US 3,939,730 A · Housing for motorcycle drive chain

Abstract

A self-contained housing for the drive chain of a conventional chain-driven motorcycle comprising a front section, enclosing the motorcycle drive sprocket and a portion of the drive chain, and a rear section, enclosing the rear wheel sprocket and the remaining portion of the chain, both sections being joined together by a flexible coupling to form a single, integrated unit. Sealing interfaces are provided where the housing mates with the motorcycle transmission case and the rear wheel hub to prevent contaminants from entering the housing and also to prevent leakage of a pool of lubricating oil that is maintained within the housing to continuously lubricate the drive chain and sprocket. The forward end of the housing is reinforced to prevent the chain from flying loose and causing injury to the motorcycle operator or damage to the engine casing should the chain break while it is in motion.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A chain housing, adapted for mounting on a conventional chain-driven motorcycle to enclose the drive sprocket, drive chain and rear wheel sprocket thereof, comprising:

a. a front housing section enclosing a drive sprocket and a portion of a drive chain;
b. a rear housing section enclosing a rear wheel sprocket and the remaining portion of said drive chain;
c. means for flexibly coupling said front housing section to said rear housing section;
d. means for removably attaching said rear housing section to a frame member of a motorcycle;
e. a cup-shaped gland member removably attached to the rear wheel hub of said motorcycle;
and
f. an annular lip seal removably attached to said rear housing section and sealingly engaging said gland member.

4 more elements

A chain housing, adapted for mounting on a conventional chain-driven motorcycle to enclose the drive sprocket, drive chain and rear wheel sprocket thereof, comprising:

a. a C-shaped front housing section of substantially rectangular cross-section for enclosing the drive sprocket and a portion of the drive chain of a motorcycle, said front housing section having a reinforced forward wall, means for engaging a frame member of said motorcycle, means for removable attachment to the transmission casing of said motorcycle, and two rearward facing orifices of substantially rectangular cross-section for receiving said drive chain of said motorcycle;
b. a reverse C-shaped rear housing section of substantially rectangular cross-section for enclosing the rear wheel sprocket and the remaining portion of the drive chain of said motorcycle, said rear housing section having means for removable attachment to a frame member of said motorcycle and two forward facing orifices of substantially rectangular cross-section for receiving said drive chain of said motorcycle;
c. means for flexibly connecting said front housing section to said rear housing section such that, when connected, said front and rear housing sections define a hollow elongated toroid of substantially rectangular cross-section;
d. means defining a first aperture in one side of said front housing section for receiving the drive shaft of said motorcycle;
e. means for forming an oil-, moisture- and dirtproof seal between said front housing section and the transmission casing of said motorcycle around said drive shaft;
f. means defining a second aperture in the opposite side of said front housing section for receiving the drive sprocket of said motorcycle;
g. means for sealingly covering said second aperture in said front housing section;
h. means defining a first aperture in one side of said rear housing section for receiving the rear wheel sprocket of said motorcycle;
i. a cup-shaped gland member removably attached to the rear wheel hub of said motorcycle;
j. an annular lip seal removably attached to said rear housing section around said first aperture and sealingly engaging said gland member;
and
k. means defining a second aperture in the opposite side of said rear housing section for receiving the rear axle of said motorcycle.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Housing for motorcycle drive chain

Life of this patent

Housing for motorcycle drive chain

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10