Inner chain piece

Abstract

An inner chain plate comprises two ends arranged at intervals along a length direction, a connecting portion connected between the ends, and an inner surface formed by the ends and the connecting portion. Each end comprises an assembly hole. One of the ends also comprises an extension section extending along the length direction. The distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along the length direction is a. The distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along a width direction is b, and a>b. The inner surface comprises a first chamfered area located at the periphery of the inner surface, and a second chamfered area formed in the extension section and located between the first chamfered area and the assembly hole. The end and the connecting portion also form an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The inner surface is formed with a groove extending toward the outer surface. The groove has parallel and spaced groove edges on both sides. Since the inner chain plate comprises the extension section, and the distance a is greater than the distance b, the extension length is increased, and the first chamfered area and the second chamfered area are formed, the effect of facilitating the smooth and stable combination of the sprocket with the chain can be produced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a chain component, in particular to an inner chain plate which can cooperate with an outer chain plate and other chain elements to form a chain. Background Art

[0002] See also Figure 1 A conventional chain includes a plurality of outer chain plates 11, a plurality of inner chain plates 12, and a plurality of chain shafts 13 connecting the inner chain plates 12 and the outer chain plates 11 in series. The outer chain plates 11, the inner chain plates 12, and the chain shafts 13 cooperate to define a plurality of chain spaces 14 (only one of the chain spaces 14 is shown in the figure as a representative) into which a plurality of teeth (not shown) of a sprocket (not shown) can be inserted.

[0003] See also Figure 2 , illustrating one of the inner link pieces 12. The inner link piece 12 includes two end portions 121 spaced apart along a length direction, a connecting portion 122 connected between the end portions 121, and two protruding rings 123 protruding from the end portions 121. Each end portion 121 defines a through assembly hole 124.

[0004] The inner link 12 further comprises an inner surface 125 and an outer surface 126 formed by the end portion 121 and the connecting portion 122. The inner surface 125 comprises two annular surface areas 127 surrounding the protruding ring 123, and a connecting surface area 128 connected between the annular surface areas 127.

[0005] Since the annular surface area 127 is only in a simple annular plane shape without any guiding design, when each tooth of the sprocket is inserted into a respective chain space 14, each tooth is likely to violently collide with the end portion 121 or even get stuck, and cannot be smoothly inserted, which needs further improvement.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the relevant Taiwan patent No. I663097 proposed by others, the applicant of this case has also successively proposed Taiwan patents No. I276751 and I617749. However, in recent years, due to the market's higher requirements for quietness and smooth speed change, it is necessary to make further improvements. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an inner link plate that can overcome at least one disadvantage of the prior art.

[0008] The inner link sheet includes two end portions, a connecting portion, and an inner surface.

[0009] The ends are arranged at intervals along a length direction, and each end includes an assembly hole. One end includes an extension section extending along the length direction. The distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along the length direction is a. The distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along a width direction is b, and a>b. The connecting portion is connected between the ends.

[0010] The inner surface is formed by the end portion and the connecting portion, and includes a first chamfered area located at the periphery of the inner surface and a second chamfered area located at the extension section. The second chamfered area is located between the first chamfered area and the assembly hole.

[0011] The end and the connecting portion further form an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. The inner surface is formed with a groove extending toward the outer surface. Both sides of the groove have parallel and spaced groove edges.

[0012] Furthermore, the second chamfered area is curved along the shape of the assembly hole.

[0013] Furthermore, the second chamfered area is crescent-shaped.

[0014] Furthermore, the inner surface also includes two third chamfered areas extending along the length direction and spaced apart at the periphery of the groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the inner surface also includes a plane area located in the third chamfer interval, and the width of the plane area along the width direction is not greater than two-thirds of the aperture of the assembly hole.

[0016] Furthermore, the inner surface also includes two annular areas respectively surrounding the assembly holes.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes two protruding rings which are respectively connected to the end portions, respectively surround the assembly holes and protrude inward from the inner surface.

[0018] Furthermore, the angle of the first chamfered area after chamfering is greater than or equal to the angle of the second chamfered area after chamfering.

[0019] Furthermore, the other end includes an extension section extending along the length direction, the distance from the center of the assembly hole of the other end to the periphery of the end is a, the distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along the width direction is b, and a>b.

