Roller chain sprocket with symmetric cushion rings
A sprocket includes a hub and a plurality of teeth projecting radially outwardly from the hub. At least one cushion ring is located adjacent the teeth, and the cushion ring defines a plurality of compression pads separated from each other by transverse grooves. Each of the compression pads is defined symmetrically about a circumferential mid-point. When part of a sprocket with symmetric tooth spaces, the cushion ring is being operable identically in first and second opposite rotational directions. In one arrangement, the compression pads each include a planar outer surface having a leading and a trailing end, wherein the leading end and trailing end are located a common radial distance from a center of the hub about which the sprocket rotates. The tooth spaces of the sprocket can be symmetric, asymmetric and the root surface can be relieved. The sprocket can include multiple tooth profiles distributed randomly about the hub.
1. A sprocket comprising:
a hub;
a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from said hub, wherein circumferentially successive teeth are separated from each other respective tooth spaces each at least partially defined by a radiused root surface defined about root arc center;
first and second elastomeric cushion rings mounted on said hub and located respectively adjacent opposite first and second axial faces of said teeth, each of said first and second cushion rings defining a plurality of compression pads separated from each other by grooves that extend parallel to a central axis of rotation of said hub, each of said compression pads comprising a planar outer surface defined symmetrically about a circumferential mid-point,
wherein said grooves are each radially aligned with one of said tooth spaces so that a radial reference line that passes through said central axis of rotation and any one of said root arc centers also intersects one of said groove.
2. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of compression pads comprises an outer surface having a leading end and a trailing end located a common radial distance from said central axis of rotation of said hub.
3. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said grooves are each defined by at least one radius centered at a groove arc center, and wherein each of said groove arc centers is radially aligned with one of said root arc centers.
4. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said compression pads is conformed to comprise so that said outer surface that lies parallel to a line segment that extends between two associated rollers of an associated chain when the two associated rollers are fully seated in respective adjacent tooth spaces.
5. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of teeth are separated from each other by an asymmetrical tooth space.
6. The sprocket as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said plurality of teeth are separated from each other by a root surface that is conformed with a relieved surface that is spaced from an associated roller when the associated roller is fully seated in said tooth space.
7. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of teeth are separated from each other by an asymmetrical tooth space.
8. The sprocket as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of teeth comprise at least two different tooth profiles.
9. The sprocket as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said at least two different tooth profiles are randomly located about said hub.
10. A sprocket comprising:
a hub;
a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from said hub, said plurality of teeth comprising a plurality of first teeth defining a first profile and a plurality of second teeth defining a second profile different from said first profile, wherein said plurality of first and second teeth are arranged in an irregular pattern about said hub, and wherein said teeth are separated from each other by respective tooth spaces;
first and second elastomeric cushion rings mounted on said hub and located adjacent opposite first and second axial sides of said teeth, respectively, said first and second cushion rings each defining a plurality of compression pads separated from each other by grooves that extend parallel to a central axis of said hub, said grooves each aligned radially with one of said tooth spaces, and each of said compression pads comprising an outer surface having a leading end and a trailing end located a common radial distance from a center said central axis of said hub about which said sprocket rotates.
11. The sprocket of claim 10 , wherein said outer surface of each of said compression pads comprises a planar surface.
12. The sprocket as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said planar outer surface of each of said compression pads extends between and includes said leading end and said trailing end.