Motorcycle sprocket assembly

Details Motorcycle sprocket assembly Motorcycle sprocket assembly

1999-07-30

2001-04-10

Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)

Motor vehicles

Special wheel base

Having only two wheels

C474S152000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213238

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rear wheel sprocket assembly for a motorcycle or other two-wheeled vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for making the sprocket assembly.
BACKGROUND
Two-wheeled powered vehicles, such as motorcycles, typically include a driven sprocket mounted on one of the wheels, usually the rear wheel. The sprocket typically includes a flange that is mounted for rotation with the wheel, and a toothed portion mounted to the flange. The toothed portion includes teeth for the transmission of power from a drive member, such as a chain or belt, to the rear wheel. Known driven sprockets are commonly made by high-pressure die casting, molding with a permanent mold, or machining from a solid block.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a motorcycle including the steps of providing a frame, interconnecting front and rear wheels with the frame for rotation, mounting an engine and a transmission to the frame, manufacturing a rear wheel drive sprocket assembly, mounting the sprocket assembly to the rear wheel, and interconnecting the sprocket assembly with an output shaft of the transmission with a flexible drive member. The step of manufacturing the rear wheel drive sprocket includes making a toothed member by providing a piece of material, shaping the piece of material into a generally ring-shaped part having at least one flange, and deforming a portion of the part to create teeth.
The ring-shaped part may be made, for example, by performing a drawing process on the piece of material, and the teeth may be made, for example, by roll-forming. The manufacturing step may also include providing an insert having a rim portion, and mounting the insert at least partially within the toothed member such that the rim portion is positioned adjacent the teeth.
The present invention provides several advantages over known driven sprockets and methods for making driven sprockets. The present invention may result in a lower manufacturing cost, a driven sprocket having lower weight, and the ability to make sprockets of various size using the same roll-forming equipment. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.


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