[0020] The function of the inner link is that: the extension section is included, so that the distance a is greater than the distance b and the extension length is increased, and the first angle area and the second chamfered area are formed, so that the sprocket can be smoothly and stably engaged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an existing chain;

[0023] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating an existing inner link plate;

[0024] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the inner link of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 is a top view illustrating the first embodiment;

[0026] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, cut along a length direction, illustrating the first embodiment;

[0027] Figure 6 It is an incomplete cross-sectional view, cut in the same way as Figure 5 , a partial enlargement is shown to illustrate the first embodiment;

[0028] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, cut along a width direction, illustrating the first embodiment;

[0029] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a chain constructed by the first embodiment;

[0030] Fig. 9 It is a cross-sectional view, with a partial enlargement to illustrate the chain;

[0031] Fig.10 is a top view illustrating a second embodiment of the inner link of the present invention;

[0032] Fig.11 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the inner link of the present invention; and

[0033] Fig.12 It is an incomplete cross-sectional view, which partially enlarges the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, similar or identical elements will be represented by the same reference numerals.

[0035] See also Figure 8 A first embodiment of the inner chain plate 2 of the present invention is suitable for cooperating with several other inner chain plates 2 of the same structure and other chain elements (such as several outer chain plates 81 and several chain shafts 82) to form a chain 83, and the chain 83 defines several chain spaces 84 (only one of which is shown in the figure).

[0036] See also Figures 3 to 5 The inner link 2 includes two end portions 3, a connecting portion 4, and two protruding rings 5. The end portions 3 are arranged at intervals along a length direction D1, and each end portion 3 is roughly semi-elliptical and includes a chain hole section 31 defining a through assembly hole 311, and an extension section 32 extending from the chain hole section 31 in a direction away from the other end portion 3 along the length direction D1. The distance from the center 312 of the assembly hole 311 to the periphery of the end portion 3 along the length direction D1 is a, and the distance from the center 312 of the assembly hole 311 to the periphery of the end portion 3 along a width direction D2 perpendicular to the length direction D1 is b, and a>b. The connecting portion 4 is connected between the end portions 3. The protruding rings 5 ​​surround the assembly hole 311 and protrude from the end portions 3 in the direction of the other inner link 2.

[0037] See also Figures 4 to 7 As for the surface profile of the inner link piece 2 , the inner link piece 2 includes an inner surface 6 and an outer surface 7 which are opposite to each other and are formed by the connecting portion 4 and the end portion 3 .

[0038] The inner surface 6 includes two first chamfered areas 61 respectively formed on the periphery of the end portion 3, two second chamfered areas 62 respectively formed on the extension section 32, two annular areas 66 respectively formed on the chain hole section 31 and surrounding the assembly hole 311, a plane area 63 formed on the connecting portion 4, a groove 67 recessed from the plane area 63 toward the outer surface 7 and having parallel and spaced groove edges 671 extending straight on both sides, two curved surface areas 64 connecting the groove edges 671 and the annular area 66 and extending along the width direction D2, and two third chamfered areas 65 extending along the periphery of the connecting portion 4 toward the length direction D1 and spaced apart on two opposite sides of the plane area 63.

[0039] Each first chamfered area 61 extends from the annular area 66 to the periphery of the end 3 gradually toward the outer surface 7, and each second chamfered area 62 extends from the annular area 66 to the periphery of the extension section 32 gradually toward the outer surface 7. The chamfer angle 621 of the second chamfered area 62 of the first embodiment is smaller than the chamfer angle 611 of the first chamfered area 61, so that the outer shape of each extension section 32 is crescent-shaped. Of course, in practice, when the chamfer angle 621 of each second chamfered area 62 is increased or decreased according to design requirements, the shape and size of each extension section 32 will also change accordingly.

[0040] Moreover, a width 631 of the plane area 63 along the width direction D2 is no greater than two-thirds of the hole diameter 313 of each assembly hole 311 .

