Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction and method of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an outer tension section, an inner compression section and a load-carrying section secured to and disposed intermediate the tension section and the compression section, the compression section having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart projections and grooves and a plurality of transversely disposed and alternately spaced apart projections and grooves. Each transverse groove has a depth between approximately 0.070 of an inch and approximately 0.080 of an inch and is spaced from the next adjacent transverse groove thereto by a distance between approximately 0.3 of an inch and approximately 0.4 of an inch while each longitudinal groove has a depth of approximately 0.095 of an inch and is spaced from the next adjacent longitudinal groove thereto by a distance of approximately 0.140 of an inch.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction and a clip for a transverse belt element therefor as well as methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an endless flexible carrier that has a longitudinal axis and a plurality of transverse belt elements assembled on the carrier. Each belt element comprises a plurality of parts secured together to define an opening passing transversely therethrough and receiving the carrier therein. One of the parts of each belt element comprises a generally C-shaped clip that in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the carrier snaps over and substantially encircles and holds the remaining parts of the respective belt element in their assembled relation.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, a joint construction, a part for the joint construction and methods of making the same are provided, the branched hose construction comprising a first tubular member having an opening therein intermediate the opposed ends thereof, a second tubular member, and a joint construction comprising a tubular insert joining one of the ends of the second tubular member to the opening by having one end of the tubular insert disposed through the opening and the other end thereof interconnected to one end of the second tubular member whereby the tubular members are in fluid communication with each other through the tubular insert and the second tubular member branches outwardly from the first tubular member, the joint construction comprising a washer-like member telescoped on the tubular insert and cooperating with the one end of the tubular insert in mechanically clamping the one tubular member therebetween completely around the opening thereof.

Abstract: An elastomer coated bias fabric for reinforcing power transmission belts and the like is disclosed wherein one surface of the fabric is provided with an uncured, tacky, elastomeric composition. The fabric is prepared by pre-impregnating the fabric, transversely stretching the fabric on a tenter frame, coating a latex composition on both surfaces of the fabric while maintaining the fabric in its transversely stretched condition, and after drying the fabric, overcoating one surface only of the coated fabric with a tackified, latex composition which may contain a chemical linking agent which enhances the bond between the elastomer and the fabric by forming a chemical bridge between them. A method for manufacturing coated fabric is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber-loaded polymeric sheet and power transmission belts utilizing same are provided wherein the sheet comprises a substantially solid polymeric matrix having fibers embedded therein and wherein the fibers comprise between 40% and 70% by weight of the sheet and at least 70% of the fibers are disposed in substantially parallel relation.

Abstract: A pulley construction and method of making the same are provided, the pulley construction having a pair of opposed flanges respectively provided with surfaces for engagement with a V-belt construction when the V-belt construction is disposed therebetween. The pulley construction has structure for moving one of the flanges axially relative to the other of the flanges and has a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the one flange to dampen the axial movement of that one flange relative to the other flange with a restrictive force, the dampening unit comprising a flexible bladder having a part thereof operatively interconnected to that one flange.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction having power transmitting contact faces and method of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an axial tensioning unit, a plurality of lateral stiffening units carried by the tensioning unit, and friction material carried by the units, the tensioning unit and the stiffening units being formed of material that provides an axial and lateral stiffness in excess of that normally provided by polymeric friction material that normally forms the main body of a belt construction that is reinforced with such a tensioning unit and stiffening units.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a rotary dampening unit and the support unit comprising a shaft.

Abstract: A belt pulley and method of making the same are provided, the pulley having a hub and a peripheral groove for receiving part of an endless belt therein that is to drive the pulley or be driven thereby whereby the pulley is adapted to be rotated about the axis of the hub. The pulley has a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from at least one of the opposed sides thereof, the vanes comprising a plurality of spaced apart curved vanes of substantially the same size and shape and disposed in a plurality of circular arrays that are generally concentrically disposed relative to each other about the axis and on the one side of the pulley for acting on fluid adjacent the pulley to tend to cool the pulley with the fluid. The curved vanes in each circular array are each disposed substantially evenly between an adjacent pair of curved vanes in the circular array adjacent thereto whereby the number of the curved vanes in each circular array is the same, each curved vane having a convex side and a concave side.

Abstract: A belt construction and method of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed sides and comprising a tensile unit intermediate the opposed sides, a plurality of teeth defining one of the opposed sides of the belt construction and being mainly formed of a first polymeric material that has reinforcing fibers therein, each tooth having opposed sides that are disposed in spaced relation to adjacent sides of adjacent teeth, the belt construction having a land area between adjacent teeth, and a backing member defining the other of the opposed sides of the belt construction, the backing member being mainly formed from a second polymeric material that is initially separate from the material of the teeth.

