To provide a sprocket that reduces the influence of tension fluctuations concurrent with load torque changes to suppress noise and vibration and that allows for a weight reduction while retaining high strength as well as enables high productivity, and a drive mechanism that uses this sprocket. Sprocket teeth are configured by providing a cushioning layer on tooth faces of tooth portions of a sprocket base body made of a high-rigidity material. The sprocket teeth include the cushioning layer that varies in thickness.

To provide a sprocket that reduces the influence of tension fluctuations concurrent with load torque changes to suppress noise and vibration and that allows for a weight reduction while retaining high strength as well as enables high productivity, and a drive mechanism that uses this sprocket. Sprocket teeth are configured by providing a cushioning layer on tooth faces of tooth portions of a sprocket base body made of a high-rigidity material. The sprocket teeth include the cushioning layer that varies in thickness.

This anti-backlash gear includes a gear wheel and gear teeth. Each gear tooth comprises first and second flanks, a top face and a bottom face, wherein for each gear tooth each flank extends from the top face to the bottom face, wherein the gear teeth comprise a polymeric material which comprises a repeat unit of form I wherein t1, and w1 independently represent 0 or 1 and v1 represents 0, 1 or 2. For each gear tooth, at least one of said flanks comprises two or more surfaces arranged to form a single protrusion extending along the at least one said flank such that a tooth thickness of each gear tooth varies between the top face and the bottom face of said gear tooth in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the gearwheel in operation. In use, the single protrusion is elastically deformable so as to absorb backlash.

This anti-backlash gear includes a gear wheel and gear teeth. Each gear tooth comprises first and second flanks, a top face and a bottom face, wherein for each gear tooth each flank extends from the top face to the bottom face, wherein the gear teeth comprise a polymeric material which comprises a repeat unit of form I wherein t1, and w1 independently represent 0 or 1 and v1 represents 0, 1 or 2. For each gear tooth, at least one of said flanks comprises two or more surfaces arranged to form a single protrusion extending along the at least one said flank such that a tooth thickness of each gear tooth varies between the top face and the bottom face of said gear tooth in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the gearwheel in operation. In use, the single protrusion is elastically deformable so as to absorb backlash.

To provide a sprocket that reduces the influence of tension fluctuations concurrent with load torque variations to suppress noise and vibration, and that prevents an increase in tension fluctuations, noise, and vibration even when the chain tension is low and the load torque is small, and in regions where engagement between the chain and sprocket is free of the influence of tension. The sprocket has a plurality of seating points for the chain when the chain sits under no load set between adjacent pairs of the teeth such that their radial positions change in a circumferentially continuous manner. The radial positions of the seating points under no load have a variation pattern in which the radial positions increase and decrease depending on circumferential positions of the seating points.

Gears are known to have a whine that can be unpleasant to operators or occupants of vehicles. A gear set is disclosed in which the pressure angle of the teeth varies along the periphery of the gear. A mating gear also has teeth with varying pressure angle. The teeth that mate have an identical pressure angle so that present disclosure is applicable only to 1:1 or integer ratio gears: 2:1, 3:1, etc. Because the teeth meet differently as a function of the pressure angle, the fundamental vibration frequency is not reinforced as would be the case with all teeth having the same pressure angle.

Gears are known to have a whine that can be unpleasant to operators or occupants of vehicles. A gear set is disclosed in which the pressure angle of the teeth varies along the periphery of the gear. A mating gear also has teeth with varying pressure angle. The teeth that mate have an identical pressure angle so that present disclosure is applicable only to 1:1 or integer ratio gears: 2:1, 3:1, etc. Because the teeth meet differently as a function of the pressure angle, the fundamental vibration frequency is not reinforced as would be the case with all teeth having the same pressure angle.

Gear pairing of a transmission with a first gear and with a second gear engaged with the first gear, whereby the first gear, in comparison to the second gear, is manufactured from a material that is less elastic or less soft, and whereby the first gear and the second gear have different normal target base pitches.

Gear pairing of a transmission with a first gear and with a second gear engaged with the first gear, whereby the first gear, in comparison to the second gear, is manufactured from a material that is less elastic or less soft, and whereby the first gear and the second gear have different normal target base pitches.

A transmission includes an input drive shaft, a drive gear, an idler gear, and a driven gear. The drive gear is rotationally fixed to the input drive shaft which, in turn, may but not necessarily, be powered by an engine. The idler gear may include a second set of gear teeth mounted to a bearing wherein the second set of gear teeth are formed from polymeric material. The second set of gear teeth for the idler gear may be in meshing engagement with the first set of gear teeth. The driven gear may include a third set of gear teeth in meshing engagement with the second set of gear teeth. The driven gear may be rotationally fixed to a pump shaft for a transmission pump. The input drive shaft, the drive gear, the idler gear, and the driven gear are configured to power a transmission pump.