[0041] participate Figure 3, 8 9, the inner chain piece 2 is characterized in that: while the center position of the assembly hole 311 remains unchanged, the length of the inner chain piece 2 is extended, that is, the end portion 3 is respectively protruded along the length direction D1 to form the extension section 32, so that the end edge of the inner chain piece 2 extends into the chain space 84 for a longer length. Therefore, when the chain 83 and a sprocket 9 are running, the gear 91 of the sprocket 9 can contact the extended extension section 32 of the end portion 3 in advance during the process of inserting the gear 91 into the chain space 84, so as to guide the gear 91 to be firmly inserted into the chain space 84 as soon as possible, so as to achieve the positioning effect of arranging the chain 83 in advance and smoothly meshing with the sprocket 9, and shorten the initial instability of the meshing of the chain 83 and the gear 91. In addition, the inclined chamfer design of the second chamfered area 62 can further increase the contact area between the inner chain piece 2 and the gear 91, thereby reducing the noise generated during operation.

[0042] It is worth mentioning that when the chamfer angle 621 of the second chamfered area 62 is smaller, the inclined slope surface will be longer, which will help the gear teeth 91 to slide slowly and smoothly into the chain space 84 along the slope surface, making the transmission of the sprocket 9 and the chain 83 smoother. When the width 631 of the plane area 63 along the width direction D2 is smaller, the chamfer area of ​​the third chamfered area 65 will be larger, the chamfering arc can be smoother, and it will also help the gear teeth 91 to smoothly enter the chain space 84, increasing the smoothness of the speed change. Taking a bicycle as an example, the chain 83 is connected between the front and rear sprockets 9 and the flywheel. When the chainline is at the maximum value (when the chain 83 runs on the largest sprocket of the sprocket 9 and the largest sprocket of the flywheel, or the smallest sprocket of the sprocket 9 against the smallest sprocket of the flywheel), the interference between the chain 83 and the rear flywheel and the front sprocket 9 can be reduced when the sprocket is meshed, thereby reducing noise.

[0043] See also Fig.10 A second embodiment of the inner link plate 2 of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment, except that the inner link plate 2 of the second embodiment only has one end 3 defining the chain space 84, including the design of the extension section 32 and the first chamfered area 61 and the second chamfered area 62, which can also produce an effect that facilitates the smooth and stable engagement of the chain 83 with the sprocket 9.

[0044] See also Fig.11 , 12 The structure of a third embodiment of the inner link 2 of the present invention is similar to that of the first embodiment, except that each first chamfered area 61 of the third embodiment is combined with the corresponding second chamfered area 62 to form a new chamfered area, which not only has the same effect of smooth and stable engagement, but also can avoid stress concentration.

[0045] In summary, the function of the inner link plate of the present invention lies in that: the extension section 32 is included, so that the distance a is greater than the distance b and the extension length is increased, and the first chamfered area 61 and the second chamfered area 62 are formed, thereby being able to produce an effect that facilitates the sprocket 9 to smoothly and stably engage with the chain 83 formed by the inner link plate of the present invention.

[0046] The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and cannot be used to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, equivalent changes made according to the scope of the present invention and the contents of the specification should also be covered by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An inner link sheet, characterized in that: Include: Two ends are arranged at intervals along a length direction, each end includes an assembly hole, each end includes an extension section extending along the length direction, the distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along the length direction is a, the distance from the center of the assembly hole to the periphery of the end along a width direction is b, and a>b; a connecting portion connected between the end portions; and an inner surface, formed by the end portion and the connecting portion, and comprising a first chamfered area located at the periphery of the inner surface, a second chamfered area located at the extension section, and two annular areas surrounding the assembly holes respectively, the second chamfered area being located between the first chamfered area and the assembly hole; Wherein, the end portion and the connecting portion further form an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the inner surface is formed with a groove extending toward the outer surface, and the groove has parallel and spaced groove edges on both sides; The inner surface also includes two third chamfered areas extending along the length direction and spaced apart at the periphery of the groove, and a plane area located between the third chamfered areas, the width of the plane area along the width direction being no greater than two-thirds of the aperture of the assembly hole.

2. The inner link sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second chamfered area is curved along the shape of the assembling hole.

3. The inner link sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second chamfered area is crescent-shaped.

4. The inner link sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also comprises two protruding rings which are respectively connected to the end parts, respectively surround the assembling holes and protrude inwards from the inner surface.

5. The inner link sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle of the first chamfered area after chamfering is greater than the angle of the second chamfered area after chamfering.

6. The inner link sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle of the first chamfered area after chamfering is equal to the angle of the second chamfered area after chamfering.

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