阅读说明：本技术 窄宽齿盘 (Narrow and wide fluted disc ) 是由 J·F·塔瓦雷斯米兰达 于 2017-05-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于与驱动链条(15)啮合的链轮(11)包括：·从链轮(11)的周边沿径向延伸的多个齿(12；16)；·多个齿(12；16)包括第一组齿和第二组齿,其中第一组齿和第二组齿交替地布置,使得第一组齿的每个齿(12)后面跟着第二组齿的齿(16),反之亦然；·第一组齿中的每个齿(12)具有第一最大宽度；·第二组齿的每个齿(16)具有大于第一最大宽度的第二最大宽度,其中第二组齿的每个齿(16)具有在齿的至少一个侧面上的凸起(17、18)；为了提供具有交替的窄齿和宽齿的链轮,该链轮具有轻的重量并且在带有污染的链条的泥泞环境中保持功能,凸起(17、18)的外侧面在第二组齿的每个齿(16)的侧面(19、20)的第一部分上延伸,其中第一部分的长度为相应的齿(16)的长度的50％或更小。(A sprocket (11) for meshing with a drive chain (15) comprises: a plurality of teeth (12; 16) extending radially from the periphery of the sprocket (11); the plurality of teeth (12; 16) comprises a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, wherein the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are alternately arranged such that each tooth (12) of the first set of teeth is followed by a tooth (16) of the second set of teeth, and vice versa; each tooth (12) of the first set of teeth has a first maximum width; each tooth (16) of the second set of teeth has a second maximum width greater than the first maximum width, wherein each tooth (16) of the second set of teeth has a projection (17, 18) on at least one side of the tooth; in order to provide a sprocket with alternating narrow and wide teeth, which has a light weight and which functions in a muddy environment with a contaminated chain, the outer side of the projections (17, 18) extends over a first portion of the side (19, 20) of each tooth (16) of the second set of teeth, wherein the length of the first portion is 50% or less of the length of the respective tooth (16).)

1. Sprocket (11) for meshing with a drive chain (15), comprising:

a plurality of teeth (12; 16, 16') extending radially from the periphery of the sprocket (11);

each tooth (12; 16, 16') extends over a given circumferential length of the sprocket;

each tooth (12; 16, 16') having a tooth front face and a tooth rear face which are in contact with the rollers (7) of the drive chain (15) in normal driving operation;

-the plurality of teeth (12; 16, 16 ') comprises a first set of teeth (12) and a second set of teeth (16, 16 '), wherein the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are alternately arranged such that each tooth (12) of the first set of teeth is followed by a tooth (16, 16 ') of the second set of teeth, and vice versa;

each tooth (12) of the first set of teeth has a first maximum width;

each tooth (16, 16 ', 16 ") of the second set of teeth has a second maximum width greater than the first maximum width, wherein each tooth (16, 16', 16") of the second set of teeth has a projection (17, 18) on at least one side of the tooth; characterised in that the outer side of the projection (17, 18) extends over a first portion of the side (19, 20) of each tooth (16, 16 ', 16 ") of the second set of teeth, wherein the length of the first portion is 50% or less of the length of the respective tooth (16, 16', 16").

2. Sprocket according to claim 1, wherein each tooth (16, 16 ', 16 ") of said second set of teeth has a projection on each of the two flanks (19, 20) of the tooth (16, 16', 16").

3. Sprocket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion is located in front of (21) each tooth (16) adjacent to the second set of teeth, wherein the width of each tooth (16) adjacent to the rear of a tooth is equal to the width of each tooth (12) of the first set of teeth.

4. The sprocket as in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the following features:

the projection is located behind the tooth adjacent to each tooth of the second set of teeth;

the projection is located midway between the tooth front and tooth rear of each tooth in the second set of teeth;

the projection on the first side of each tooth of the second set of teeth is located at a different position than the projection on the second side of the respective tooth.

5. Sprocket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the front edge of each tooth (16) of the second set of teeth is rounded.

6. Sprocket according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear edge of each tooth (12, 16', 16 ") is rounded.

7. Sprocket according to claims 3, 5 and 6, characterized in that the extension of the rounding of each front edge of each tooth (16) of the second set of teeth in the circumferential direction is between 1.5 and 2 times the extension of the rounding of each rear edge of the same tooth (16).

8. A sprocket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each projection is chamfered or rounded towards the tip of the tooth.

9. A sprocket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each projection extends from the tip of a respective tooth to the bottom of the space between two adjacent teeth of the sprocket.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sprocket for engagement with a drive chain, and more particularly to a chainring for a bicycle.

