Multiple Connector Or Bearing Members Extend Through Or Positioned In Common Opening Patents (Class 474/215)
  • Patent number: 11731836
    Abstract: A link conveyor for an assembly machine and methods for chordal compensation in a link conveyor, may include a first upper chordal compensation cam in the upper rail assembly at the first end of the frame to deflect the chain by a first upper variable deflection amount; a first lower chordal compensation cam in the lower rail assembly at the first end of the frame to deflect the chain by a first lower variable deflection amount; and configuring the first upper variable deflection amount and the first lower variable deflection amount to reduce deviation between a first velocity of the chain at the first end of the frame and a second velocity of the chain at the second end of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: The Gillette Company LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Luigi Zannella, Donald William Loughlin, Gregory Scott Geihsler, Colin Grant Dickerson, Sven Leonard Swanson, Michael Buckholtz, Kevin Michael Cedzo
  • Patent number: 11608874
    Abstract: A bicycle chain includes a pair of outer plates, a pair of inner plates, and a connecting pin assembly. The pair of outer plates defines a width of the bicycle chain in a transverse direction, and the pair of inner plates is positioned at least partially between the pair of outer plates. The connecting pin assembly connects the pair of outer plates with the pair of inner plates and includes a first rocker pin, a second rocker pin, and a center pin between the first rocker pin and the second rocker pin in a longitudinal direction. A length of the center pin in the transverse direction is less than the width of the bicycle chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CeramicSpeed Sport A/S
    Inventors: Jason Smith, Alexander Jacobson Rosenberry
  • Patent number: 11181168
    Abstract: In a chain belt having: plurality of link plates each provided with a pin hole; plurality of connecting pins to connect a part of the plurality of link plates in an endless annular form by being inserted into the pin holes across the part of the plurality of link plates in a state where the part of the plurality of link plates are overlapped; and a retainer pin welded to an end portion of the connecting pin and engaged with the link plate to prevent the link plate from coming off the connecting pin, the retainer pin is disposed in a posture in which an outer circumferential surface is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the connecting pin, and a plurality of points on the outer circumferential surface of the retainer pin separated from each other in the circumferential direction are welded to the connecting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Hattori, Akira Ijichi, Naoyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10619705
    Abstract: A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle is provided. The plate link chain includes a plurality of link plates arranged parallel to a running direction of the plate link chain and each link plate includes an aperture formed therein. A plurality of pressure pieces are oriented perpendicular to the running direction and arranged in pairs to be received in the apertures of the link plates to form two joints in each link plate. The two joints in each link plate are supported by arcuate outer sections of the pressure pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alaa Harmouch, Konstantin Braun
  • Patent number: 10344823
    Abstract: A plate-link chain, in particular for a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, having plate links which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by pairs of rocker pressure members, each including two rocker pressure members. The plate links and the rocker pressure members are designed in such a way as to bear against each other at respective flat contact surfaces so that the load on plate-link bands of the plate links is nearly torque-free during operation of the plate-link chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Götz
  • Patent number: 10295016
    Abstract: A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle. The chain is formed from longer and shorter chain links that are formed from and that include respective longer and shorter link plates that are coupled to each other by pairs of rocker pressure members. Both the shorter link plates and the longer link plates have at least one longitudinally extending external appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Konstantin Braun, Stephan Penner, Alaa Harmouch, Jürgen Ochs
  • Patent number: 9651113
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a silent chain which suppresses vibration and undulation while maintaining rigidity, strength, and durability and simplifying a shape of a pin hole without using a locker pin with a special shape and special material. In a silent chain 100, a guide row 101 made up of guide plates 110 and a middle plate 120 and a non-guide row made 103 made up of inner plates 130 are alternately connected in a chain longitudinal direction by a pair of locker pins 140 and 150. Pin holes 121 and 131 respectively have outer peripheral side straight portions 123 and 133 and inner peripheral side straight portions 124 and 134 which are formed parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Sato, Takeo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9618081
