Patents Assigned to Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
  • Patent number: 6969332
    Abstract: A silent chain comprises a plurality of link plates, each having a pair of tooth parts and pin holes, stacked in the thickness direction as well as in the length direction and linked together using linking pins. Guide links are provided on the outermost sides of the link plates and are press-fit to the ends of linking pins. The guide links and link plates are relatively positioned to reduce wear on a chain guide surface by causing either the guide links or the link plates to substantially contact the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventors: Naoji Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Takeda, Akio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6676550
    Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with a blade shoe having a chain sliding face, several plate-spring-like blade springs stacked on the reverse side of chain sliding face of the blade shoe in order to apply a spring force to the blade shoe, and spacer members provided between respective adjoining blade springs and brought in contact with corresponding blade springs at least at two points separated from each other by a fixed distance. In such case, the blade springs contact the spacer members at a fixed span. Accordingly, the damping factor of the overall blade spring or system is constant, so that the damping performance of the blade tensioner can be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Patent number: 6572504
    Abstract: A silent chain is directed to prevent bending of the connection pin and reducing surface pressure acting on the connection pin while maintaining bendability of the entire chain. The chain includes multiple link plates, each having a pair of teeth and a pair of pinholes. The links are interleaved in the transverse and longitudinal directions and the link plates are connected by connection pins inserted in the pinholes. Connection pin is composed of center pin at the center of pinhole and of a pair of rocker pins on both sides of said center pin. Guide washer is provided to each connection pin. Guide washer has a guide part extending on both sides of the teeth of link plate and a central apertures for fixing of the end of center pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventor: Shozo Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6524202
    Abstract: A blade-type tensioner for chain drives which is suitable for use as a tensioner on the timing chain of a motor vehicle engine. The present invention is a chain tensioner particularly suited for use in confined spaces having a blade spring element mechanically interlocked with a plastic shoe. The shoe may be of rigid filled nylon and engages the chain to be tensioned. The spring element is interlocked to the plastic shoe by having ends inserted into grooves formed in the opposite ends of the shoe. The shoe has a metal bushing fixed in one end. The shoe is rotatably attached to a metal pin inserted through the bushing, the pin being fixed to a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventors: Naosumi Tada, Shinji Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 6524204
    Abstract: A power transmission chain belt has a rocker joint to reduce power transmission loss and to reduce the surface pressure acting on the connecting pin while maintaining bendability of the entire chain. The chain is formed of multiple inner links, each having a pair of pin apertures. The links are interleaved in the transverse and longitudinal directions and are connected by connecting pin inserted in pin apertures. The connecting pin includes a center pin. Arranged at the center of pin aperture are curved faces of which at both of its ends contact pulley friction surface and of a pair of rocker pins, which are arranged on both sides of center pin in the pin aperture and which are shorter than the center pin. In addition, the outer link is arranged on the outside of outermost inner link and step part of center pin is press-fitted into a pair of pin apertures in outer link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventors: Shozo Wakabayashi, Niroyuki Takeda
  • Publication number: 20020142872
    Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with a blade shoe provided with a chain sliding face, several plate-spring-like blade springs stacked on the reverse side of the chain sliding face of the blade shoe in order to apply a spring force to the blade shoe, and friction plates provided respectively between adjoining blade springs to increase the dampening of the blade tensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Patent number: 6440020
    Abstract: A blade-type chain tensioner includes a blade shoe having a chain sliding face, a blade spring biasing the blade shoe toward an associated chain, and a bracket to rotatably support the fixed end of the blade shoe. The length of the blade spring is shorter than that of the chain sliding face of the blade shoe. The first end of the blade spring is attached onto the fixed end of the blade shoe and slidably contacts the distal end of the bracket at a contact point located between the fixed and free ends of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Publication number: 20020115511
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, blade tensioner is configured with blade shoe having chain sliding face, base that supports base part of blade shoe while allowing it to pivot freely, and blade spring in which base part is fixed to tip part of blade shoe. Warped part provided at the tip contacts inner face of blade shoe, and curved part provided at the midpoint of base contacts sliding face of base. In this case, the damping force of the blade tensioner increases due to sliding resistance generated between warped part of blade spring and inner face and between curved part and sliding face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Publication number: 20020078675
    Abstract: To provide a type of link plate for a silent chain characterized by the fact that the link plate can be differentiated by appearance from the other link plates. The link plate has a pair of teeth, each of which has an inside flank surface, an outside flank surface and a tooth tip part that connects them, with the outside flank surface and the back side part connected to each other by a shoulder part. For the tooth tip part, a portion is cut off on the side toward the outside flank surface to form a cut portion, and, on the shoulder part, a bump portion is formed projecting outward. By means of the cut portion and the bump portion, it is possible to differentiate the link plate from other link plates different from it with respect to one or several properties, such as plate thickness, material, heat treatment, hardness and finish processing of pin holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventors: Akio Matsuda, Tsujii Yoshitomo, Kenichi Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20020069539
    Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with a base, a blade shoe having a chain sliding face provided on base, and several plate-spring-like blade springs stacked on the reverse side of the chain sliding face of the blade shoe in order to apply a spring force to blade shoe. A base part of blade shoe is provided in such a manner that it can pivot freely on the base, and a friction material is provided at the part where a tip part of the blade shoe contacts a sliding face of the base. In addition, respective edge parts of the blade springs are inserted into respective slots on the blade shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Publication number: 20020072442
    Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with a blade shoe having a chain sliding face, several plate-spring-like blade springs stacked on the reverse side of chain sliding face of the blade shoe in order to apply a spring force to the blade shoe, and spacer members provided between respective adjoining blade springs and brought in contact with corresponding blade springs at least at two points separated from each other by a fixed distance. In such case, the blade springs contact the spacer members at a fixed span. Accordingly, the damping factor of the overall blade spring or system is constant, so that the damping performance of the blade tensioner can be stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Publication number: 20020039941
    Abstract: A blade-type tensioner for chain drives which is suitable for use as a tensioner of the timing chain of a motor vehicle engine. The present invention is a chain tensioner particularly suited for use in confined spaces having a blade spring element mechanically interlocked with a plastic shoe. The shoe may be of rigid filled nylon and engages the chain to be tensioned. The spring element is interlocked to the plastic shoe by having ends inserted into grooves formed in the opposite ends of the shoe. The shoe is rotatably fixed to a base by way of a pin. The groove at the fixed end of the shoe extends towards the tip of the fixed end of the shoe past the pin attachment point. The groove at the free end of the shoe extends toward the tip of the free end of the shoe past the point at which the free end of the shoe bears upon a sliding surface formed on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventors: Kensuke Nakamura, Ryohei Adachi, Naosumi Tada, Shinji Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 6364796
    Abstract: A blade-type tensioner for chain drives which is suitable for use as a tensioner on the timing chain of a motor vehicle engine. The present invention is a chain tensioner particularly suited for use in confined spaces having a blade spring element mechanically interlocked with a plastic shoe. The shoe may be of rigid filled nylon and engages the chain to be tensioned. The spring element is interlocked to the plastic shoe by having ends inserted into grooves formed in the opposite ends of the shoe. The shoe is rotatably fixed to a base by way of a pin. The groove at the fixed end of the shoe extends towards the tip of the fixed end of the shoe past the pin attachment point. The groove at the free end of the shoe extends toward the tip of the free end of the shoe past the point at which the free end of the shoe bears upon a sliding surface formed on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventors: Kensuke Nakamura, Ryohei Adachi, Naosumi Tada, Shinji Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 6358168
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for an engine timing chain includes a housing having a bore. The end portion of a plunger is slidably fitted into the bore. The end of an oil inlet provided in an engine block is fitted with a seal cap having a C-shaped cross section and an outside concavity. The hydraulic tensioner utilizes the concavity as an oil reservoir. Oil passages are formed in the housing to connect an oil chamber with the concavity. The seal cap has an orifice to connect the oil inlet with the concavity. The present invention results in decreased space occupied by and reduced manufacturing cost for a hydraulic tensioner having an oil reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Patent number: 6352487
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism to prevent the incorrect assembly of an air vent disc in a hydraulic tensioner. The hydraulic tensioner includes a housing having a chamber. A hollow plunger is slidably positioned inside the chamber. The chamber contains a spring which biases the plunger in a protruding direction and an air vent disc provided inside the plunger. An air vent disc includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a groove as a vent channel and a through-hole. The second portion has a central hole and a plurality of grooves extending radially and opening into the outer periphery of the vent disc. The outer diameter of the second portion is larger than the inner diameter of the aperture located at the upper end of the plunger tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Patent number: 6244983
    Abstract: A silent chain and sprocket combination includes a silent chain having a plurality of interleaved links, each link having a pair of teeth, with each tooth having an inner flank and an outer flank. The links of the chain engage the sprocket teeth on their inside flanks during initial engagement and full engagement. The sprocket tooth has a flank shape with a first part that matches the lower portion of the shape of the inside flank of the link tooth and a sprocket tooth flank shape with a second part that matches the upper part of the link tooth shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Akio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6186921
    Abstract: In a silent chain, multiple link plates are interleaved and connected to each other by connecting pins in a rocker joint. The rocker joint includes a joint pin and a rocker pin which are inserted into pin apertures. Guide links are placed on both ends of the joint pins. The joint pins are slightly longer than the rocker pins. Each rocker pin and joint pin has a cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area of the joint pin is made larger than that of the rocker pin. In another embodiment, the rocker joint has a joint pin with a greater thickness than that of the rocker pin. Another embodiment of the invention includes a rocker joint where the radius of the curvature of the rolling surface of the joint pin is greater than that of the rocker pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Kotera
  • Patent number: 6171209
    Abstract: A guide link for a back-drive silent chain includes a pair of flat outside surfaces and window holes. The flat outside surfaces are formed on the opposite sides of the center line of the apertures for contacting a chain guide or tensioner arm. The edge portions of the window holes in the vicinity of the apertures are formed of arcuate surfaces equally spaced apart from the edge portions of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Akio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6168543
    Abstract: A silent chain and sprocket system for power transmission that includes a toothed sprocket and a chain with multiple links. At each point of engagement between the sprocket teeth and the chain link teeth, the sprocket teeth have a curved surface that makes contact with a curved surface on the chain link teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.
    Inventor: Akio Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6155944
    Abstract: A silent chain link plate that has a plurality of rows of interleaved links or link plates, with each link plate having a pair of apertures. Pivot pins extend through the apertures to connect adjacent rows of links. Each link plate has a pair of teeth for engagement with a sprocket. Each tooth has an inside and outer flank. The outer flank has a flat surface which extends from a first end at the tip of the link plate tooth to a second end adjacent a corresponding aperture. Each tooth has a protruding surface near its corresponding aperture defined as a convex curved surface which protrudes in an outward direction relative from the flat surface on the outer flank of each link tooth adjacent a corresponding aperture and extending to a location on the link surface intersecting a horizontal centerline extending between the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotives, K.K.
    Inventor: Akio Matsuda