US4127038A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sprocket shift assembly
Assignee: Browning Automatic Transmission LP
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Filing: 1976-08-06
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Granted: 1978-11-28
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Expires: 1996-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A sprocket shift assembly wherein sprockets of different diameters are arranged as a cluster on a common shaft and are coupled with a chain between driving and driven members. The chain is movable as the sprockets rotate from one of the sprockets to another by realignment of portions of the sprocket such that the chain is at all times in a positive driving relationship with the cluster.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce W. Browning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:00
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M9/00; B62M9/04; B62M9/06; B62M9/10; B62M9/14; B62M9/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least one partial sprocket thereon lying in a first plane; another sprocket, lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and having a pitch diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of the full sprocket formed by the partial sprockets; means mounting at least one of said sprocket sectors to be movable with respect to said driving hinge such that the partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time to form a full sprocket when the sprocket sectors are in predetermined meshed position relative to the driving hinge, and such that each movable mounted sprocket sector can be moved to place some partial sprocket teeth thereof in a second plane; and means coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least one partial sprocket thereon lying in a first plane; another sprocket, lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and having a pitch diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of the full sprocket formed by the partial sprockets; means mounting at least one of said sprocket sectors to be movable with respect to said driving hinge such that the partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time to form a full sprocket when the sprocket sectors are in predetermined meshed position relative to the driving hinge, and such that each movable mounted sprocket sector can be moved to place some partial sprocket teeth thereof in a second plane; and means coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 1, further including means for releasably locking each of the sprocket sectors movable with respect to the driving hinge to prevent undesired movement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 1, further including means biasing each sprocket sector movable with respect to the driving hinge to thereby place the partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors in the same plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 3, further including means for releasably locking each of the sprocket sectors movably mounted with respect to the driving hinge to prevent undesired movement thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 4, wherein each sprocket sector movably mounted with respect to the driving hinge is pivotally connected thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 2, wherein the means for releasably locking each of the movable sprocket sectors to the driving hinge comprises a lever pivotally connected to each sprocket sector; means biasing each lever to a locking position; and latch means for each lever on the driving hinge, said latch means consisting of a finger projecting from the driving hinge such that the levers will be biased between the finger means and the driving hinge and will engage the finger means to prevent pivoting of the sprocket sectors with respect to said driving hinge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 1, wherein the means for coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith includes parallel grooves and lands on the driving hinge; and parallel grooves and lands on the sprocket sectors, the lands of the sprocket sectors fitting in the grooves of the driving hinge and the lands of the driving hinge fitting in the grooves of the sprocket sectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 1, further including a one-piece full sprocket, of smaller diameter than the full sprocket formed by the sprocket sectors, coaxially mounted with respect to the full sprocket formed by partial sprockets and in a plane parallel thereto whereby movement of a sprocket sector will position some of the teeth of a partial sprocket in the plane of the smaller one-piece full sprocket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 5, wherein the means for releasably locking each sprocket sector pivotally connected to the driving hinge comprises a lever pivotally connected to each sprocket sector; means biasing each lever to a locking position; and latch means for each lever on the driving hinge said latch means consisting of a finger projecting from the driving hinge such that the levers will be biased between the finger means and the driving hinge and will engage the finger to prevent movement of the sprocket sectors with respect to said driving hinge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 9, wherein the means for coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith includes parallel grooves and lands on the driving hinge; and parallel grooves and lands on the sprocket sectors, the lands of the sprocket sectors fitting in the grooves of the driving hinge and the hands of the driving hinge fitting in the grooves of the sprocket sectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 10, further including a one-piece full sprocket, of smaller diameter than the full sprocket formed by the sprocket sectors, coaxially mounted with respect to the full sprocket formed by partial sprockets and in a plane parallel thereto whereby pivoting of a sprocket sector will position some of the teeth of a partial sprocket in the plane of the smaller one-piece full sprocket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 11, further including a hub comprising a member to be rotated; and means coupling the driving hinge to the hub for rotation therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 12, wherein the means coupling the driving hinge to the hub for rotation therewith comprises a ratchet assembly that locks the driving hinge to the hub for rotation in one direction and that allows independent reverse rotation of the hub and driving hinge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 1, further including means for providing a tooth spacing between each movable sprocket sector and the other sprocket lying in a second plane parallel to the first plane and having a pitch diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of the full sprocket formed by the partial sprockets, that is a multiple