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a silent chain and a silent chain transmission device which stabilize chain behavior during chain travel to suppress an occurrence of tooth skipping and to reduce a string vibration sound and a meshing noise with simple configurations. In a silent chain 110, a pin hole 161 of an inner plate 160 and a pair of locker pins 170 are configured in such a size that a gap is formed between a seat surface 163 and a back surface of a short pin 172 in a state where the pair of locker pins 170 are in contact with each other on rolling surfaces 171a and 172a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Sato, Takeo Sasaki, Shuji Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9400033
    Abstract: A method for providing a link-plate chain having increased strength by stretching the chain between a pair of spaced, rotatable conical pulleys, wherein the link-plate chain is stretched in opposite directions of rotation of the conical pulleys. The opposite stretching operations impart deformation forces on at least the link-plates and/or rocker pressure pieces that interconnect link plates of the link-plate chain. The deformation forces cause parts of the chain to undergo plasticization regions of the chain components and that result in increased chain strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Nicolas Rickling
  • Patent number: 9353830
    Abstract: A link-plate chain for a continuously variable transmission, having a plurality of link plates interconnected in a chain circumferential direction and a chain transverse direction to be wound around an input pulley and an output pulley, by a plurality of rocker pins inserted to extend in the traverse direction through pin holes formed in the link plates, and attached with retainer pins for preventing detachment of the link plates from the rocker pins at ends in the transverse direction of the rocker pins, wherein: the retainer pins of the inside rocker pins sandwiched between the outer side rocker pins in the longitudinal direction among the rocker pins inserted through the link plates located at outermost ends in the transverse direction are configured to be attached more outward in the transverse direction than the retainer pins of the front and rear end side rocker pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Ichijo, Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9261166
    Abstract: A plate-link chain having a plurality of link plates hingedly connected with each other by pairs of rocker members that each include two rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are situated with play in openings in the link plates. The rocker members and the link plate openings each have respective curved contact surfaces along which the rocker members and the link plates bear against each other to transmit force. The rocker members include curved rolling surfaces along which the rocker members roll against each other during chain operation to transmit force. The play value between the rocker members and the opening in an adjacent link plate is less than 0.2 mm to minimize lateral vibrations of the chain during operation, to prevent contact of the chain with an enclosing housing and thereby reduce emitted noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura
  • Patent number: 8998759
    Abstract: In a silent chain, rocker joint pins are composed of first and second rocker pins having mutually engaging front rolling surfaces. Each first rocker pin is fixed to pin fixing link plates of a first link, and extends through holes in other link plates of the first link. Each first pin has a back surface engaged with portions of the pin holes in the other link plates of the first link on the inner side of a pitch line, but is spaced by a gap from portions of the same pin holes on the outer side of the pitch line. The second rocker pin moves with link plates of a second link which forms a link pair with the first link, and elastically deforms the first rocker pin when the second link is flexed relative to the first link, thereby resisting flexion of the link pair and reducing impact noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Shuuji Hamaguchi, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8998758
    Abstract: In a transmission chain, interleaved links are articulably connected by connecting pins, each connecting pin comprising two rocker pins arranged to roll on each other. Pin holes in each of at least two overlapping link plates in each interleaved pair of link plates are shaped so that each rocker pin moves with one of the overlapping link plates and is engageable with a bend-blocking surface in the pin hole in the other of the two overlapping link plates when the two overlapping link plates are in a straight part of the chain. The engagement of the rocker pins with the bend-blocking surfaces of the pin holes prevents the links from bending backward beyond their straight condition, i.e., in an outward direction, opposite to the inward direction in which the links bend relative to each other when engaging a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Shuuji Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8894524
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of link units which are aligned in a chain advancing direction, and each link unit includes a plurality of link plates which are aligned in a chain width direction W. The plurality of link plates include link plates which are punched out of a material by pressing to first and second specifications. A punching direction of the link plates to the first specification and a punching direction of the link plates to the second specification are made opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Todo Kogyo Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kozue Matsumoto, Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto, Yasutaka Hojo
  • Patent number: 8888634
