Patent number: 6500084

Sprocket system for inverted tooth chain

Original Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.

Field of technology: Vehicles, Engines and Transportation

Patent granted on: Tue, 31 Dec 2002

Patent drawing

Abstract

The chain and sprocket design of the present invention is applicable to sprockets (9) which have an even number of teeth and chains which use inward-pointing teeth and parallel links (2) and outer guides (8). The sprocket is designed such that alternate teeth (6) of the sprocket are of increased width such that when the sprocket is properly oriented they extend outward between outer guide links, which are shaped to allow the teeth to enter the inter-guide gap. If the chain attempts to jump a tooth, such that the sprocket is oriented with the wider teeth aligned with the outer guide links, the wider teeth will contact the guide links and prevent the chain from seating in the sprocket.