Bicycle Chain Plate Inclined Surfaces for Stable Sprocket Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inner chain plates often experience unstable engagement with sprockets due to uneven surfaces, leading to inefficient tooth entry and increased noise during chain rotation.
Innovation Solution
The inner chain plate design features two end segments with a rod hole and an extension portion, along with first and second inclined regions on its inner surface, which guide the sprocket teeth into engaging spaces smoothly and stabilize the chain's rotation by increasing contact area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the inner surface of the chain plate is made planar, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sprocket teeth cannot enter the engaging spaces smoothly and become baffled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating inclined regions at specific locations on the inner surface of the chain plate. Instead of making the entire surface non-planar, only localized inclined regions are formed at the end segments, providing the necessary guidance for sprocket teeth while maintaining simplicity elsewhere in the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined regions are formed in advance on the chain plate inner surface to guide the sprocket teeth before they enter the engaging spaces. This preliminary guidance structure prevents baffling during engagement by pre-positioning the teeth along the correct path into the engaging spaces.
2Device complexity
If the chain plate has a symmetric structure, then the design is simple and balanced, but the engagement stability with sprockets is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by adding extension portions to only one of the end segments of the chain plate. This asymmetric feature creates additional inclined regions that provide extra guidance for sprocket teeth, improving engagement stability without significantly complicating the overall structure.
3Device complexity
If the contact area between chain plate and sprocket tooth is small, then the structure is simpler, but the chain rotation produces more noise and engagement is less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the inclined regions along the lengthwise direction of the chain plate, utilizing the length dimension to increase the contact area between the chain plate and sprocket teeth. This dimensional extension provides more surface area for stable engagement and noise reduction without adding complex three-dimensional structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain plate includes two end segments, and an intermediate segment between the end segments. One of the end segments has an extension portion extending away from a rod hole of the end segment in a lengthwise direction. A distance from a center of the rod hole to an edge of the end segment in the lengthwise direction is greater than a distance from the center of the rod hole to an edge of the end segment in a widthwise direction. An inner surface of the chain plate has a first inclined region corresponding to a peripheral region of the end segment, and a second inclined region corresponding to the extension portion and between the first inclined region and the rod hole. The intermediate segment is formed with a recess.