    Abstract: A toothed plate-link chain having a plurality of link plates that form chain links in the transverse direction of the chain. The link plates of laterally adjacent chain links partially overlap, and the chain links are hingedly connected to each other by hinge pins that extend through receiving openings in overlap regions of the link plates. At least some of the link plates have plate teeth, and some of the link plates have a modified form to reduce the effect of impact impulses of the link plates on the tooth flanks of a toothed wheel about which the chain passes. As a result, the magnitude of the meshing impulses and the times during which they act on the toothed wheel are modified to thereby reduce structure-borne noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura
  • Patent number: 8843269
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for managing an interface between a machine or work vehicle and a surface that the machine/work vehicle travels on in order to provide an optimum work performance level that balances fuel efficiency and surface adversity. Fleet management and reporting capabilities pertaining to such interface management are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Noel Wayne Anderson, Larry Lee Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8733076
    Abstract: An assembling method for a torque transmission chain, including a step of manufacturing split pieces of the chain in such a manner that a predetermined number of pins are held by a linear pin holding jig and then a predetermined number of links are press-fitted to the pins; a step of linearly arranging the split pieces so as to overlap split piece coupling links each arranged at any one of both ends of each of the split pieces; a step of inserting the pin through the overlapped split piece coupling links; and a step of pulling both ends of a whole of the plurality of split pieces coupled to each other via the split piece coupling links to thereby fix the pin to a pin fixing portion of the split piece coupling links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Miura, Teruko Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 8708851
    Abstract: With a view to suppressing fretting in a power transmission chain, when a chain straight-line area is seen from a chain widthwise direction W, a flat portion 18 of a first pin 3 of the chain extends in an inclination direction D. A point of intersection P0 is formed by an imaginary line L1 which passes through a center position of an overall height h of the first pin 3 along the inclination direction D intersecting the flat portion. A point of intersection P2 is formed by an imaginary line L2 which passes through a contact portion A0 and which extends in a chain advancing direction X intersecting the flat portion 18 between the point of intersection P0 and one end P1 of the flat portion. When assuming that a distance between the point of intersection P0 and the point of intersection P2 is referred to as h1 and a distance between the point of intersection P2 and the one end P1 of the flat portion 18 is referred to as h2, 0.1·h1?h2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 8678966
    Abstract: A chain which is wound round on a pair of pulleys so as to extend therebetween includes a plurality of links and a plurality of connecting members. A first pin and a second pin of the connecting member are brought into rolling and sliding contact with each other at a contact portion which is displaced in association with a change in a flexing angle between the links. End faces of the first pin each have a projecting curved portion where a contact area is formed when the end faces are brought into contact with sheave surfaces of the pulleys. With respect to a vertical direction, a projecting center of the projecting curved portion is disposed between a position of a first contact portion when the chain bites into the drive pulley and a position of a second contact portion when the chain bites into the driven pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Kamamoto, Kozue Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8617017
    Abstract: The invention provides a power transmission chain in which abnormal noise can be reduced. In a link, a front through hole 7 and a rear through hole 8 aligned in a chain traveling direction X are provided. A pillar portion 9 is provided between the front through hole 7 and the rear through hole 8. Projecting portions 26, 29 are provided at a central portion in a height direction V of the pillar portion 9, and concave curve portions 27, 28, 30, 31 are provided at both end portions. A pair of flat portions (33,34 and 38,39) are provided on each projection portion 26,29 for restricting an overshoot of the chain. A not-shown pin that is loosely fitted to each of the front through hole 7 and the rear through hole 8 is brought into abutment with corresponding flat portions 27,28,30,31 to restrict an overshoot of the chain 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 8585015
    Abstract: There is provided an engagement chain whose driving force per occupied space is increased, whose durability is improved by reducing stress in a direction of bending a connecting pin and whose engagement noise during driving is reduced. The engagement chain includes a large number of outer and inner link plates, each having hook-like portions, which are connected in a chain longitudinal direction by connecting pins, the large number of outer and inner link plates are connected flexibly without gap in the chain width direction while the back surfaces of the link plates opposite to the hook-like portions engage with driving sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Aoki
  • Publication number: 20130260934
