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.

Abstract: A decoupling device for the bearing arrangement of a shaft carried in a housing, in particular a shaft of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission with a chain that functions as the belt. The decoupling device includes an outer bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface and within which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface of a housing that encloses the bearing ring outer surface. At least one radial ondular washer is arranged between the bearing ring outer surface and the housing inner surface, which allows a limited relative radial movement between the housing inner surface and the bearing ring outer surface by elastic deformation of the washer.

Abstract: The input rotational speed of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission is determined by measuring a wheel rotational speed and the transmission ratio and by calculating the input rotational speed therefrom. In order to ascertain the slipping of a CVT transmission, the rate of change in the transmission ratio is drawn upon, or an acoustic parameter of the transmission is used. In the fluid control system, a valve is used whose opening cross-section is controlled according to the one differential pressure. In order to oil the conical discs, injection holes of an injection tube are used that passes through a slot provided in a slide rail resting against a strand of a flexible torque transmitting member of a conical disc flexible drive.

Abstract: A decoupling device for the bearing arrangement of a shaft carried in a housing, in particular a shaft of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission with a chain that functions as the belt. The decoupling device includes an outer bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface and within which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface of a housing that encloses the bearing ring outer surface. At least one radial ondular washer is arranged between the bearing ring outer surface and the housing inner surface, which allows a limited relative radial movement between the housing inner surface and the bearing ring outer surface by elastic deformation of the washer.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to save fuel and to make efficient use of the possibilities of a power train including a transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio. If the vehicle velocity exceeds a prescribed velocity the fuel supply to the engine is shut off, kinetic energy of the vehicle is stored in an energy storage device, and the transmission ratio of the transmission is shifted in the direction of a lower transmission ratio. If those measures are not sufficient the vehicle brakes are operated.

Abstract: A bearing assembly including a bearing having an outer bearing ring and an inner bearing ring. The outer bearing ring is axially received in a bearing-receiving recess that includes a substantially cylindrical inner wall. An element that is radially flexible is located between at least one of the outer bearing ring and the inner wall of the recess, and the inner bearing ring and a rotatable member that is rotatably carried in the bearing assembly. The flexible element includes at least one annular element that is undulated in the radial direction, or is provided with projections. Flexible elements can also be disposed against a side surface of the bearing ring for damping axial vibrations.

Abstract: A plate-link chain formed from short plate links and long plate links. The long plate links have an extension at one end. The installation direction of the long plate links is such that their extensions overlap plate links in an adjacent row and that are next in order in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain, when viewed from the side of the chain. The overlap permits the plate links to have defined positions relative to adjacent plate links by minimizing the ability of adjacent plate links to shift laterally relative to each other.

Abstract: A link chain for use in the continuously variable transmission of the power train in a motor vehicle is assembled of pairs of composite identical or dissimilar links each having a stack of apertured plates, and of coupling units employing pairs of non-circular pins extending through registering portions of apertures in the respective stacks of plates. The pins are designed to cooperate with the plates to limit the extend of inward and outward pivotability of links of the respective pairs from positions of alignment, and the pins carry stops which act alone or cooperate with diaphragm springs or with other types of springs to prevent wobbling of the plates. The plates can be provided with projections which cooperate with the pins to limit the extent of pivotability of the pairs of links relative to each other and/or to prevent jamming of pairs of links in angular positions from which they cannot return to the positions of alignment. Each plate is traversed by two pairs of pins.

Abstract: A link chain for use in the continuously variable transmission of the power train in a motor vehicle is assembled of pairs of composite identical or dissimilar links each having a stack of apertured plates, and of coupling units employing pairs of non-circular pins extending through registering portions of apertures in the respective stacks of plates. The pins are designed to cooperate with the plates to limit the extend of inward and outward pivotability of links of the respective pairs from positions of alignment, and the pins carry stops which act alone or cooperate with diaphragm springs or with other types of springs to prevent wobbling of the plates. The plates can be provided with projections which cooperate with the pins to limit the extent of pivotability of the pairs of links relative to each other and/or to prevent jamming of pairs of links in angular positions from which they cannot return to the positions of alignment. Each plate is traversed by two pairs of pins.

Abstract: In a chain belt (1) for a continuously variable cone-pulley transmission of a vehicle, lengthwise links (3a, 3b, 3c) are connected by transverse coupling members (2a, 2b) passing through openings (4) in the links. Retainer elements (7) at the ends of the coupling members serve to secure the links against falling off the coupling members or becoming misaligned. The retainer elements are attached to at least selected individual coupling members by resistance welding.

Abstract: A chain-belt transmission with a continuously variable transmission ratio has input and output shafts, each carrying a pair of conical disks, with a chain belt running in a loop around the disk pairs and transmitting torque from the input to the output shaft. The friction surfaces of the conical disks and the end surfaces of the force-transfer elements of the chain belt have contour shapes that provide greater resistance to wear and thereby increase the operating life of the transmission.

Abstract: A flexible torque-transmitting device (1) such as a chain belt that runs in an endless loop around a first and second pair of conical disks in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes means to keep the transverse force-transfer elements (2a, 2b) from becoming dislodged out of their seating positions in the lengthwise-running links (3a, 3b, 3c) of the chain belt.

Abstract: A plate link chain of the present invention has rocker link elements configured such that the frictional end surfaces have a profile, which deviates from a planar surface in both circumferential and radial orientations. In a preferred embodiment the end surface profiles are defined by radii of predetermined dimensions in the range of 5 to 50 millimeters with the radius formed in the radial plane being larger than the radius formed in the circumferential plane. The radii originate from midpoints, which are located at predetermined distances from the rocking surfaces, to form substantially spherical end surfaces that are either symmetric or asymmetric for selected applications. The substantially spherical end surfaces are designed to reduce the edge transfer forces and tracking error of the rocker link elements and to improve wear characteristics and the stability of frictional engagement of the transmission in operation.