth. The support limits chain motion in the radial direction including motion induced by chordal fall.

Abstract: A short pitch tooth chain that reduces the level of impact noise generated during operation is disclosed. A chain system includes a first sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by a first distance, a second sprocket also having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by the first distance, and a short pitch tooth chain wrapped around the first and second sprockets. The short pitch tooth chain includes a first link having a first aperture spaced from a second aperture by a second distance, a second link having a first toe spaced from a second toe by the first distance, the second link having a third aperture and being connected to the first link by a first pin extending through the first and third apertures, and a third link having a third toe spaced from a fourth toe by the first distance, the third link having a fourth aperture and being connected to the first link by a second pin extending through the second and fourth apertures.

Abstract: A short pitch tooth chain that reduces the level of impact noise generated during operation is disclosed. A chain system includes a first sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by a first distance, a second sprocket also having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by the first distance, and a short pitch tooth chain wrapped around the first and second sprockets. The short pitch tooth chain includes a first link having a first aperture spaced from a second aperture by a second distance, a second link having a first toe spaced from a second toe by the first distance, the second link having a third aperture and being connected to the first link by a first pin extending through the first and third apertures, and a third link having a third toe spaced from a fourth toe by the first distance, the third link having a fourth aperture and being connected to the first link by a second pin extending through the second and fourth apertures.

Abstract: A short pitch tooth chain that reduces the level of impact noise generated during operation. A chain system includes a first sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by a first distance, a second sprocket also having a plurality of sprocket teeth spaced apart by the first distance, and a short pitch tooth chain wrapped around the first and second sprockets. The short pitch tooth chain includes a first link having a first aperture spaced from a second aperture by a second distance, a second link having a first toe spaced from a second toe by the first distance, the second link having a third aperture and being connected to the first link by a first pin extending through the first and third apertures, and a third link having a third toe spaced from a fourth toe by the first distance, the third link having a fourth aperture and being connected to the first link by a second pin extending through the second and fourth apertures.

Abstract: A silent chain and sprocket system for power transmission that includes a toothed sprocket and a chain with multiple links. At each point of engagement between the sprocket teeth and the chain link teeth, the sprocket teeth have a curved surface that makes contact with a curved surface on the chain link teeth.

Abstract: A silent chain link plate that has a plurality of rows of interleaved links or link plates, with each link plate having a pair of apertures. Pivot pins extend through the apertures to connect adjacent rows of links. Each link plate has a pair of teeth for engagement with a sprocket. Each tooth has an inside and outer flank. The outer flank has a flat surface which extends from a first end at the tip of the link plate tooth to a second end adjacent a corresponding aperture. Each tooth has a protruding surface near its corresponding aperture defined as a convex curved surface which protrudes in an outward direction relative from the flat surface on the outer flank of each link tooth adjacent a corresponding aperture and extending to a location on the link surface intersecting a horizontal centerline extending between the apertures.

Abstract: A plurality of sprockets are coaxially mounted together, wherein a spacing between each pair of adjacent sprockets is less than a thickness of at least one of the plurality of sprockets. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sprockets are coaxially mounted together, wherein a spacing between each pair of adjacent sprockets is less than or equal to approximately 2.0 millimeters. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, at least ten sprockets are coaxially mounted together to form a first free side sprocket surface facing laterally outwardly and a second free side sprocket surface facing laterally inwardly. A spacing between the first free side sprocket surface and the second free side sprocket surface is less than or equal to approximately 50 millimeters.

Abstract: An improved nose sprocket which carries central drive links of a saw chain has a gullet shaped to provide ample space for saw dust to collect and reduce stress concentration within the gullet. The nose sprocket has teeth which define a gullet. The gullet has a bottom portion shaped with a varying radius of curvature. The varying radius of curvature is largest at a deepest portion of the gullet and smallest where the bottom portion meets flank portions of the teeth which carry the central drive links.

Abstract: A tooth profile for a roller chain sprocket, is provided, which is capable of making the rollers of a chain come into engagement with the teeth of the roller chain sprocket without generating a large noise, and which is capable of making the rollers disengage smoothly from the teeth of the roller chain sprocket. The tooth profile has a first section between a first working point on a clearance flank on the back side with respect to the direction of a movement chain and the tip of a tooth, having a circular profile conforming to a moving path along which the outer circumference of a succeeding roller turns about the center of a preceding roller. The tooth profile has a second section between the first working point to the bottom of the tooth, which is continuous with the first section having a circular profile conforming to the outer circumference of the roller.

Abstract: A derailleur bicycle chain includes a plurality of intermediate links, a plurality of pairs of outer links, and a plurality of fasteners. Each fastener connects an end of one of the plurality of intermediate links between a corresponding pair of outer links so that the plurality of intermediate links alternate with the plurality of pairs of outer links. Each intermediate link defines a recess between each end thereof for receiving a sprocket tooth therein, and each end of each intermediate link forms drive faces facing toward and away from the recess.

Abstract: A unidirectional roller chain system for use primarily in automotive engine camshaft drive applications wherein the tooth profile of the sprockets are modified for noise reduction. This new tooth profile is asymmetrical with flank radii that may differ from the drive side to the coast side of the tooth. This configuration lowers the overall noise level of the chain drive system by reducing the engagement impact energy as the sprocket collects a roller from the span, and maintaining the chain rollers in hard contact with the root surface in the sprocket wrap.

Abstract: A roller chain is provided with a bushing with a silent chain link profile. The bushing has a pair of depending toes which engage the teeth of a sprocket to provide power transmission.

Abstract: A saw chain of a chain saw is driven by a drive sprocket assembly including a drive sprocket and a pair of separate drive rings arranged coaxially and rotatably on the drive sprocket. Drive links of the saw chain extend through an annular space formed between the drive rings and enter recesses formed in the drive sprocket to be driven thereby.