    Abstract: In a silent chain, rocker joint pins are composed of first and second rocker pins having mutually engaging front rolling surfaces. Each first rocker pin is fixed to pin fixing link plates of a first link, and extends through holes in other link plates of the first link. Each first pin has a back surface engaged with portions of the pin holes in the other link plates of the first link on the inner side of a pitch line, but is spaced by a gap from portions of the same pin holes on the outer side of the pitch line. The second rocker pin moves with link plates of a second link which forms a link pair with the first link, and elastically deforms the first rocker pin when the second link is flexed relative to the first link, thereby resisting flexion of the link pair and reducing impact noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Shuuji Hamaguchi, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8500582
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system including conical pulleys. The chain includes a number of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain and within openings in the link plates. The rocker members and link plates bear against each other along curved contact surfaces to transmit power. Rocker member pairs roll against each other on facing curved rolling surfaces at a contact point that moves from an upper area above the center of mass of the rocker member cross section to a lower area below it. The ratio of the distance from the end of the upper area to the center of mass and the distance from the end of the lower area to the center of mass lies in a range of from about 1.1 to about 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Triller, Martin Vornehm
  • Patent number: 8485928
    Abstract: In a chain transmission incorporating a silent chain engaged with a sprocket, the plates of the chain are connected by sets of rocker pins extending through pin holes in the plates. The pin holes are elongated toward the center of each plate, and the elongation of each pin hole is greater than the maximum amount by which the distance between points on the respective rocker pins of each set increases when said chain is inflected to the maximum extent permitted by the sprocket in a portion of the chain in seating engagement with said sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Shouhei Adachi, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20130165285
    Abstract: In a transmission chain, interleaved links are articulably connected by connecting pins, each connecting pin comprising two rocker pins arranged to roll on each other. Pin holes in each of at least two overlapping link plates in each interleaved pair of link plates are shaped so that each rocker pin moves with one of the overlapping link plates and is engageable with a bend-blocking surface in the pin hole in the other of the two overlapping link plates when the two overlapping link plates are in a straight part of the chain. The engagement of the rocker pins with the bend-blocking surfaces of the pin holes prevents the links from bending backward beyond their straight condition, i.e., in an outward direction, opposite to the inward direction in which the links bend relative to each other when engaging a sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
  • Patent number: 8337348
    Abstract: In a silent chain, cushion pads are provided in the inner flank regions of at least every second link row. These cushion pads restrict inward flexion of the chain and reduce vibration of the free span regions of the chain. The cushion pads can be individual pads each associated with a link plate, or elongated pads each associated with a row of link plates. In either case, side parts protruding toward the outside of the loop formed by the chain can also restrict outward flexion of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kabai, Shuuji Hamaguchi, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8057342
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. The chain includes a plurality of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are positioned in openings of the link plates. The rocker members and link plates each have curved contact surfaces. The rocker members also have curved rolling surfaces along which the rocker members roll against each other. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction, and the contact surfaces are provided on upper and lower contact surface regions. The rocker members also have at least two regions with different curvatures in the regions of their rolling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura
  • Patent number: 8057343
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. The chain includes a number of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are positioned in openings of the link plates. Curved contact surfaces are located on each of the rocker members and link plates, along which contact surfaces the rocker members and link plates are in contact with each other to transmit power. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction and are provided in contacting pairs. The link plate openings include at least one inwardly-curved region that is located above a contact point line extending through contact points of contacting rocker members of adjacent rocker member pairs that roll against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Anton Simonov, Michael Pichura, Olga Ispolatova, Marcus Junig, Martin Vornehm
  • Patent number: 8052561
