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sprocket
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Figure 2: chain and sprocket
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sprocket

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Quick Summary

Figure 2: chain and sprocket
Figure 2: chain and sprocket

A sprocket is a toothed wheel designed to engage with a chain or cable. Its teeth fit into the links of a chain or the blocks on a cable, allowing for controlled movement within a mechanism.1

There are two primary types of sprockets:

  • Toothed wheels: These engage with the links of a chain, commonly seen in bicycles and machinery.1
  • Cylinders with teeth: These are used to move items like movie film through a projector by engaging with perforations.1

A sprocket wheel is a specific term for a wheel with cogs or sprockets that mesh with a chain or cable. The exact origin of the word "sprocket" is unknown, but it was first used in 1879.21

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  2. sprocket wheel

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