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US3975969A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tight chain composite gear device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-14
•
Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1994-01-14
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Abstract

Abstract A composite gear device having a large toothed wheel and a smaller toothed wheel axially offset with respect to each other. A link chain is provided having the same number of tooth engaging openings as the number of teeth on the larger toothed wheel. The chain is secured to the large toothed wheel, preferably by straining it within its elastic limit, so that the chain engages the teeth in an essentially nonflexible configuration free of any articulative movement. The smaller toothed wheel also engages the chain thus allowing the transmission of power in essentially an axial direction.

Inventors

  • 👤 Merritt A. Osborn
  • 👤 Osborne C. Dodson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 07:20
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H1/00; F16H1/02; F16H1/24; F16H55/00; F16H55/02; F16H55/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19647; Y10T74/19949; Y10T74/19963; Y10T74/19972; Y10T74/19977; Y10T74/19981

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A composite gear assembly comprising, an annular link chain member having circumferentially spaced gear tooth engaging openings disposed to engage the teeth of at least two axially spaced toothed wheels, first wheel means having regularly spaced teeth engaging each of said tooth openings for said first wheel means, second wheel means having regularly spaced teeth fewer in number than the first toothed wheel and being axially offset with respect to said first toothed wheel means engaging the openings disposed to be engaged thereby, said chain being essentially nonflexible and free of any articulated movement at least in the region engaging said first wheel means, when engaging said first wheel means (.), said chain is mounted on the first wheel means under tension and strained less than the proportional limit of its material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 132 words
A composite gear assembly comprising, an annular link chain member having circumferentially spaced gear tooth engaging openings disposed to engage the teeth of at least two axially spaced toothed wheels, first wheel means having regularly spaced teeth engaging each of said tooth openings for said first wheel means, second wheel means having regularly spaced teeth fewer in number than the first toothed wheel and being axially offset with respect to said first toothed wheel means engaging the openings disposed to be engaged thereby, said chain being essentially nonflexible and free of any articulated movement at least in the region engaging said first wheel means, when engaging said first wheel means (.), said chain is mounted on the first wheel means under tension and strained less than the proportional limit of its material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said band is a roller chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a clamp member is provided which circumferentially engages said chain around said first wheel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein there are separate strands of the chain for each toothed wheel.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 97 words
The method of forming a composite gear structure comprising the steps of providing first and second toothed wheels, said second wheel having fewer teeth than the first, providing a flexible link chain having a shorter length than the length of the pitch line of the first wheel, stressing the chain to strain it less than the proportional limit of its material and engage all the teeth of the first wheel with all the links of the chain and thereafter securing the chain in this strained position, and engaging the teeth of the second wheel with the chain.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 97 words
The method of forming a composite gear structure comprising the steps of providing first and second toothed wheels, said second wheel having fewer teeth than the first, providing a flexible link chain having a shorter length than the length of the pitch line of the first wheel, stressing the chain to strain it less than the proportional limit of its material and engage all the teeth of the first wheel with all the links of the chain and thereafter securing the chain in this strained position, and engaging the teeth of the second wheel with the chain.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1293123A Cited
US2938690A Cited
US3108488A Cited
US3151495A Cited
US3205731A Cited
US3479893A Cited
US3469464A Cited
US3673884A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-08-24 1980-02-23 1980-08-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-08-24 1984-02-23 1984-08-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-08-24 1988-02-23 1988-08-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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