Bicycle Chain Link Structure That Prevents Narrow Tooth Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle chain link structures often result in jamming of narrow teeth during shifting, leading to noise and potential breakage due to gaps between outer and inner link plates and teeth, compromising smooth operation and safety.
Innovation Solution
The link connecting structure features outer and inner link plates with tapered, curved, or inclined connecting surfaces and bent portions, ensuring gaps are less than the tooth thickness, preventing jamming and separation, allowing smooth shifting without noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a concave portion is formed on the inner side of outer link plates to increase accommodating space for wide teeth, then wide teeth can be engaged smoothly, but a gap is formed between the convex portion of inner link plates and the concave portion of outer link plates that causes narrow teeth to be jammed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different gap configurations in different regions of the link structure. Specifically, the gap between the convex portion of the inner link plate and the concave portion of the outer link plate is controlled to be less than the thickness of a narrow tooth in the region where narrow teeth pass through, while maintaining a larger accommodating space for wide teeth in other regions. This localized differentiation allows the structure to accommodate both wide and narrow teeth appropriately without causing jamming.
2Ease of operation
If the gap between outer link plates and inner link plates is increased to accommodate wide teeth, then shifting operation is facilitated, but narrow teeth are easily caught in the gap causing noise and potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by differentiating the gap dimensions in different functional zones of the link structure. In the zone where narrow teeth of the cassette pass through, the gap is controlled to be less than the thickness of a narrow tooth to prevent jamming and reduce noise. Meanwhile, in zones where wide teeth of the chainring are engaged, the gap is sufficiently large to accommodate them smoothly. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between facilitating shifting operation and preventing harmful effects from tooth jamming.
Data Source
AI summary
A link connecting structure includes two outer link plates and two inner link plates. An inner side of each outer link plate is formed with a concave portion between two first coupling portions at two ends thereof. A connecting surface is connected between each first coupling portion and the concave portion. The connecting surface is gradually tapered inward from each first coupling portion toward the concave portion. An outer side of each inner link plate is provided with a pair of bent portions each extending from an outermost edge of each second coupling portion toward the connecting surface. A gap is defined between each bent portion and the connecting surface. The gap is less than the minimum thickness of a narrow tooth of a chainring, thereby preventing the tooth from being jammed in the gap.