of the chain pitch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 14, wherein the means for providing a tooth spacing between each movable sprocket sector and the other sprocket that is a multiple of the chain pitch comprises a partial tooth on a movable sprocket sector that is of different length than the other teeth of said sprocket; and gaps adjacent to said partial tooth having a different depth than gaps adjacent to others of the teeth on said sprocket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least two partial sprockets thereon, one of said partial sprockets having a larger radius than the other and said partial sprockets lying in parallel first and second planes; and means coupling at least one of said sprocket sectors to said driving hinge such that the smaller partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time the larger partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors are in another plane to respectively form smaller and larger full sprockets and such that the same one sprocket sector can be moved to place some teeth of one partial sprocket of one radius in the plane of a partial sprocket of different radius of the other sprocket sector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least two partial sprockets thereon, one of said partial sprockets having a larger radius than the other and said partial sprockets lying in parallel first and second planes; and means coupling at least one of said sprocket sectors to said driving hinge such that the smaller partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time the larger partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors are in another plane to respectively form smaller and larger full sprockets and such that the same one sprocket sector can be moved to place some teeth of one partial sprocket of one radius in the plane of a partial sprocket of different radius of the other sprocket sector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 16, wherein the means coupling at least one of said sprocket sectors to said driving hinge includes a pivot connection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 16, wherein both sprocket sectors are pivotally connected to the driving hinge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 18, further including means for releasably locking each of the sprocket sectors movable with respect to the driving hinge to prevent undesired movement thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 19, wherein the means for coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith includes parallel grooves and lands on the driving hinge; and parallel grooves and lands on the sprocket sectors, the lands of the sprocket sectors fitting in the grooves of the driving hinge and the lands of the driving hinge fitting in the grooves of the sprocket sectors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 20, wherein the means for releasably locking the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge comprises a lever pivotally connected to each sprocket sector; means biasing each lever to a locking position; and latch means for each lever on the driving hinge, said latch means consisting of a finger projecting from the driving hinge such that the levers will be biased between the finger means and the driving hinge and will engage the finger to prevent pivoting of the sprocket sectors with respect to said driving hinge.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 21, further including means for providing a tooth spacing between each movable sprocket sector and a partial sprocket on the other sprocket sector that is a multiple of the chain pitch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 22, wherein the means for providing a tooth spacing between each movable sprocket sector and the other sprocket that is a multiple of the chain pitch comprises a partial tooth on a movable sprocket sector that is of different length than the other teeth of said sprocket; and gaps adjacent to said partial tooth having a different depth than gaps adjacent to others of the teeth on said sprocket.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
93 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least one partial sprocket thereon; and means mounting at least one of said sprocket sectors to be movable with respect to said driving hinge such that the partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time to form a full sprocket, and such that at least one sprocket sector movably mounted with respect to said driving hinge can be moved to place some partial sprocket teeth thereof in a second plane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
A sprocket shift assembly comprising a driving hinge; a pair of sprocket sectors, each having at least one partial sprocket thereon; and means mounting at least one of said sprocket sectors to be movable with respect to said driving hinge such that the partial sprockets of the sprocket sectors can lie in one plane at the same time to form a full sprocket, and such that at least one sprocket sector movably mounted with respect to said driving hinge can be moved to place some partial sprocket teeth thereof in a second plane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 24, including another sprocket having a tooth pitch that is different from the tooth pitch of the full sprocket formed by the partial sprockets; means mounting said other sprocket such that the teeth thereof can lie substantially in the second plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 24, further including means for releasably locking each of the sprocket sectors, movable with respect to the driving hinge, to the said hinge to prevent undesired movement thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 24, further including means coupling the sprocket sectors to the driving hinge for rotation therewith.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 27, wherein the partial sprockets lie in one plane to form a full sprocket when the sprocket sectors are fully meshed with the driving hinge.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 27, including another sprocket having a pitch diameter that is different from the pitch diameter of the full sprocket formed by the partial sprockets; means mounting said other sprocket such that the teeth thereof can lie substantially in the second plane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sprocket shift assembly as in claim 27, further including means for releasably locking each of the sprocket sectors, movable with respect to the driving hinge, to the said hinge to prevent undesired movement thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3769848A
Cited
US3938403A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-27 | 1982-05-29 | 1982-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-27 | 1986-05-29 | 1986-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-27 | 1990-05-29 | 1990-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |