Sprocket

• US 9,581,231 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolf Tooth Components, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wolf Tooth Components, LLC
• Inventors: Pfeiffer, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSE, MARK KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US14/601,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150285364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 474/152
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/10 involving different-sized wheels, e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/30 Chain-wheels

Abstract

A sprocket includes a first body with teeth radially projecting therefrom, and second bodies on alternating ones of the teeth, with the second bodies being asymmetrical about a plane extended radially from a rotational axis of the sprocket through a root center and a tip center of the alternating ones of the teeth, and the second bodies increasing an overall width of the alternating ones of the teeth.

Claims

1. A sprocket, comprising:

a first body with a plurality of teeth radially projecting therefrom; and

second bodies on and limited to alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth,

the second bodies being asymmetrical about a plane extended radially from a rotational axis of the sprocket through a root center and a tip center of the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth,

the second bodies added to the alternating teeth to increase an overall axial width of the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth.

2. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth and the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth, with the second bodies, comprise a series of alternating axially wide and axially narrow teeth relative to each other.

3. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth, including the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth, have a first maximum axial width between lateral surfaces thereof, and the second bodies on the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth define a second maximum axial width greater than the first maximum axial width between lateral surfaces thereof.

4. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the alternating teeth of the plurality of teeth, with the second bodies, are substantially symmetrical about a centerline oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane extended radially from the rotational axis of the sprocket.

5. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the first body is formed of a first material, and the second bodies are formed of a second material.

6. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the second bodies comprise axial inserts.

7. The sprocket of claim 1, wherein the sprocket comprises a chainring.

8. A sprocket, comprising:

first teeth having a first maximum axial width; and

second teeth having a second maximum axial width greater than the first maximum axial width, the second teeth alternately arranged with the first teeth,

the second teeth each having insert portions to define the second maximum axial width thereof, the first teeth free of the insert portions, and

a longitudinal midline of a lateral surface of the insert portions being offset relative to a plane extended radially through a center of a respective one of the second teeth.

9. The sprocket of claim 8, wherein the second teeth are substantially symmetrical about a centerline oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane extended radially through a center of a respective one of the second teeth.

10. The sprocket of claim 8, wherein the sprocket is to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof, wherein the longitudinal midline of the lateral surface of the insert portions is offset in a direction opposite the drive direction of the sprocket.

11. The sprocket of claim 8, wherein the first teeth and the second teeth each include a tip portion, a root portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein an axial width of the intermediate portion of the second teeth is substantially equal to an axial width of the intermediate portion of the first teeth.

12. The sprocket of claim 11, wherein the first maximum axial width of the first teeth is defined at the intermediate portion of the first teeth.

13. The sprocket of claim 8, wherein the second maximum axial width of the second teeth is defined at the lateral surface of the insert portions.

14. The sprocket of claim 13, wherein the sprocket is to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof, wherein the lateral surface of the insert portions is offset in a direction opposite the drive direction of the sprocket.

15. The sprocket of claim 13, wherein the sprocket is to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof, wherein the insert portions are tapered at a first angle from the lateral surface toward a drive side of the second teeth relative to the drive direction, and tapered at a second angle greater than the first angle from the lateral surface toward a non-drive side of the second teeth relative to the drive direction.

16. The sprocket of claim 8, wherein the insert portions comprise a first insert portion on a first side of the sprocket, and a second insert portion on a second side of the sprocket.

17. A sprocket, comprising:

first teeth having a first maximum axial width; and

second teeth having a second maximum axial width greater than the first maximum axial width, the second teeth alternately arranged with the first teeth,

the second teeth each having insert portions to define the second maximum axial width thereof, and

a longitudinal midline of a lateral surface of the insert portions being offset relative to a plane extended radially through a center of a respective one of the second teeth, wherein the second maximum axial width of the second teeth is defined at the lateral surface of the insert portions,

wherein the sprocket is to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof, wherein the insert portions are tapered at a first angle from the lateral surface toward a drive side of the second teeth relative to the drive direction, and tapered at a second angle greater than the first angle from the lateral surface toward a non-drive side of the second teeth relative to the drive direction.

18. A sprocket, comprising:

alternating first and second teeth,

the first teeth having a first maximum axial width, and the second teeth having a second maximum axial width greater than the first maximum axial width,

the sprocket to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof,

the second maximum axial width of the second teeth defined by additional components to the second teeth,

the additional components excluded from the first teeth and including a lateral surface offset in a direction opposite the drive direction of the sprocket.

19. The sprocket of claim 18, wherein a midline of the lateral surface of the additional components is offset relative to a plane extended radially from a rotational axis of the sprocket through a center of a respective one of the second teeth.

20. The sprocket of claim 18, wherein the additional components are axially fit to a respective one of the second teeth.

21. The sprocket of claim 18, wherein the additional components include one or more protrusions, and the second teeth include one or more cavities formed in a recessed area, the additional components received within the recessed area, and the one or more cavities to receive the one or more protrusions.

22. A sprocket, comprising:

alternating first and second teeth,

the first teeth having a first maximum axial width, and the second teeth having a second maximum axial width greater than the first maximum axial width,

the sprocket to rotate in a drive direction about a rotational axis thereof,

the second maximum axial width of the second teeth defined by additional components to the second teeth,

the additional components including a lateral surface offset in a direction opposite the drive direction of the sprocket,

wherein the additional components include one or more protrusions, and the second teeth include one or more cavities formed in a recessed area, the additional components received within the recessed area, and the one or more cavities to receive the one or more protrusions.