    Abstract: A method for optimizing the link plates of a plate-link chain drive chain for use in a variable speed unit of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The chain includes plate links formed from pairs of plates that have openings through which pairs of rocker members extend. The plates include longitudinally-extending legs that extend in the chain movement direction and vertical legs that extend perpendicular to the chain movement direction. The method is directed to minimizing bending stresses in the longitudinal and vertical legs of the plates as the chain passes around a pulley, and as the rocker members and the chain tension impose forces on the plates. The stress minimization results in minimal material usage and minimal weight of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Oberle, André Teubert
  • Patent number: 8038561
    Abstract: A chain is provided with a plurality of links, and connecting members for connecting those links such that the links are relatively bendable to each other. A first pin of the connecting member is clamped between pulleys thereby to transmit the power between itself and said pulleys. The chain includes a central area with respect to chain width directions, and side areas located on the sides of the central area. In the central area, links adjoining in the chain width directions are pushed to contact with each other, and rotate relative to each other while exerting frictional forces on each other as the chain is bent. In each of the side areas, the links adjoining in the chain width directions are arrayed through a predetermined clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 8038559
    Abstract: The end faces of a first pin contain bulging curved faces having an egg-like shape, when viewed along a chain width direction. Each bulging curved face includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a maximum width portion with respect to a chain advancing direction. With respect to perpendicular directions, the distance between the center of the maximum width portion and the first end portion is relatively large, whereas the distance between the center of the maximum width portion and the second end portion is relatively short. It is possible to enlarge the surface area of the bulging curved face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 8016706
    Abstract: A plate-link chain composed of a plurality of plates that form plate sets, which are connected to an adjacent plate set with a hinge joint. At least some of the plates have a stopping means that limits bending of the plate-link chain in a direction opposite to the bend direction the chain undergoes when it passes over and around a pulley or a gear with which the chain comes into contacting engagement when the pulley or gear rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura, Martin Vornehm, Aurel Vietoris
  • Patent number: 8012054
    Abstract: In a rocker joint silent chain, the link plates have two different engagement pitches, and the connecting pins are composed of combinations of rocker pins and joint pins, where each rocker pin has one of two thicknesses and each joint pin has one of two thicknesses, so that the rocker joint pins of the chain have three different thicknesses. The link plates and connecting pins are arranged randomly along the length of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morimoto, Hitoshi Ohara, Minoru Komada, Kazufumi Kotani, Shuuji Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8007388
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio and having a large number of link plates pivotally connected with each other via pairs of rocker members that each includes two rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are positioned in openings in the link plates. Curved contact surfaces are provided on the rocker members and on the link plate openings, along which curved surfaces of the rocker members and link plates bear against each other to transmit force. Curved rolling surfaces are provided on the rocker members, along which contacting rocker members of a rocker member pair roll against each other and/or slide on each other on pitch lines to transmit force. The link plate openings have at least three inwardly extending, convexly curved regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Anton Simonov, Michael Pichura, Olga Ispolatova, Marcus Junig
  • Patent number: 7993229
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a power transmission chain capable of effectively reducing noises and a power transmission assembly using the same. In the power transmission chain including plural links each possessing through-holes and plural pins inserted through the through-holes for interconnecting the plural links, all the plural pins substantially have the same longitudinal length while the plural pins include plural types of pins which have mutually different rigidities against force acting in the pin longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a locus of contact position between the pin and a strip is defined by an involute of a circle. The pins and strips are combined to form two or more types of pairs which provide the involutes of base circles having different radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Kamamoto, Nobuki Fukui, Shinji Yasuhara, Kazuhisa Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7976418
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. The chain includes a number of link plates articulatingly connected to each other by rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain and are positioned in openings in the link plates. Forces are transmitted through opposed, curved contact surfaces on the rocker members and on the link plate openings. The contact surfaces are formed in a cross section extending in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and define upper and lower contact surface regions, relative to the height dimension of the rocker member. The link plate opening curves in an inward direction in an intermediate region between the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteillgungs KG
