Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Friction drive belt – Including plural interconnected members each having a drive...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-10-09
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Friction drive belt
Including plural interconnected members each having a drive...
C213S205000, C213S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to motion transmitting devices in general, and more particularly to improvements in elongated flexible motion transmitting devices (hereinafter called chains for short). Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in chains (such as endless link chains) which can be utilized with advantage to transmit torque between pulleys or sheaves, such as adjustable pulleys forming part of continuously variable (CVT) and analogous transmissions. The invention also relates to improvements in methods of making link chains as well as to transmissions which employ the improved chains.
Chains of the character to which the present invention pertains are disclosed, for example, in German patents Nos. 44 15 838 and 35 26 062. The patented chains comprise longitudinally extending links which are articulately connected to each other by transversely extending pintles or bolts (also called rocker elements). The end portions of the bolts extend to or beyond the lateral sides of the assembled chain and are provided with abutments serving to prevent accidental dismantling of the assembled chain and/or as a means for contacting the flanges of pulleys in the transmissions in which the patented chains are put to use, i.e., at those locations where the bolts and the neighboring links are most likely to become partially or fully separated from each other. As a rule, each bolt carries an abutment at each of its ends, i.e., at both lateral sides of the assembled chain. Reliable retention of all constituents of a link chain in fully assembled condition is highly desirable because the disengagement of one or more links from the neghboring bolts reduces the effectiveness of the chain and can entail total destruction of the chain, a malfunctioning or a complete breakdown of the transmission, e.g., failure of the transmission to transmit torque between the driving and driven pulleys one of which receives torque from a prime mover and the other of which transmits torque (directly or indirectly) to the driven axles in the power train of a motor vehicle. This can result in injuries or inconvenience to the occupant(s) of the motor vehicles, for example, if a breakdown takes place at a location which is remote from a service station.
On the other hand, the provision of plural abutments of adequate sturdiness, size and shape on each bolt of a link chain contributes significantly to the cost of conventional link chains, not only because of the expenses involved in connection with the making of the chain but also as concerns the cost of the materials which are required for the making of the abutments and/or for attachment of separately produced abutments to the end portions of the respective bolts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved link chain which is just as reliable as but less expensive than heretofore known chains.
Another object of the invention is to provide a link chain which can be utilized as an equivalent of or superior substitute for conventional chains.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of making and assembling a link chain for use in transmissions, particularly in continuously variable transmissions, or for analogous purposes.
An additional object of the invention is to provide the above outlined link chain with novel and improved means for maintaining the constituents of the improved chain in fully assembled condition during storage and/or during transport to the locale of actual use.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a transmission, particularly a continuously variable transmission, which employs the above outlined link chain.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of links (particularly so-called side bar links), bolts and abutments which together constitute or form part of the improved link chain.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved distribution of abutments and novel and improved combinations of bolts with abutments for use in the above outlined link chain.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a link chain wherein the overall number of discrete parts is a fraction of the overall number of parts in a conventional link chain for use in a continuously variable transmission, particularly a transmission which is installed in the power train of a motor vehicle to transmit torque from the prime mover (such as an internal combustion engine) to the live axle or axles of the motor vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a power train for use in motor vehicles which employs one or more link chains embodying the present invention.
A further object of the invention is to provide the bolts of a link chain with abutments which are configurated, applied to the respective bolts and oriented relative to the lateral sides and/or relative to the inner and/or outer sides of an endless chain with a view to save considerable amounts of material as well as manufacturing and/or assembly costs.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved methods of equipping the bolts of the above outlined link chain with abutments which, though fewer than in conventional link chains, can withstand the stresses arising when the improved link chain is put to use in a continuously variable transmission or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of an elongated chain which comprises a series of neighboring links extending longitudinally of the chain nd having overlapping portions provided with at least partially registering openings, and elongated rocker elements (each of which can comprise or consist of two parallel neighboring bolts) extending through the at least partially registering openings transversely of the chain to articulately (particularly pivotably) connect the respective neighboring links to each other.
The links of the aforementioned series are or can be arranged to be trained over a plurality of adjustable pulleys or sheaves in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) wherein each of the pulleys comprises a plurality of coaxial flanges at least one of which is adjustable axially of each other flange of the respective pulley or sheave.
Each of the rocker elements has a first and a second end portion at the respective (first or second) lateral side of the chain, and the improved link chain preferably further comprises projections provided on selected end portions of the rocker elements. The total number of the end portions exceeds the total number of the projections, i.e., at least one end portion is devoid of a projection.
The projections are or can be configurated, positioned and/or dimensioned to oppose separation of the rocker elements and the respective links from each other and/or to abut at least one link of the respective neighboring links.
The arrangement can be such that each rocker element carries a single projection.
The rocker elements together form a series of successive rocker elements (as seen in the longitudinal direction of the chain), and the projections can form first and second rows at the respective (first and second) lateral sides of the chain. The projections of the first row can alternate with the projections of the second row, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the chain.
If each rocker element comprises a pair of elongated bolts, each bolt of at least one pair of bolts can carry a single projection; such single projections can be adjacent each other at one lateral side of the chain. At least some of the projections can be carried by the outer and/or at the inner sides of the respective rocker elements.
One or more projections can constitute abutments which are of one piece with the respective rocker elements. Such projection(s) or abutment(s) can constitute shaped portion(s) of the respective rocker element(s).
At least one of the projections or abutments can be affixed to the respective rocker element, e.g., by bonding (such
Bucci David A.
Charles Marcus
Darby & Darby
LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
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