The sprocket comprises:

a plurality of teeth extending radially from an outer periphery of the sprocket;

each tooth extends over a given circumferential length of the sprocket;

each tooth has a tooth front face and a tooth rear face which are in contact with the rollers of the drive chain in normal drive operation;

the plurality of teeth comprises a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, wherein the teeth of the first set and the teeth of the second set are arranged alternately such that each tooth of the first set of teeth is followed by a tooth of the second set of teeth, and vice versa;

each tooth of the first set of teeth has a first maximum width;

each tooth of the second set of teeth has a second maximum width, which is greater than the first maximum width, wherein each tooth of the second set of teeth has a projection on at least one side of the tooth.

In order to improve the guidance of the chain on the teeth of the sprocket, sprockets, in particular toothed disks with alternating narrow and wide teeth, are proposed. A drive chain for a vehicle such as a bicycle includes a series of rollers connected by links. Each link consists of a pair of link plates fixed to the axle ends of the rollers. The ends of the two link plates are secured to each axle end of the roller by pins. A pair of inner link plates contact the rollers and a pair of outer link plates contact the inner link plates. Thus, the lateral distance between the link plates of the chain varies in an alternating manner due to the alternating sequence of the inner and outer link plates. The portion of the gap space between the inner link plates is rectangular, and the front and rear ends are defined by the rollers to which the link plates are connected. The portion of the gap space between the outer link plates is cruciform or + with the smaller portion adjacent the rollers defined by the ends of the inner link plates and the wider portion in the middle. The width of the wider portion corresponds to the distance between the outer link plates.

It has been found that the use of alternating narrow and wide teeth on the chainring provides better guidance and engagement of the chain. This is particularly important when a single chainring driven by the bicycle crank is combined with a plurality of sprockets fixed to the rear wheel of the bicycle in order to provide different gears. In addition, the shock and vibration that occurs when riding on difficult terrain can cause the chain to disengage from the teeth of the sprocket. It has been found that teeth having a width closely matching the width of the space between the links are less likely to disengage due to shock or vibration.

Background

Recently, a number of chainrings having alternating narrow and wide teeth have been proposed to improve the chain drive of a bicycle.

US 2002/0098934 a1 and WO 03/0095867 a1 describe earlier versions of such toothed discs. A series of patent applications based on european patent application EP 2602176 a1, namely divisional applications EP 3075644 a1, EP 3072799 a1, EP 3083800 a1, EP 3072801 a1, EP 3072802 a1, EP 3072803 a1, define specific features of such toothed discs. The wide teeth with projections of these patent applications have a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the respective link spaces in which they are to be accommodated.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sprocket having alternating narrow and wide teeth that has low weight and maintains function with a contaminated chain in muddy environments.

This object is achieved in that the projection extends over a first portion of the side of each tooth of the second set of teeth, the length of the first portion being less than or equal to 50% of the length of the respective tooth.

In practice, each tooth of the second set of teeth may have a projection on each of the two sides of the tooth. The convex outer side of the wide tooth extends only over a first portion of the side of the respective tooth, said first portion being equal to or less than half the tooth length. The remaining part of the side of the respective tooth is free of any projections. As a result, the wide teeth are guided with little play between the outer link plates, but only over a limited part of the entire length of the respective tooth. The absence of projections in the remainder of the teeth reduces the weight of the teeth and the surface area of the teeth. Therefore, even if the link space is soiled or clogged with dust or dirt, the teeth can more easily enter the link space between the outer link plates. A wide tooth with a short protrusion will experience a lower resistance against entering the link space as it fills only a portion of the link space. Dust and dirt can be compressed into areas of the link space not occupied by the material of the wide teeth. The wide teeth thus provide the same advantageous lateral guidance as the known teeth with projections extending over the entire side, while at the same time increasing the functionality of the chain drive in a polluted environment. At the same time, the noise of the wide teeth meshing with the chain is reduced with respect to a chain comprising regular wide teeth with longer projections.

In practice, the projections may be located in front of teeth adjacent to the wide teeth, while the parts of these teeth adjacent to the rear of the teeth are free of projections. As a result, the wide tooth has the shape of the letter T, the front portion of which contacts the rollers of the drive chain, said front portion having a large width due to the lateral projections, preferably on each side, and the rear portion having a small width, said small width substantially corresponding to the distance between the inner links.

This T-shape of the wide teeth provides excellent lateral guidance between the outer link plates while requiring less material than known wide teeth with projections that typically extend over the entire side of the tooth. The tensile stress experienced by the wide front portion of the tooth in contact with the roller of the chain is reduced due to the increased material thickness. The fact that the projections extend only on the front of the side faces improves the functioning of the sprocket in off-road use. If the link spaces become dirty or clogged with dust or dirt, the T-shaped wide teeth experience less resistance to entering the link spaces because they only occupy a portion of the link spaces. Dust and dirt can be compressed into areas of the link space not occupied by the material of the wide teeth. The wide teeth thus provide the same advantageous lateral guidance as the known teeth with projections extending over the entire side, while at the same time increasing the functionality of the chain drive in a polluted environment.

