RADIALLY, AXIALLY, AND TORSIONALLY COMPLIANT SPROCKET
A radially, axially, and torsionally compliant sprocket includes a rim including teeth thereon, a hub within the rim including a central bore, and a compliant open cell structure extending between the hub and the rim.
1 . A radially, axially, and torsionally compliant sprocket comprising:
a rim including teeth thereon;
a hub within the rim including a central bore; and
a compliant open cell structure extending between the hub and the rim.
2 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the rim includes inwardly extending fingers and the compliant open cell structure engages the inwardly extending fingers of the rim.
3 . The sprocket of claim 2 in which the compliant open cell structure includes an elastromeric material over molded in the rim about the inwardly extending fingers.
4 . The sprocket of claim 3 in which the elastromeric material includes rubber.
5 . The sprocket of claim 2 in which the inwardly extending fingers of the rim each include at least one feature for locking the compliant open cell structure to each inwardly extending finger.
6 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the compliant open cell structure includes crossing members.
7 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the rim includes fiberglass material.
8 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the hub includes keyways extending outwardly from the central bore.
9 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the hub and compliant open cell structure are unitary in construction.
10 . The sprocket of claim 1 in which the hub includes a molded body connected to the open cell structure and a hub reinforcement structure overmolded by the molded body.
11 . The sprocket of claim 10 in which the reinforcement structure includes a socket extending outwardly.
12 . The sprocket of claim 11 in which the socket includes a keyway therethrough.
13 . The sprocket of claim 11 in which the reinforcement structure includes a cap attached to the socket encapsulated within the molded body.
14 . The sprocket of claim 13 in which the cap includes orifices therethrough for overmolding.
15 . The sprocket of claim 10 in which the molded body has a shore hardness of between 80-90 A.
16 . The sprocket of claim 15 in which the molded body is made of rubber.
17 . The sprocket of claim 10 in which the reinforcement structure is made of plastic.
18 . The sprocket of claim 17 in which the reinforcement structure is made of carbon filled nylon.
19 . A radially, axially, and torsionally compliant sprocket comprising:
a molded rim including teeth thereon;
a compliant molded open cell structure extending inwardly from the rim; and
a hub connected to the open cell structure and including a molded body and a hub reinforcement structure overmolded by the molded body.
20 . The sprocket of claim 19 in which the reinforcement structure includes a socket extending outwardly.
21 . The sprocket of claim 20 in which the socket includes a keyway therethrough.
22 . The sprocket of claim 20 in which the reinforcement structure includes a cap attached to the socket encapsulated within the molded body.
23 . The sprocket of claim 22 in which the cap includes orifices therethrough for overmolding.
24 . The sprocket of claim 19 in which the molded body has a shore hardness of between 80-90 A.
25 . The sprocket of claim 19 in which the molded body is made of rubber.
26 . The sprocket of claim 19 in which the reinforcement structure is made of plastic.
27 . The sprocket of claim 26 in which the reinforcement structure is made of carbon filled nylon.
28 . A method comprising:
a mold defining a rim with teeth extending therefrom, a hub having a central bore, and a compliant open cell structure between the hub and the rim;
placing a reinforcement structure in the mold, the reinforcement structure including a cap with a socket extending therefrom; and
molding a compliant material in the mold to form a sprocket such that a cap of the reinforcement structure is encapsulated within the hub of the sprocket.
29 . The method of claim 28 in which the socket includes a keyway therethrough.
30 . The method of claim 28 in which the cap includes orifices therethrough for over molding.
31 . The method of claim 28 in which the compliant material has a shore hardness of between 80-90 A.
32 . The method of claim 28 in which the compliant material is rubber.