Sprocket assembly
A sprocket assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of sprockets. The carrier has a central axis. Each of the sprockets has a different number of teeth and is formed with a central through hole. The carrier extends into the central through hole of each of the sprockets such that the sprockets are disposed on an outer periphery of the carrier and are disposed along the central axis. At least one of the sprockets is coupled to the carrier by a weld that is formed via a solid-state welding technique.
1. A sprocket assembly adapted for a bicycle, comprising:
a carrier having a central axis; and
a plurality of sprockets each having a different number of teeth and formed with a central through hole, the carrier extending into the central through hole of each of the sprockets such that the sprockets are disposed on an outer periphery of the carrier and are disposed along the central axis, at least one of the sprockets being coupled to the carrier by a weld that is formed via a solid-state welding technique,
wherein the carrier has at least one carrier working surface, the at least one of the sprockets having a sprocket working surface that is flush with the at least one carrier working surface across a junction between the at least one carrier working surface and the sprocket working surface of the at least one of the sprockets, the weld being formed at the junction.
2. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier has at least one carrier positioning structure, the at least one of the sprockets having a sprocket positioning structure that engages the at least one carrier positioning structure.
3. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the carrier is in a shape of a stepped cone, and has a plurality of shoulder surfaces that are spaced apart from each other along the central axis, one of the shoulder surfaces serving as the at least one carrier working surface, another one of the shoulder surfaces serving as the at least one carrier positioning structure.
4. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the outer periphery of the carrier has a stepped structure that serves as the at least one carrier positioning structure, an inner surrounding surface of the at least one of the sprockets defining the central through hole of the at least one of the sprockets, and having a stepped structure that serves as the sprocket positioning structure.
5. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the weld extends over the whole junction between the at least one carrier working surface and the sprocket working surface of the at least one of the sprockets.
6. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier and the central through hole of the at least one of the sprockets are dimensioned to form a transition fit.
7. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the weld is composed only of material of the carrier and material of the at least one of the sprockets.
8. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier and the at least one of the sprockets are constructed of a same material.
9. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier and the at least one of the sprockets are constructed of different materials.
10. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the carrier is constructed of aluminum, the at least one of the sprockets being constructed of steel.
11. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the carrier is constructed of one of aluminum, iron, copper, steel and stainless steel, the at least one of the sprockets being constructed of another one of aluminum, iron, copper, steel and stainless steel.
12. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sprockets are coupled to the carrier respectively by a plurality of welds that are formed via a solid-state welding technique.
13. A sprocket assembly adapted for a bicycle, comprising:
a carrier; and
at least one sprocket formed with a central through hole, the carrier extending into the central through hole of the at least one sprocket such that the at least one sprocket is disposed on an outer periphery of the carrier, the at least one sprocket being coupled to the carrier by a weld that is formed via a solid-state welding technique,
wherein the carrier has at least one carrier working surface, the at least one of the sprockets having a sprocket working surface that is flush with the at least one carrier working surface across a junction between the at least one carrier working surface and the sprocket working surface of the at least one of the sprockets, the weld being formed at the junction.
14. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the carrier has a carrier positioning structure, the at least one sprocket having a sprocket positioning structure that engages the carrier positioning structure.
15. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the outer periphery of the carrier has a stepped structure that serves as the carrier positioning structure, an inner surrounding surface of the at least one sprocket defining the central through hole of the at least one sprocket, and having a stepped structure that serves as the sprocket positioning structure.
16. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the weld extends over the whole junction between the carrier working surface and the sprocket working surface of the at least one sprocket.
17. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the carrier and the central through hole of the at least one sprocket are dimensioned to form a transition fit.
18. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the weld is composed only of material of the carrier and material of the at least one sprocket.
19. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the carrier and the at least one sprocket are constructed of a same material.
20. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the carrier and the at least one sprocket are constructed of different materials.
21. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the carrier is constructed of aluminum, the at least one sprocket being constructed of steel.
22. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the carrier is constructed of one of aluminum, iron, copper, steel and stainless steel, the at least one sprocket being constructed of another one of aluminum, iron, copper, steel and stainless steel.
23. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one sprocket has a plurality of teeth, the teeth of the at least one sprocket being formed via a stamping process.
24. The sprocket assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one sprocket has a plurality of teeth, the teeth of the at least one sprocket being formed after the weld is formed between the at least one sprocket and the carrier.