    Inventor: Stephan Penner
  • Patent number: 7967710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a link-plate chain for a v-pulley-continuously variable transmission, especially for motor vehicles, with several cradle thrust pieces configured in pairs and projecting transversely through the link-plate chain, and links which are offset to each other and which connect the cradle thrust pieces in the lengthwise direction of the chain, the cradle thrust pieces adjoining each other with the inner rolling surfaces facing each other and interacting with outer rolling surfaces with openings of the links and on their front sides having friction surfaces which run onto the annular surfaces of the v-pulleys to transmit torque, and furthermore the cradle thrust pieces being made such that the differences of the torque transmitted by way of the cradle thrust piece pairs to the links, which differences are present over the width of the link-plate chain, are at least partially compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Audi, AG
    Inventor: Matthias Krause
  • Patent number: 7942772
    Abstract: In a silent chain having interleaved guide rows and joint rows, guide plates at the outer sides of the guide rows are connected by engagement pins which extend through overlapping recesses formed on the outer flanks of the guide row plates, and on the inner flanks of the joint row plates. The engagement pins contact sprocket teeth before the outer flanks of the guide row plates contact the sprocket teeth. Cutouts formed in the guide plates adjacent the engagement pins allow the guide plates to deform and thereby absorb the impact imparted to the engagement pins by the sprocket teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Sonoda, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7942766
    Abstract: To obtain a compact structure and to increase at the same time the structural stiffness of an apparatus for plastically deforming and strengthening the links, which are intercoupled by rocker pins, of a complete endless transmission chain, said apparatus comprises a first and a second pair respectively of conical supporting surfaces for the ends which protrude outside said links of the rocker pins of a transmission chain, mounted thereon, said surfaces having a controllable mutual distance, the invention propose to add a third similar pair of supporting surfaces, provided for cooperation with the first and second shaft. This measure also speeds up the treatment of the transmission chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Gear Chain Industrial B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Hubertus Maria van Rooij, Johannes Henricus Nelissen
  • Patent number: 7937925
    Abstract: A drive chain suitable for use in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission having two pairs of spaced drive members about which the chain passes to transfer torque from one drive member to the other. The chain includes a plurality of link elements that include spaced, side-by-side plate links. The plate links include openings in which pairs of parallel rocker members are disposed for relative rocking movement of at least one rocker member about its longitudinal axis. A method for stretching the chain is also disclosed, in which areas of some of the plate links are plastically deformed by stretching the chain before the chain is put to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: André Linnenbrügger, Oswald Kroninger, Klaus Scheufele, André Teubert
  • Patent number: 7914409
    Abstract: In an oil-free roller chain, the inner faces of the outer link plates have recesses that receive the ends of bushings, and the inner faces of the inner link plates have recesses that receive the ends of rollers surrounding the bushings. Each such recess is formed by punching, so that the outer surface of each plate has a bulged portion opposite each recess. The diameters of the bulged portions are greater than the diameters of the corresponding recesses. The bushing can have an oil passage located midway between its ends and serving as an oil reservoir supplying oil to the gap between the bushing and the roller and between the bushing and a connecting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Aoki, Hiroki Ishida, Takashi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20110065542
    Abstract: In a chain transmission incorporating a silent chain engaged with a sprocket, the plates of the chain are connected by sets of rocker pins extending through pin holes in the plates. The pin holes are elongated toward the center of each plate, and the elongation of each pin hole is greater than the maximum amount by which the distance between points on the respective rocker pins of each set increases when said chain is inflected to the maximum extent permitted by the sprocket in a portion of the chain in seating engagement with said sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Shouhei Adachi, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7892127
    Abstract: A chain (1) includes plural links (2) and plural pairs of first and second pins (3 and 4) to couple the links each other. The first pin (3) comes into rolling and sliding contact with the second pin (4) at the contact portion (D). The first pin (3) includes a pair of end faces (17) opposing each other in the chain width direction (W), and a contact region (24) that comes into contact with the corresponding sheave surfaces of the pulley is formed in each end face (17). The contact region (24) includes the center point of contact (M). The first pin (3) includes a first type pin (3a) and a second type pin (3b). When the linear region of the chain (1) is viewed in the chain width direction (W), the relative position of the contact portion (D) and the center point of contact (M) is different between the first type pin (3a) and the second type pin (3b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 7874952
