Abstract: A plate for a rocker joint chain, wherein the plate includes two longitudinal legs and two vertical legs that together surround a plate opening. The plate includes an indentation positioned on an outer edge of at least one of the longitudinal legs, and it includes at least one tab positioned on the outside contour of the plate. The plate configuration enables an easier determination to be made to ascertain a specified orientation of such plates within an assembled plate-link chain formed from a plurality of plates.

Abstract: A plate for a rocker joint chain in which the plate includes two longitudinal legs and two vertical legs that together enclose a plate opening. The plate includes at least one recess in a longitudinal leg to replace a tab that extends from a longitudinal leg in previously employed plates. A guide rail along which the rocker joint chain travels to reduce slack strand vibrations during chain movement is subject to less wear than with the previously employed plates.

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.

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 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 plate for a rocker joint chain, wherein the plate includes two longitudinal legs and two vertical legs that together surround a plate opening. The plate includes an indentation positioned on an outer edge of at least one of the longitudinal legs, and it includes at least one tab positioned on the outside contour of the plate. The plate configuration enables an easier determination to be made to ascertain a specified orientation of such plates within an assembled plate-link chain formed from a plurality of plates.

Abstract: A plate for a rocker joint chain in which the plate includes two longitudinal legs and two vertical legs that together enclose a plate opening. The plate includes at least one recess in a longitudinal leg to replace a tab that extends from a longitudinal leg in previously employed plates. A guide rail along which the rocker joint chain travels to reduce slack strand vibrations during chain movement is subject to less wear than with the previously employed plates.

Abstract: A method for regulating or controlling the transmission ratio of an automatic power-branched transmission. Power is transmitted through a shaft driven by an engine, a variable speed drive, a gear transmission, a driven shaft, and at least two control clutches. The variable speed drive and the gear transmission are connected to each other in such a way that the regulating range of the variable speed drive is traversed in one direction within a first range of transmission ratios, and is traversed in the opposite direction within a second range of transmission ratios during traversing of the entire range of transmission ratios. The shifting strategies result in reduced wear of the endless belt device and allow for comfortable changing between the transmission ratio ranges.

Abstract: A transmission having a steplessly adjustable transmission ratio that includes an endless torque-transmitting element in the form of a plate-link chain. The chain is adapted to pass over and around two pairs of conical disks, and it includes a number of side-by-side plate links having openings for receiving pressure members that interconnect plate links and that have end faces that frictionally engage the conical disks. The plate links are arranged in transverse rows and in longitudinal rows. Each of the outermost lateral edges of the chain is defined by pairs of side-by-side plate links.

Abstract: A plate-link chain for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio. Individual rocker joints that join chain links formed by plate sets are designed as pairs of rocker members inserted into openings in the plates and having rolling surfaces that bear against each other. Three plates lying side-by-side in the transverse direction of the plate-link chain and which are associated with three adjacent chain links in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain, form a plate subsequence. Outer plates of a plate subsequence in the transverse direction of the plate-link chain are situated in the same chain link with an outer plate of an adjacent plate subsequence that is adjacent in the transverse direction of the plate-link chain.

Abstract: A belt-driven transmission having an endless torque-transmitting member that is operatively connected with two power transmitting elements. The transmission includes at least one guide rail assembly that engages the endless torque-transmitting member with free play and that has an outer guide rail and an inner guide rail so that the endless torque-transmitting member runs within a guide rail channel defined by the outer and inner guide rails of the guide rail assembly. The endless torque-transmitting member includes one surface that is at least partially provided with outwardly-extending tabs and another, tab-free surface. The guide rail assembly is pressed against the endless torque-transmitting member on the tab-free surface to limit vibratory amplitude of the endless torque-transmitting member during operation of the transmission.

Abstract: A rocker joint chain having a plurality of chain links, each chain link including at least one link plate. The chain links are connected to each other in a pivoting manner at rocker joints, and the rocker joints each include a rocker member having at least two cylindrical rocker pins that contact each other by rolling or sliding on each other.

Abstract: Rolling surfaces of rocker pressure members of plate-link chains for conical disk transmissions are constructed as freeform surfaces in such a way that their radius of curvature changes in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the rocker pressure members and/or the thickness in the longitudinal direction of the rocker pressure members changes. In that way, the acoustic properties and the wear behavior of the plate-link chains can be improved.

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 for controlling the adjustment of a continuously variable transmission in which pairs of conical disks are adjustable relative to each other so that transmission ratios can be set continuously between first and second shafts on which the respective conical disk pairs are positioned. In respective absolute end positions of the adjustable disks the transmission ratio assumes an extreme value. A control system provides that in a first adjustment range the adjustable disks are always kept within relative end positions that are at least at a defined distance from the absolute end positions. In a second operating state, the adjustment of the adjustable disks is controlled in such a way that the adjustable disks can be moved within a second adjustment range over the entire adjustment distance to the absolute end positions, so that in the second operating state a maximum possible spread of the transmission is utilized.

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 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 method for regulating or controlling the transmission ratio of an automatic power-branched transmission. Power is transmitted through a shaft driven by an engine, a variable speed drive, a gear transmission, a driven shaft, and at least two control clutches. The variable speed drive and the gear transmission are connected to each other in such a way that the regulating range of the variable speed drive is traversed in one direction within a first range of transmission ratios, and is traversed in the opposite direction within a second range of transmission ratios during traversing of the entire range of transmission ratios. The shifting strategies result in reduced wear of the endless belt device and allow for comfortable changing between the transmission ratio ranges.