Chain and Sprocket

Description

Sprockets are similar to pulleys in that the driver and the driven rotate in the same direction (whereas two meshing gears would reverse the direction of rotation). Sprocket teeth engage with a Roller Chain to produce the very positive non-slip drive commonly used on bicycles.

Features and Applications

The illustration shows the gears of a typical road bicycle complete with the familiar ‘Derailleur’ change mechanism. Modern Bicycle Chains are made with a pitch of ½" and have become narrower as the number of rear 'cogs' has increased in bicycle drivetrains.

Note: Although referred to as bicycle ‘gears’, bicycles use a chain and sprocket drive. The group of different size sprockets, or ‘cogset’ is similar to a Cone Pulley - note also the use of a ‘Jockey Wheel’ to maintain chain tension as it ‘de-rails’ from one sprocket to another.

Animations

Examples from Nguyen Duc Thang's YouTube Channel 2100 Animated Mechanical Mechanisms

Chain Drive - complete with a device for chain tensioning.

DT Online Buyers' Guide

The Pilot Bore Chain Sprockets are designed for British Standard Roller Chains which at ½" pitch are likely to be 8mm wide between the link plates. It is probable that these sprockets are too wide to accept modern thin Bicycle Chains - check with suppliers.
Bicycle Chains and sprockets are ½" pitch and only 3mm wide between link plates.