In practice, at least the front edge of each tooth of the second set of teeth is rounded. The rounding avoids contact with the part of the inner link plate that extends into the link space between the outer link plates.

In practice, the rear edge of each tooth may also be rounded. In the case of T-shaped teeth, the rounded extension of the leading edge of each tooth of the second set of teeth in the circumferential direction may be between 1.5 and 2 times the rounded extension of the trailing edge of the same tooth. In practice, the rounding on the rear edge may be at an angle of 45 ° to the circumferential direction of the sprocket and have a length and width of 0.5 mm. The radius on the leading edge may be at an angle of about 37 deg. with respect to the circumferential direction of the sprocket and has a length of 1mm and a width of 0.75 mm. The radius should be chosen such that when the rollers of the chain are accommodated within the radius between two consecutive teeth, there is no physical contact between the teeth and the elements of the chain. The rounding may be limited to the lower region of the tooth edge, i.e. the rounded region between two teeth.

In practice, each projection is chamfered or rounded towards the tip of the tooth. The tip of the narrow tooth may be chamfered or rounded to have a smaller width at the radial end of the tooth. This enables the teeth to engage securely in the link spaces even though, depending on the gear selected, the chain may not be perfectly aligned with the center plane of the sprocket. In the region of these chamfered or rounded tooth tips, edge rounding on the front and rear edges of the teeth can be omitted.

In practice, each projection may extend from the tip of the respective tooth to the level of the circular area between two teeth. It is noted that the area between two teeth does not follow a circle exactly, but may have circular areas of different radii in order to achieve an optimal engagement of the chain rollers in the space or circular area between two consecutive teeth. In a practical embodiment of a T-shaped tooth, the projection extends on both sides from the center of the tip of the tooth flank down to a tangent to the circular area between the two teeth, the tangent extending at an angle of 105 ° to the centerline of the teeth. In this way, the projections provide the desired lateral guidance and stability to the front of the tooth while avoiding excessive weight and occupying link space between the outer link plates.

In an alternative embodiment, the lateral projections of the teeth may be located adjacent to the rear of the teeth of each tooth. In this case, the narrow portion of the tooth is in contact with the adjacent roller of the chain when the bicycle is driven.

In another alternative embodiment, the projection may be located midway between the tooth front face and the tooth rear face of each of the wide teeth. In this case the teeth have a cross-like shape, the lateral, larger part of the cross providing a guidance of the teeth between the outer link plates.

In another embodiment, the projections on the first side of each of the wide teeth may be located at a different position than the projections on the second side of the respective tooth. The overall width of the tooth remains approximately the same and provides the desired good guidance between the outer link plates.

Drawings

A more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention may be acquired by referring to the following description of one or more embodiments in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a bicycle drive chain;

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the top of the sprocket, with FIGS. 3 and 4 showing the same side view of the sprocket, and FIG. 2 showing a cross-sectional view of the tooth of the sprocket of FIG. 3 taken along line BB along which the axes of the rollers of the chain engaging the sprocket are connected; and is

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the chain of fig. 1 with the meshing teeth of the sprockets of fig. 2 to 4.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the meshing teeth of the first alternative embodiment of the chain of FIG. 1 with sprockets.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the meshing teeth of the second alternative embodiment of the chain of FIG. 1 with sprockets.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a top view of an extended roller chain typically used to drive a bicycle or electric bicycle. The drive chain is made up of a series of outer links 1 and inner links 2. Each outer link 1 is composed of two outer link plates 3 and 4. The inner surfaces of the outer link plates 3 and 4 contact the outer surfaces of the inner link plates 5 and 6 forming the inner link 2. The inner surfaces of the inner link plates 5 and 6 contact the rollers 7 at each end of the inner links 5 and 6. The pins 8 extend through apertures in the end portions of the outer link plates 3, 4 and the inner link plates 5, 6, and through the rollers 7. The ends of the pins 8 are deformed to firmly secure the link plates 3-6 to the rollers 7. As can be seen in fig. 1, the drive chain has a series of large widths D between the outer link plates 3, 4₁And a smaller width D between the inner link plates 5, 6₂The link space of (a).

