Like gears, chain and sprocket drives are used to transmit rotary motion from one place to another and just like gears the ratio of speed between two sprockest is the same a the ratio of the number of teeth. In the example below there are two wheels, one with twelve teeth one with twenty. 12:20 is 3:5
Unlike gears however, the direction of rotation for any wheels within the chain is the same Any sprocket on the outside pressing up against the chain will rotate the other way.
Using FlashAlso unlike gears, the wheels do not touch, they can be as far apart as the chain allows. Any number of sprockets can be driven by a a single chain. In complex mechanisms, such as car engines, the chain often loops round several different sprockets driving them and keeping them synchronised.
Rather than using a chain, which can be rather noisy, a toothed rubber belt is often used in car engines to drive the camshaft and valves.
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Comments
Smelter
Rob, don't forget the more versatile "belt and line shafts" used in the wool and cotton mills from our northern counties. Belts instead of chains can twist which allows them to deliver power at all sorts of angles as illustrated here: - http://www.old-engine.com/belts2.htm
In my home town, these pulley systems could be seen and heard in the local mills. There used to be a firm that went by the wonderfully descriptive name of “The Patented Cork Pulley Company”
Thanks Smelter! I love these old belt drive mechs. The belts always look like they are just to all off but they are help in place by a slight bulging in the pulley. Neat! - RI