Patent ID: 7691020
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A chain transmission comprising: a chain from the group consisting of roller chains comprising a set of rollers as sprocket-engaging elements, the rollers being disposed at a uniform pitch along the length of the chain, and bushing chains comprising a set of bushings as sprocket-engaging elements, the bushings being disposed at a uniform pitch along the length of the chain; and at least one sprocket having a center of rotation and sprocket teeth disposed circumferentially around the sprocket about the center of rotation, the sprocket teeth being engaged in driving or driven relationship with the chain; the sprocket teeth having arcuate tooth gaps, arranged around the circumference of the sprocket, for receiving sprocket-engaging elements of the chain, each of the tooth gaps of the sprocket being symmetrical about one of a plurality of center lines extending radially from the center of rotation of the sprocket and having a tooth gap bottom intersected by one of said center lines, adjacent tooth gap bottoms of the sprocket being spaced by pitch distances measured between successive intersections of said center lines with a pitch circle, the sprocket having at least two different pitch distances, said tooth gaps being arranged in a sequence such that said pitch distances are disposed around the circumference of the sprocket in repeating sets, each set being composed of at least three pitch distances, the sum of the pitch distances of each set being the same as the sum of the pitch distances of every other set, and at least one pitch distance in each said set being different from at least one other pitch distance in the same set; and the radial distances from the tooth gap bottoms to the center of rotation of the sprocket being such that, when sprocket-engaging elements of the chain are seated on the sprocket in the tooth gaps of the sprocket, at least some of said seated sprocket-engaging elements engage the sprocket only at locations spaced from the bottoms of the tooth gaps in which they are seated.