23177 results about "Sprocket" patented technology

A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock to couple together two or more objects. The supply of fastener stock includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced cross links which are coupled at one end to a continuous side rail. The fastener dispensing device includes a hollowed sharpened needle shaped to define a longitudinal bore and a feed mechanism for advancing the continuous side rail of the fastener stock into direct axial alignment behind the longitudinal bore of the hollowed needle. The feed mechanism includes a rotatably mounted feed shaft, a pair of feed wheels fixedly mounted on the feed shaft, each feed wheel comprising a plurality of sprockets which are sized and shaped to engage the supply of fastener stock, and first and second clutch wheels which are releasably matingly engageable with one another, the first clutch wheel being fixedly mounted on the feed shaft and the second clutch wheel being rotatably mounted on the feed shaft, each of the first and second clutch wheels including a plurality of ratchets. As a feature of the invention, the number of ratchets on each clutch wheel is at most equal to the number of sprockets on each feed wheel.

A sprocket assembly for a bicycle is provides with at least one large sprocket and at least one small sprocket. The large sprocket is modified to allow a bicycle chain to move smoothly from the large sprocket to the small sprocket during an up shift operation. The large sprocket basically has a sprocket body with a first axial side and a second axial side, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially and outwardly from an outer periphery of the sprocket body. The teeth of the sprocket include a plurality of up shift teeth. The up shift teeth has at least a first up shift tooth, a second up shift tooth located adjacent the first up shift tooth and a third up shift tooth located adjacent the second up shift tooth. The first, second and third up shift teeth are dimensioned to maintain alignment of a bicycle chain to prevent an up shift of the chain when an outer link plate of the bicycle chain meshes with the second up shift tooth, and to permit an up shift the bicycle chain when an inner link plate meshes with the second up shift tooth along a first up shift path.

A manual roller shade includes a clutch mechanism having a gear train transferring rotation of an input sprocket to rotation of an output member engaging a roller tube. The gear train includes a sun gear, planet gears supported by a carrier and engaging the sun gear, and a ring gear engaging the planet gears. According to one embodiment, the carrier does not rotate. The ratio between the diameters of the input sprocket and the roller tube is selected to offset mechanical advantage of the gear train to provide an effective gear train ratio of approximately 2:1. A drive chain guide system includes spaced guide wheels controlling where a drive chain is suspended from the manual shade. A roller shade mounting system includes a bracket receiving either an input assembly of the manual roller shade or a motor of a motorized roller shade to facilitate conversion.

A freewheel is provided for mounting a plurality of sprockets on an axle of a bicycle. The freewheel basically includes an inner tubular body, an outer tubular body coaxially mounted on the inner tubular body with a bearing assembly rotatably coupling the inner tubular body to the outer tubular body. A one-way clutch is coupled between the inner tubular body and the outer tubular body to allow one-way rotation between the inner and outer tubular bodies. In the preferred embodiment, seven sprockets are mounted on the exterior of the outer tubular body. The bearing assembly has a pair of ball bearing races of the same diameter located at one end. An outer ball race or housing and a side plate are utilized in conjunction with the inner tubular body to fixedly secure the first and second ball bearings on the exterior surface of the inner tubular body. The inner tubular body with the bearings is then fixedly coupled to the outer tubular body so that the outer tubular body can rotate relative to the inner tubular body. The one-way clutch includes a pair of pawls attached to the inner tubular body and a set of ratchet teeth formed on the inner tubular body. The ratchet teeth are rotated between splines that are formed on the exterior surface of the outer body so as to maximize strength and minimize material. The outer tubular body has a step-shaped configuration with a plurality of abutment stoppers formed on the splines of the largest section such that some of the sprockets are installed from one direction and the other sprockets are installed in a second direction.

