Sprocket flange

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469374-B2
Application number	US-201414330841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2014
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A synchronous belt sprocket includes a generally circular body including a circumferential belt engagement surface, a plurality of teeth extending radially outwardly from the circumferential belt engagement surface, and at least one flange coupled to the body. The at least one flange has a first end adjacent the body, a second end generally opposite the first end and radially outward from the first end, a surface extending between the first and second ends and facing the circumferential belt engagement surface, and a length defined between the first and second ends. At least half the length of the surface of at least one flange facing the circumferential belt engagement surface is obtusely angled relative to the circumferential belt engagement surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A belt drive assembly, comprising:
a synchronous belt having an outer surface, a cord positioned inwardly of the outer surface, and a plurality of belt teeth positioned inwardly of the cord, the plurality of belt teeth having an inner end spaced apart from the cord and defining an inner surface of the belt, and the plurality of belt teeth having an outer end positioned adjacent the cord; and
at least one sprocket having a body configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from the body and configured to mesh with the plurality of belt teeth, and at least one flange coupled to the body and including a portion extending radially outward from the body and having a surface exposed to the synchronous belt, the surface exposed to the synchronous belt extending at an obtuse angle relative to the axis of rotation of the body, and the at least one flange contacts the inner end of the plurality of belt teeth and is spaced apart from the outer end of the plurality of belt teeth.

2. The belt drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange has an inner end adjacent the body and an outer end extending radially outward from the inner end, and the outer end of the at least one flange is radially and laterally outward of the cord of the synchronous belt.

3. The belt drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the at least one flange exposed to the synchronous belt has an inner end adjacent the body, an outer end extending radially outward from the inner end, and a length defined between the inner and outer ends, at least half the length of the surface exposed to the synchronous belt is angled approximately 93-105 degrees relative to the axis of rotation of the body.

4. The belt drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange includes an outer flange having a first surface exposed to the synchronous belt which extends at a first obtuse angle relative to the axis of rotation of the body and an inner flange having a second surface exposed to the synchronous belt which extends at a second obtuse angle relative to the axis of rotation of the body.

5. The belt drive assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and second obtuse angles are approximately 93-105 degrees.

6. The belt drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange is thermally coupled to the body.

7. A powertrain assembly, comprising:
an engine;
a transmission operably coupled to the engine; and
a belt drive assembly operably coupled to the transmission and including:
a synchronous belt having a plurality of belt teeth and a cord positioned outwardly from the plurality of belt teeth, the plurality of belt teeth having an inner end spaced apart from the cord and defining an inner surface of the belt, and the plurality of belt teeth having an outer end positioned adjacent the cord; and
a sprocket operably coupled to the synchronous belt and having a body configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from the body, and at least one flange coupled to the body, the body having a radially outer surface configured to receive the synchronous belt and the at least one flange having a surface exposed to the synchronous belt, the surface of the at least one flange exposed to the synchronous belt extending at an obtuse angle relative to the radially outer surface of the body, and a distance between the at least one flange and the cord being greater than a distance between the at least one flange and the plurality of belt teeth in a direction parallel to radially outer surface of the body, and the at least one flange contacts the inner end of the belt teeth and is spaced apart from the outer end of the plurality of belt teeth.

8. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein the surface at least one flange exposed to the synchronous belt has an inner end and outer end, and the inner and outer ends of the at least one flange extend at the obtuse angle relative to the radially outer surface of the body.

9. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of belt teeth are configured to contact the at least one flange at a contact area of the flange, and the contact area is angled relative to the plurality of belt teeth during at least a first meshing of the pluralities of belt teeth and sprocket teeth.

10. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one flange includes an inner flange and an outer flange, the outer flange has a first surface exposed to the synchronous belt which extends at a first obtuse angle relative to the radially outer surface of the body, and the inner flange has a second surface exposed to the synchronous belt which extends at a second obtuse angle relative to the radially outer surface of the body.

11. The powertrain assembly of claim 10 , wherein the synchronous belt has an outer surface positioned outwardly from the cord to define a width of the synchronous belt, and a distance between outer ends of the inner and outer flanges is greater than the width of the synchronous belt.

12. The powertrain assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first and second obtuse angles are approximately 93-105 degrees.

13. The powertrain assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first and second obtuse angles are approximately 97 degrees.

14. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one flange is thermally coupled to the body.

15. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein the radially outer surface of the body is generally parallel to the axis of rotation.

16. The powertrain assembly of claim 7 , wherein each of the sprocket teeth has a width that increases as the sprocket teeth increases in distance from the axis of rotation.

17. The synchronous belt sprocket of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential belt engagement surface is positioned at the constant radial distance from the axis of rotation along the entire width.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Ziliak Mark Alan

Classifications

• F16H55/48

  manufactured exclusively or in part of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics  (F16H55/38, F16H55/42, F16H55/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62M2009/007

  Guides to prevent chain from slipping off the sprocket · CPC title

• F16G1/28

  with a contact surface of special shape, e.g. toothed · CPC title

• B62M9/02 Primary

  of unchangeable ratio · CPC title

• F16H55/36 Primary

  Pulleys (with features essential for adjustment F16H55/52) · CPC title