Fig. 2-4 illustrate the construction of the new sprocket described herein. The sprocket is preferably a single chainring that can be secured to the crankset of the bicycle. Arrows 9 and 10 in fig. 2 and 3 indicate the rotational direction of the sprocket 11 when driven by the crank to move the bicycle forward during normal driving operation. The head of each of the arrows 9 and 10 represents the forward direction of the teeth on the upper portion of the sprocket 11 shown in fig. 3 and 4. During such driving operation, the tooth fronts of the teeth contact the rollers 7 of the chain 15 and are located to the right of each tooth as shown in fig. 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of two different types of teeth of sprocket 11 taken along line B-B in FIG. 3. Line B-B is defined by the straight line connecting the axes of the two rollers of the link, which is accommodated by the space between the teeth of the sprocket.

The sprocket 11 has two different types of teeth 12, 16 alternating. The first set of teeth are narrow teeth 12 having a smaller width and a substantially rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the radial centerline of each tooth 12. The tip of each narrow tooth 12 is chamfered or rounded such that the width of the narrow tooth 12 decreases in a direction toward the tip of the tooth 12. The narrow teeth 12 have a tooth front at the right side contacting the roller and a tooth rear at the left side in the drawing in normal driving operation. The tooth front and tooth rear faces are provided with a radius 13, 14 to avoid physical contact with the inner links 5, 6 of the chain 15 and to provide clearance between the inner links 5, 6 and the tooth faces to facilitate tooth entry. Between each pair of narrow teeth 12 a wide tooth 16 is provided. The wide teeth 16 have a projection 17, 18 on each side 19, 20. The rear of the flanks 19, 20 of the wide teeth 16 are flat. The projections 17, 18 extend substantially over the part of the tooth adjacent to the tooth front face 21 of the wide tooth 16. The projections 17, 18 generally cover the front half of the sides 19, 20 of the wide teeth 16. As can be seen in fig. 4, the projections terminate a short distance of about 0.3 mm from the centerline of the wide teeth 16.

In a direction towards the center of the sprocket 11, the projections 17, 18 reach a straight line tangent to the radius of the space between the projection 17, 18 and the adjacent narrow tooth 12. The angle between the bottom edge of the projection 17 and the central edge of the projection 17, visible on the right side of fig. 4, is about 105 °.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the wide teeth 16 have a rounding 22 at the edge of each projection 17, 18, facing the rollers 7 of the chain 15. Also, the radius 22 avoids physical contact between the sides of the chain 15 and the projections 17, 18. The radius 22 at each front edge of the wide tooth 16 extends over 1mm in the circumferential direction of the sprocket 11 and over 0.75mm in the lateral direction. The back radius 14 on the edge of each wide tooth 16 corresponds to the back radius 14 on the edge of each narrow tooth 12 and has a lateral and circumferential extension of 0.5 mm.

Fig. 5 shows the engagement of the teeth 12 and 16 of the sprocket 11 in the link spaces of the chain 15. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the chain 15 and sprocket taken along a line extending between the axes of the rollers 7 or pins 8 of the chain 15. It can be seen that the wide teeth 12 have an approximately T-shaped form. The wide portion extends only in front of the wide tooth 16. The rear of the wide tooth 16 has substantially the same width as the narrow tooth 12. The extended width of the wide teeth 16 provides good guidance of each tooth in the link space between the outer link plates 3, 4. At the same time, the wide teeth 16 do not occupy the entire link space. In the event of a blockage of the link space, the tooth can more easily enter the link space, pressing dust or dirt into the free space. Nevertheless, the front of the wide tooth 16 has increased stability and provides the necessary lateral guidance to securely engage the chain 15.

Fig. 6 and 7 show the same views of the narrow tooth 12 and the wide teeth 16', 16 "of different embodiments of the chain 15 and sprocket. Like parts are marked with the same reference numerals as in fig. 1-5. In fig. 6, each wide tooth 16' has a projection adjacent the front of the tooth on the left side surface and a projection adjacent the back of the tooth on the right side surface. As a further alternative, the projection may be adjacent the tooth back of the tooth on both side surfaces. Fig. 7 shows another alternative to the shape of the wide teeth 16 ", with a lateral bulge in the middle of the two side surfaces of each wide tooth 16". In all embodiments, the longitudinal extension of the outer lateral surface of the projection is equal to less than half the longitudinal extension of the tooth itself, reducing the cross-sectional area of the wide tooth while maintaining good lateral guidance.

List of reference numerals

1 outer chain link

2 inner chain link

3 outer chain plate

4 outer chain plate

5 inner chain plate

6 inner chain plate

7 roller

8 pin

9 direction of rotation

10 direction of rotation

11 sprocket wheel

12 narrow teeth

13 radius

14 radius

15 chain

16 wide tooth

16' wide tooth

16' wide tooth

17 projection

18 projection

19 side surface

20 side surface

21 tooth front face

22 radius

D₁Large width

D₂Smaller width