An instrument driver comprises opposing rotatable gripping pads. Each of the gripping pads including an outer circular rim and a center hub. The pads are configured for applying a gripping force to an elongated member. The instrument driver further comprises shafts affixed to the center hubs, and a driver assembly configured for rotating at least one of the shafts, thereby causing the pads to rotate in opposite directions to linearly translate the gripped member. Each of the pads further includes a framework for partially collapsing in response to the gripping force, such that portions of the rims flatten to contact each other. Each rim has a concave gripping surface in order to facilitate vertical centering of the member between the pads. Each of the pads further includes a pair of upper and lower sprockets for interlacing with each other to prevent the elongated member from slipping out between the pads.

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

A first sprocket is capable of engaging with a chain. The first sprocket has a first sprocket main body, a plurality of teeth disposed along a circumferential direction on the radially outer side of the first sprocket main body, and at least one shifting area. The teeth include at least one first tooth having a first maximum axial width and at least one second tooth having a second maximum axial width. The first maximum axial width is greater than the second maximum axial width. The first tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an outer link plate of the chain. The second tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an inner link plate of the chain.

The present invention relates to a zero turning radius vehicle having at least one steerable front wheel and a multistage steering input system separately capable of steering the at least one front wheel and selectively driving the drive wheels. A front wheel steering system comprises at least one oblongated sprocket meshingly connected to a steering shaft. An engagement cam system provides the ability to selectively, independently couple the steering wheel to pump arms driving a first and second drive wheel. A steering cam shaft comprises at least one steering cam that acts on at least one bearing. Once the engagement cam system rotates the at least one bearing into place to receive the at least one steering cam, rotation of the steering cam independently alters the speed of one drive wheel in relation to the other drive wheel in response to steering input provided by the operator.

The sprocket shaped menu except selections of information from the menu, where selecting an item in the menu causes other parts of the look of the menu to change. In one embodiment, this can cause a break in the menu which shows a preview. In another embodiment, touching an item on the menu can cause an automatic update of the other items unless those other items have been automatically updated within a predetermined time before, such as within 15 minutes.

An endless track assembly that mounts to a wheeled vehicle. The assembly provides 1) a track suspension having fixed or adjustable, independently biased sets of idler wheels to vary the track contour without affecting track tension, 2) an eccentric bearing housing at a drive sprocket controls track tension, 3) a contoured peripheral edge at the drive sprocket prevents ice and mud buildup, 4) rubber-coated, plastic idler wheels facilitate track movement, 5) a multi-vehicle compatible adapter mounting plate accommodates a variety of vehicles, 6) a rotation limited torsion coupler and/or rotation limiting coupler arms prevent track contact with the vehicle, 7) a locking steering arm coupler prevents loss of steering control, and 8) shaped track lugs and channels clear and direct debris away from the track suspension and drive assembly. The improved suspension particularly supports sets of idler wheels in pivotal relation to the track support frame and resiliently biases a pre-tensioned rocker arm that links adjacent suspension arms mounted to the adjoining idler wheels. Suspension arm movement induces expansion and contraction of tension springs coupled to the rocker arms to augments shape changes at the track contact surface to optimize traction and steering control.

A bicycle sprocket is provided with a metallic sprocket ring part and a non-metallic inner ring part. The metallic sprocket ring part has a crank facing surface, an opposing surface, an inner periphery and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged thereon. The sprocket ring part includes at least one connecting portion integrally formed with the sprocket ring part as a one-piece, unitary member. The non-metallic inner ring part at least partially overlaps the inner periphery of the metallic sprocket ring part to at least partially non-movably couple the non-metallic inner ring part to the metallic sprocket ring part with at least one selected portion being absent of the non-metallic inner ring part to allow relative elastic deformation between the metallic sprocket ring part and the non-metallic inner ring in an axial direction

A bicycle sprocket is provided that has a synthetic resin fastening part, to facilitate weight saving and prevent the reduction of fastening power (strength) due to deterioration or deformation of the synthetic resin. The sprocket includes a sprocket ring part and a synthetic resin fastening part. The sprocket ring part includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged on the outer periphery. The sprocket ring part extends around a central rotation axis. The fastening part is non-movably coupled to the sprocket ring part at a location radially inwardly of the sprocket teeth relative to the rotation axis. The fastening part includes at least one through hole with a metallic tubular member mounted therein and configured to be fixedly coupled to a rotational drive unit of a bicycle. The tubular member has a first fastener contact surface configured to receive a fastening force.

