NON-METAL SPROCKET

• US 20180274648A1
• Filed: 06/01/2018
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contitech Antriebssysteme GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Contitech Antriebssysteme GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Feuerborn, Frank, Linn, Matthew A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,865,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/06 Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties coatings for lubrication F16H57/041; producing gear wheels from plastics or substances in a plastic state B29D15/00; heat treatment C21D9/32; electrolytic surface treatment C25D; heating by electromagnetic field H05B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/171 Toothed belt pulleys
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/48 manufactured exclusively or in part of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics F16H55/38, F16H55/42, F16H55/46 take precedence ; manufacture of wooden wheels B27H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/49 Features essential to V-belts pulleys

Abstract

A high torque sprocket includes a body defining an outer periphery and a hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing. A continuous toothed structure is disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the body adjacent the inner surface of the hub section. The body is formed of a castable polymer material. In some cases, one or two optional flanges are disposed on side(s) of the body immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure, in some aspects, a textile reinforcement may be embedded in a surface of the flange(s) immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure. In some aspects, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is incorporated into the castable polymer material mixture in an amount suitable to provide increased durability to the sprocket.

Claims

1. A high torque sprocket comprising a body defining an outer periphery and a recessed hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing comprising a smooth circular outer surface and at least one threaded port for securing with the high torque sprocket, a continuous toothed structure disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the body adjacent the inner surface of the hub section, wherein the body is formed of a castable polymer material, and wherein the castable polymer material comprises ultra-high molecular weight powder in an amount of from 1% to 10% by weight of the castable polymer material.

2. The high torque sprocket of claim 1 further comprising a flange disposed on a side of the body immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure.

3. The high torque sprocket of claim 2 further comprising a textile reinforcement embedded in a surface of the flange immediately adjacent the continuous toothed structure.

4. The high torque sprocket of claim 1 further comprising a textile reinforcement embedded in the continuous toothed structure outer surface.

5. The high torque sprocket of claim 1, wherein the castable polymer material comprises ultra-high molecular weight powder in an amount of from 3% to 7% by weight of the castable polymer material.

6. The high torque sprocket of claim 1, wherein ultra-high molecular weight powder has an average particle size of from 40 microns to 80 microns.

7. The high torque sprocket of claim 1, wherein the castable polymer material has a cured hardness of from 60 Shore D to 100 Shore D.

8. The high torque sprocket of claim 1, wherein the castable polymer material is a polyurethane or epoxy material.

9. The high torque sprocket of claim 1, wherein the body is devoid of any metal structure.

10. The high torque sprocket of claim 9, wherein the body defines ports comprising threaded metal inserts disposed therein.

11. A high torque sprocket comprising a body defining an outer periphery and a recessed hub section defining an inner surface for engaging a bushing comprising a smooth circular outer surface and at least one threaded port for securing with the high torque sprocket, and a belt engaging structure disposed on the outer periphery of the body, wherein the hub section inner surface is a tapered shape, wherein the body is formed of a castable polymer material and devoid of any metal structure, and wherein the castable polymer material comprises ultra-high molecular weight powder in an amount of from 1% to 10% by weight of the castable polymer material.

12. The high torque sprocket of claim 11, wherein a textile reinforcement is embedded in the body adjacent the hub section inner surface.

13. The high torque sprocket of claim 11 further comprising a flange disposed on a side of the body immediately adjacent the belt engaging structure.

14. The high torque sprocket of claim 13 further comprising a textile reinforcement embedded in a surface of the flange immediately adjacent the belt engaging structure.

15. The high torque sprocket of claim 11 further comprising a textile reinforcement embedded in the belt engaging structure outer surface.

16. The high torque sprocket of claim 11, wherein the castable polymer material comprises ultra-high molecular weight powder in an amount of from 3% to 7% by weight of the castable polymer material.

17. The high torque sprocket of claim 11, wherein ultra-high molecular weight powder has an average particle size of from 40 microns to 80 microns.

18. The high torque sprocket of claim 11, wherein the castable polymer material has a cured hardness of from 60 Shore D to 100 Shore D.

19. The high torque sprocket of claim 11, wherein the castable polymer material is a polyurethane or epoxy material.

20. A high torque sprocket comprising a body defining an outer periphery and a recessed hub section for engaging a bushing comprising a smooth circular outer surface and at least one threaded port for securing with the high torque sprocket, a continuous toothed structure disposed on the outer periphery of the body, and a textile reinforcement embedded in the hub section inner surface, wherein the hub section inner surface is a tapered shape, wherein an outer portion of the body is formed of a castable polymer material and an inner portion of the body is formed of steel, and wherein the castable polymer material comprises ultra-high molecular weight powder in an amount of from 1% to 10% by weight of the castable polymer material.