Meshing of Silent Chain and Main Cause of Noise Generation.

Abstract

Chain drive has some merit in mechanical power transmissions, when the center distance of driving/driven shafts is wide and/or the same direction of rotation of driving/driven shafts is desired. The running noise and vibration of silent chain with roll-contacting rocker pins is fairly lower than normal roller chain drive or silent chain with simple joint pins, but it is still large enough to be of problem. In this report, the kinematics of the meshing of silent chain with roll contacting rocker pins with mating sprocket of involute spur gear is introduced. The simulating calculation based on this theory shows that the radial positions of successive plates of the chain around sprocket is divergent, when some slight disturbance is given for the position of the meshing in plate. This instability in the sitting position of chain plate corresponds well with the measured state of chain noise radiation and observed sitting figure of plates on the sprocket. The main cause of the chain noise and vibration is clarified.