Abstract: A crimping die assembly comprising a plurality of die fingers, a holding unit for holding the die fingers in a working relationship, the holding unit comprising a retaining ring having a plurality of substantially evenly spaced openings for receiving the die fingers therein for holding the die fingers at one end of the die assembly, each die finger having a connecting part connecting the die finger to the retaining ring, each connecting part permitting radial movement of its respective die finger with respect to the central axis of the retaining ring, and a springing arrangement integrally associated with the connecting parts tending to force the die fingers radially outwardly with respect to the retaining ring, the top surfaces of the die fingers extending beyond the top surface of the retaining ring so as to receive pressing forces directly from a ram through a pusher ring that engages the top surfaces of the die fingers when the crimping die is used to crimp a workpiece.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with force to tension the belt, and a dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit, the dampening support unit comprising a shaft. The dampening unit and the spring unit are coaxially spaced apart and coaxially aligned on the shaft with the belt engaging unit having a portion thereof disposed between the dampening unit and the spring unit and being rotatably carried by the shaft.

Abstract: An elastomer coated bias fabric for reinforcing power transmission belts and the like is disclosed wherein one face of the fabric is provided with an uncured, tacky, carboxylated elastomeric composition. In one embodiment, the fabric is prepared by pre-impregnating the fabric with a neoprene latex composition followed by coating the neoprene composition on both faces of the fabric, and after drying the fabric, overcoating one face only of the coated fabric with a tackified, carboxylated neoprene latex composition. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the coated fabric is also disclosed.

Abstract: A belt pulley and method of making the same are provided, the pulley having a hub and a peripheral groove for receiving part of an endless belt therein that is to drive the pulley or be driven thereby whereby the pulley is adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the hub. The pulley has a pair of opposed facing sides defining at least part of the groove therebetween and has a pair of oppositely facing outboard sides, the sides each having an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion. The pulley has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart and radially disposed substantially straight vanes extending outwardly from at least one of the outboard sides thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing elastomer coated bias fabric are disclosed wherein the fabric is conducted in a horizontal path as it is transversely stretched and coated with an elastomeric composition; using an externally driven roll coater, the elastomeric composition is applied to one surface of the fabric from where it is forced through the interstices of the fabric to the opposite surface whereby both surfaces of the fabric are coated with elastomeric composition.

Abstract: A polymeric-coated fabric layer, product using the layer, method and apparatus for making such layer and a method of making a belt construction comprising a polymeric belt body having a surface and a polymeric-coated fabric layer having an outer surface secured to the surface of the belt body are provided, the method of making a belt construction comprising the steps of providing a fabric layer having opposed sides, securing a main layer of polymeric material to one of the sides of the fabric layer, forming the main layer of polymeric material to have the outer surface facing away from the one side of the fabric layer, disposing the outer surface of the fabric layer against the surface of the belt body to provide an assembly thereof, bonding the outer surface of the layer to the surface of the belt body by a heat curing operation on the assembly, securing a gauge building layer of fibers to the one side of the fabric layer with another layer of polymeric material that is disposed on the one side before the la

Abstract: A belt pulley and method of making the same are provided, the pulley having a hub and a peripheral groove for receiving part of an endless belt therein that is to drive the pulley or be driven thereby whereby the pulley is adapted to be rotated about the axis of the hub. The pulley has at least one passage provided with an inlet adjacent the hub and an outlet adjacent the peripheral groove whereby fluid passing through the passage from the inlet to the outlet thereof will tend to cool the pulley and/or the belt as the pulley rotates about the axis of the hub. A rotatably operable fluid flow forcing unit is carried by the pulley so as to be rotated and thereby operated in unison with the pulley and is disposed upstream from the inlet for forcing fluid into the inlet and thus through the passage as the pulley and the fluid flow forcing unit rotate about the axis of the hub.

Abstract: A belt construction and method of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed sides and comprising a plurality of teeth defining one of the opposed sides of the belt construction and being mainly formed of a first polymeric material that has reinforcing fibers therein, each tooth having opposed sides that are disposed in spaced relation to adjacent sides of adjacent teeth, the belt construction having a land area between adjacent teeth, and a backing member defining the other of the opposed sides of the belt construction, the backing member being mainly formed from a second polymeric material that is initially separate from the material of the teeth.

Abstract: A belt construction for a continuously variable transmission, a transverse belt element therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an endless flexible band unit, and a plurality of belt elements carried by the band unit in sliding relation therewith, each belt element having a slot arrangement receiving the band unit therein and having opposed faces disposed in compressed relation against adjacent faces of adjacent belt elements. Each belt element is formed substantially solely from a high performance polymeric material that has high heat resistance, high compressive modulus, high toughness and high strength.

Abstract: A method of making a tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path is provided and comprises the steps of providing a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, providing a belt engaging unit to be carried by the support unit and be movable relative thereto, operatively associating a mechanical spring unit with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, operatively associating a fluid dampening unit with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction thereof, forming the mechanical spring unit to comprise a pair of springs disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation, disposing at least a part of the fluid dampening unit between the springs and in substantially parallel relation therewith, and forming the fluid dampening unit to compris