| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080312017 | Inverted tooth chain sprocket with frequency modulated meshing - 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. The sprocket can be optimized for manufacture by a hobbing process, by arranging the different tooth forms in a specific “hob-compatible” pattern. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090197724 | CAPTIVE FASTENER APPARATUS FOR CHAIN GUIDE OR TENSIONER ARM - A fixed or adjustable chain guide includes a captured shoulder bolt fastener. An adjustable chain guide such as a chain tensioner arm assembly includes a tensioner arm with a pivot bore defined about a pivot axis. The pivot bore includes an inner end opening through a rear face of the tensioner arm and an outer end opening through a front face of the tensioner arm. The tensioner arm further includes at least one resilient fastener retaining tab located adjacent the pivot bore. The shoulder bolt extends through the pivot bore and is engaged by the at least one resilient fastener retaining tab, and the at least one fastener retaining tab inhibits separation of the fastener from the tensioner arm. The fastener preferably includes an annular groove or other recess to be engaged by the one or more fastener retaining tabs in order to permit the tensioner arm to rotate relative to the fastener. New shoulder bolt fasteners are also defined, each including a shoulder region having at least one retaining feature such as an annular groove adapted to be engaged by a projecting portion of an associated component for axially capturing the fastener to the associated component while permitting rotation of the associated component relative to the fastener. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20100069187 | INVERTED TOOTH CHAIN AND SPROCKET DRIVE SYSTEM WITH REDUCED MESHING IMPACT - An inverted tooth chain drive system defines a meshing contact angle Tau (τ) 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 (β) 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 (σ) is defined between the tangent line and the inside flank reference line such that σ=τ+β, wherein β≦9° and σ≦34°. The pressure angle of the sprocket tooth can be adjusted and the chain optimized such that β≦7° and σ≦31°. The system thus provides a reduction of the link impact force F | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100210384 | BLADE TENSIONER WITH CAPTURED SPRING - A chain tensioner assembly includes a bracket with a main wall and a ramp surface. A blade assembly is connected to the bracket and includes a blade located adjacent the main wall of the bracket. The blade includes: (i) a first blade end with a pivot aperture; (ii) a second blade end contacting the ramp surface; and, (iii) a central blade portion that extends between the first and second blade ends. The central blade portion includes a chain engaging surface. A first spring-retaining slot is located in the first blade end and includes inner and outer open sides that open respectively through inner and outer faces of the blade. A second spring-retaining slot is located in the second blade end. A spring includes a first end located in the first spring-retaining slot, a second end located in the second spring-retaining slot; and, a central portion that abuts the central blade portion. A pivot fastener extends through the pivot aperture and obstructs the outer open side of the first spring-retaining slot such that the pivot fastener captures the first end of the spring in the first spring-retaining slot. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20110021299 | Inverted Tooth Chain and Sprocket Drive System with Reduced Meshing Impact - An inverted tooth chain and sprocket drive system in which the initial contact distance IC | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110183799 | INVERTED TOOTH CHAIN AND SPROCKET DRIVE SYSTEM WITH REDUCED MESHING IMPACT - An inverted tooth chain and sprocket drive system in which the initial contact distance IC | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110245002 | INVERTED TOOTH CHAIN SPROCKET WITH FREQUENCY MODULATED MESHING FEATURES - 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. The root surface preceding a Type A Relieved Tooth or a Type B Relieved Tooth is raised so as to be located radially outward as compared the root surface preceding a Type A Standard Tooth or a Type B Standard Tooth. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110312458 | Inverted Tooth Chain Sprocket with Frequency Modulated Meshing - 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. The engaging flanks of the flank-relieved teeth are negatively offset relative to their respective tooth centers as compared to said engaging flanks of said standard teeth 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 and are also inclined. | 12-22-2011 |