A sprocket assembly that includes at least three sprockets and a sprocket carrier having a plurality of radially extending carrier arms. The carrier arms include a first receiving surface and a second receiving surface opposite the first receiving surface. A first sprocket mounted to the first receiving surface and a second sprocket mounted to the second receiving surface. A third sprocket arranged between the first and second sprockets.

A motor unit comprises a housing for containing a motor, a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force, a torque sensor mechanism for detecting torque, and a controller for controlling power to the motor in response to a detected amount of torque. An actuator couples the torque sensor to a sensor of the controller. The actuator is configured to move relative to the controller sensor thereby causing the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the detected level of torque. The controller is contained within the housing of the motor. The motor unit may also have an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force with a first torque transmission path for transferring the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path for transferring the motor provided driving force to said drive mechanism. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus, but may be used in a pedal driven apparatus such as a bicycle where an externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals of said apparatus which are fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft. In this case, the auxiliary shaft comprises a pedal spindle of the bicycle and the drive mechanism comprises a sprocket or belt drive.

A bicycle sprocket apparatus comprises a sprocket mounting member, a first sprocket, and a second sprocket. The sprocket mounting member includes a hub mounting portion and a sprocket mounting portion, wherein the hub mounting portion is structured to be mounted to a rotating hub that rotates around a rotational axis. The sprocket mounting portion includes a first sprocket mounting surface that faces in a first direction and a second sprocket mounting surface that faces in an opposite second direction. The first sprocket is disposed at the first sprocket mounting surface, and the second sprocket is disposed at the second sprocket mounting surface. A fastener fastens the first sprocket to the first sprocket mounting surface, and a chain supporting structure extends from the fastener in the first direction and projects in the first direction away from a side surface of the first sprocket that faces in the first direction.

Apparatus and methods for use in measurement of applied load at a chainring assemblage of a pedal powered device are provided. The apparatus includes a link adapted for interposition between a chainring attachment site located on a conventional chainring mount, or spider, and a corresponding chainring attachment locale at a conventional chainring. The link has a geometry and/or material composition selected to accommodate measurement of load exhibited between the attachment site and the corresponding chainring attachment locale. Means for measuring the load exhibited thereby is associated with the link.

A bicycle sprocket assembly has two or more sprockets in which a chain is shifted between adjacent pairs of the sprockets. Each sprocket includes a chain engaging portion with a plurality of teeth and an attachment portion. At least one of the larger sprockets has a plurality of space maintaining projections extending axially towards an adjacent one of the sprockets. In a preferred embodiment, a predetermined axial space exists between a free end of each of the space maintaining projections and the adjacent one of the sprockets.

A family of new bicycle shifting systems incorporate improved derailleur designs that are controlled by sealed hydraulic actuators. The shifting systems (i) a hydraulically-actuated, manually-powered front and rear derailleur shifting system, (ii) a hydraulically-actuated, power-assisted front and rear derailleur shifting system with manual control, and (iii) a hydraulically-actuated, power-assisted front and rear derailleur shifting system in which the shifting sequence for the rear derailleur is controlled automatically by pedal speed. Each of these shifting systems utilize a totally sealed, inclined linear shifting path. Environmental contaminants are prevented from entering any of the critical derailleur or control elements. The linear, inclined shifting path provides precise chain shifting, more uniform chain wrap on the rear bicycle drive sprockets, and lower chain and sprocket wear. Several different shifting control units are disclosed.