Composite chain link assembly

The method of making a power transmission chain for use with a toothed sprocket having a plurality of sets or ranks of interleaved links, each of which has a pair of toes defined by outside and inside flanks, the inside flanks of each link being joined by a waisted crotch, said chain adapted to be drivingly associated with a toothed sprocket, comprising providing a plurality of links, some of which are so constructed and arranged to contact the teeth of a sprocket on the outside flanks of the links only and others of which are so constructed and arranged to contact the teeth of a sprocket on the inside flanks of the links, assembling said links as sets in a manner in which some of the links have inside flank engagement and others of the links have outside flank engagement, and joining adjacent sets with a pivot means.

A power transmission chain composed of a plurality of interleaved sets of links, pivot means connecting adjacent sets of links, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, the toes being defined by outside flanks and inside flanks, the inside flanks of each link being joined at the crotch, and each link defining a pair of apertures for receiving said pivot means, some sets of links being composed of links having substantially straight inside and outside flanks and other sets of links being composed of links having inside flanks of a different configuration.

A power transmission chain and sprocket combination having a plurality of ranks or sets of interleaved links, pivot means connecting the adjacent ranks or sets of links to permit articulation of the chain, and a sprocket having a plurality of teeth substantially equally spaced around its periphery, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch and each toe being defined by an outside flank and an inside flank, the inside flanks of a link at their ends being joined to said crotch, the improvement comprising:

• some of the links of said chain being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the outside flanks of the links and others of the links of said chain being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the inside flanks only of the links.

A power transmission chain composed of a plurality of interleaved sets of links, pivot means connecting adjacent sets of links, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by diverging outside and inside flanks, the inside flanks of each link being joined at the crotch, and each link defining a pair of apertures for receiving said pivot means, some sets of links being composed of links having substantially straight inside and outside flanks and other sets of links being composed of links having arcuate inside flanks.

The method of making a power transmission chain for use with a toothed sprocket having a plurality of sets or ranks of interleaved links, each of which has a pair of toes defined by outside and inside flanks, the inside flanks of each links being joined by a waisted crotch, said chain adapted to be drivingly associated with a toothed sprocket, comprising providing a plurality of links, some of which are so constructed and arranged to contact the teeth of a sprocket on the outside flanks of the links and some of which are so constructed and arranged to contact the teeth of a sprocket on the inside flanks of the links only, assembling said links as sets in a manner in which some of the links have inside flank engagement and others of the links have outside flank engagement, and joining adjacent sets with a pivot means.

A power transmission chain suitable for use with a sprocket having a plurality of teeth equally spaced about its periphery, the chain being composed of a plurality of interleaved sets of links, pivot means connecting adjacent sets of links, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by diverging outside and inside link flanks, at least one flank of each link being adapted for driving engagement with the sprocket teeth, the inside flanks of each link being joined at the crotch, and each link defining a pair of apertures for receiving said pivot means, some of the links of the chain having substantially straight outside flank configuration and being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the outside flanks of the links only, and others of said links having sprocket tooth engaging inside flanks of a configuration different from said straight configuration.

A power transmission chain composed of a plurality of interleaved sets of links, pivot means connecting adjacent sets of links, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by diverging outside and inside link flanks, the inside flanks of each link being joined at the crotch, and each link defining a pair of apertures for receiving said pivot means, said chain being composed of randomly arranged links having substantially straight inside and outside flanks for the major portion of their lengths, and links having inside flanks of a different configuration.

A power transmission chain and sprocket combination comprising:

• a plurality of links, pivot means connecting the links to permit articulation of the chain, and a sprocket having a plurality of teeth around its periphery, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by an outside flank and an inside flank, some of the links of said chain being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the outside flanks of the links only and others of the links of said chain being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the inside flanks of the links.

A power transmission chain and sprocket combination comprising:

• a plurality of links, pivot means connecting the links to permit articulation of the chain, and a sprocket having a plurality of teeth around its periphery, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by an outside flank and an inside flank, some of the links of said chain being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the outside flanks of the links and others of the links being so constructed and arranged to drivingly contact the teeth of the sprocket on the inside flanks only of the links.

A power transmission chain composed of a plurality of interleaved sets of links, pivot means connecting adjacent sets of links, the links of said chain each having a pair of toes separated by a crotch, each toe being defined by outside flanks and inside flanks, the inside flanks of each link being joined at the crotch, and each link defining a pair of apertures for receiving said pivot means, some sets of links being composed of links having substantially straight inside flanks and other sets of links being composed of links having inside flanks of a different configuration.