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of links aligned in a chain travel direction and a coupling member that includes a first power transmission member and a second power transmission member. The first power transmission member includes an opposing portion that opposes the corresponding second power transmission member and contacts the corresponding second power transmission member on a contact portion that undergoes displacement in association with a change of a bending angle between corresponding links in a contact state including at least one of rolling contact and sliding contact. The opposing portion includes an arc-shaped portion having a predetermined radius of curvature and a rate-of-change increasing portion. The arc-shaped portion includes a portion that forms the contact portion when the bending angle is equal to or greater than zero and equal to or smaller than a predetermined boundary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 7857722
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. The chain includes a number of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are positioned in openings of the link plates. Curved-shaped contact surfaces are located on each of the rocker members and link plates, along which contact surfaces the rocker members and link plates are in contact with each other to transmit power. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction of the rocker members, relative to a cross section extending in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain. The link plate openings include at least one region that is curved in an inward direction, to prevent incorrect orientation of the rocker members during assembly of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Anton Simonov, Martin Vornehm, Michael Pichura, Marcus Junig, Olga Ispolatova, Christoph Mayerhofer
  • Patent number: 7850565
    Abstract: A plate-link chain, in particular a toothed plate-link chain, made up of a plurality of plates that form sets of plates which are connected to neighboring sets of plates with a hinged connection. One rocker member of a hinged connection is connected to the plates of a set of plates through a connection opening, and two rocker members of neighboring sets of plates form the hinged connection. The rocker members can roll against each other at a roller profile, and the set of plates includes at least one guide plate. The rocker member includes a guide profile that is connected to a rocker profile through a first connecting profile and a second connecting profile. The guide plate has at least one connection opening which has an undercut or recess in the region of the first and/or second connecting profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Martin Vornehm, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura
  • Patent number: 7806794
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of links, a plurality of pins, and a plurality of interpieces. By pressing upper and lower edges of the pin into upper and lower edges of a through hole, the pin is connected to the link. The end of the pin which is located at a front end side when the pin is pressed is formed in a shape into which the upper and lower edges of the pin are pressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Fuse
  • Patent number: 7803080
    Abstract: An improved link for a chain for use with a sprocket, the link comprising a body having a pair of apertures for receiving connecting pins and a pair of teeth having outside flanks, and inside flanks between the teeth defining a crotch. The improvement includes an effective outer flank angle between a line tangent to the outer flank of the link at 1.5 P and a vertical line intersecting the tangent line of less than or equal to 29 degrees, an effective inner flank angle between a line tangent to the inner flank of the link at 0.5 P and a vertical line intersecting the tangent line of less than or equal to 29 degrees, and a plurality ratios. The links may be assembled into a chain and connected by a plurality of pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Ledvina, D. Laurence Parks, Shawn McGrogan, Wes Park
  • Patent number: 7789783
    Abstract: An inverted tooth chain includes a plurality of rows. The inside flanks of the leading toes of each chain row project outwardly relative to the outside flanks of the trailing toes of the preceding chain row by a maximum amount ?MAX wherein: 0.010×P??MAX?0.020×P or, preferably, 0.015×P??MAX?0.020×P, where P =chain pitch. The inverted tooth chain is meshed with a sprocket to define a system having a maximum chordal rise distance CR wherein said chordal motion in the inverted tooth chain upstream relative to said sprocket is less than 40% of said maximum chordal rise distance CR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cloyes Gear and Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Young, Todd W. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20100216580
    Abstract: In a silent chain, cushion pads are provided in the inner flank regions of at least every second link row. These cushion pads restrict inward flexion of the chain and reduce vibration of the free span regions of the chain. The cushion pads can be individual pads each associated with a link plate, or elongated pads each associated with a row of link plates. In either case, side parts protruding toward the outside of the loop formed by the chain can also restrict outward flexion of the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: TSUYOSHI KABAI, SHUUJI HAMAGUCHI, TAKAYUKI MORIMOTO