Abstract: A valve unit for a tensioning device of an endless drive is provided, in particular a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, with a carrier plate having an underside forming a contact surface and an upper side which can be faced towards a pressure chamber of the tensioning device, and a valve body which is guided in a receptacle movably relative to the carrier plate for opening and closing a valve seat of the tensioning device. Such a valve unit is to be simplified and more cost-saving. The receptacle is formed by the carrier plate and a suspension device is provided in the region of the receptacle on which the valve body is suspended from the carrier plate in a lowermost position. The carrier plate is horizontal in the non-installed state of the tensioning device, such that the valve body projects downwardly out of the receptacle and is movable upwardly by at least the opening stroke. The invention relates to a corresponding hydraulic tensioning device.

Abstract: A chain drive for an internal combustion engine comprises a driving sprocket and at least one driven sprocket, a drive chain coupling the sprockets to each other, and at least one guide rail and/or one tensioning rail for guiding and/or tensioning the drive chain. At least the guide rail and/or the tensioning rail comprises at least two slide elements, arranged at a non-guided distance from one another for contacting the drive chain, such that at least two slide elements are arranged in at least one span of the chain drive. In at least one span, the ratio of guided chain length to non-guided chain length is smaller than 1. Such a chain drive is to be improved with respect to its vibration characteristics.

Abstract: A guide rail or a tensioning rail for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises two separate sliding elements associated with the same span of the chain drive and arranged on a support, the sliding elements having a sliding surface that exhibits a convex curvature in the direction of movement of the chain. This kind of rail is to be improved with respect to its producibility and its tensioning and guiding effect. The angle bisectors of the two opening angles of the two convex sliding surfaces extend relative to each other at an angle other than 0°, the sliding elements being attached to the support as separate modular components. Kits for a guide rail and a tensioning rail as well as a chain drive are provided.

Abstract: A valve unit for a tensioning device of an endless drive is provided, in particular a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, with a carrier plate having an underside forming a contact surface and an upper side which can be faced towards a pressure chamber of the tensioning device, and a valve body which is guided in a receptacle movably relative to the carrier plate for opening and closing a valve seat of the tensioning device. Such a valve unit is to be simplified and more cost-saving. The receptacle is formed by the carrier plate and a suspension device is provided in the region of the receptacle on which the valve body is suspended from the carrier plate in a lowermost position. The carrier plate is horizontal in the non-installed state of the tensioning device, such that the valve body projects downwardly out of the receptacle and is movable upwardly by at least the opening stroke. The invention relates to a corresponding hydraulic tensioning device.

Abstract: A tensioning rail for an endless drive means, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a support body and a sliding body arranged on the support body and having a sliding surface for contacting the endless drive means as well as at least one lubricant opening for wetting the sliding surface with lubricant. A press-on area provided on the support body and used for contacting a tensioning device has an inflow opening for the lubricant. A feed passage extending from the inflow opening through the support body and a lubricant passage extending in the longitudinal direction of the support body allow the supply of lubricant to the at least one lubricant opening.

Abstract: A chain drive for an internal combustion engine comprises a driving sprocket and at least one driven sprocket, a drive chain coupling the sprockets to each other, and at least one guide rail and/or one tensioning rail for guiding and/or tensioning the drive chain. At least the guide rail and/or the tensioning rail comprises at least two slide elements, arranged at a non-guided distance from one another for contacting the drive chain, such that at least two slide elements are arranged in at least one span of the chain drive. In at least one span, the ratio of guided chain length to non-guided chain length is smaller than 1. Such a chain drive is to be improved with respect to its vibration characteristics.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail for a chain drive, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises two spaced-apart contact sections and one non-contact section arranged therebetween, the contact sections each having a sliding surface which is adapted to be brought into contact with a chain, and the non-contact section interconnecting the two contact sections as a support structure. Such a rail is to be configured such that the installation space available can be utilized more advantageously. To this end, the support structure of the non-contact section comprises an opening extending continuously from a front to a rear of the tensioning or guide rail and separating the contact sections provided with the sliding surfaces. The invention also relates to an endless drive of the type in question.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail for a drive chain, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a carrier body with at least two chain guide sections and with at least one recessed section. The at least one recessed section is arranged between two chain guide sections and recessed relative to a tangent connecting the adjoining chain guide sections, the at least two chain guide sections having each a sliding-contact surface for contacting the drive chain. A continuous sliding body is arranged on the carrier body along the at least two chain guide sections and the at least one recessed section, the sliding body defining the sliding-contact surfaces of the at least two chain guide sections and a surface of the at least one recessed section, the surface facing the drive chain.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail and a method of producing a tensioning or guide rail for an endless drive means are provided, in particular for a chain drive in an internal combustion engine, comprising a supporting body and a sliding body of plastic material arranged on the supporting body. The method comprises the steps of producing a sliding body profile strand and separating the individual sliding body from the sliding body profile strand. The sliding body of a tensioning or guide rail is a segment of such a sliding body profile strand, the plastic material being oriented in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A guide rail or a tensioning rail for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises two separate sliding elements associated with the same span of the chain drive and arranged on a support, the sliding elements having a sliding surface that exhibits a convex curvature in the direction of movement of the chain. This kind of rail is to be improved with respect to its producibility and its tensioning and guiding effect. The angle bisectors of the two opening angles of the two convex sliding surfaces extend relative to each other at an angle other than 0°, the sliding elements being attached to the support as separate modular components. Kits for a guide rail and a tensioning rail as well as a chain drive are provided.

Abstract: A tensioning rail for an endless drive means, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a support body and a sliding body arranged on the support body and having a sliding surface for contacting the endless drive means as well as at least one lubricant opening for wetting the sliding surface with lubricant. A press-on area provided on the support body and used for contacting a tensioning device has an inflow opening for the lubricant. A feed passage extending from the inflow opening through the support body and a lubricant passage extending in the longitudinal direction of the support body allow the supply of lubricant to the at least one lubricant opening.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail for a chain drive, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises two spaced-apart contact sections and one non-contact section arranged therebetween, the contact sections each having a sliding surface which is adapted to be brought into contact with a chain, and the non-contact section interconnecting the two contact sections as a support structure. Such a rail is to be configured such that the installation space available can be utilized more advantageously. To this end, the support structure of the non-contact section comprises an opening extending continuously from a front to a rear of the tensioning or guide rail and separating the contact sections provided with the sliding surfaces. The invention also relates to an endless drive of the type in question.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail for a drive chain, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a carrier body with at least two chain guide sections and with at least one recessed section. The at least one recessed section is arranged between two chain guide sections and recessed relative to a tangent connecting the adjoining chain guide sections, the at least two chain guide sections having each a sliding-contact surface for contacting the drive chain. A continuous sliding body is arranged on the carrier body along the at least two chain guide sections and the at least one recessed section, the sliding body defining the sliding-contact surfaces of the at least two chain guide sections and a surface of the at least one recessed section, the surface facing the drive chain.

Abstract: A tensioning or guide rail and a method of producing a tensioning or guide rail for an endless drive means are provided, in particular for a chain drive in an internal combustion engine, comprising a supporting body and a sliding body of plastic material arranged on the supporting body. The method comprises the steps of producing a sliding body profile strand and separating the individual sliding body from the sliding body profile strand. The sliding body of a tensioning or guide rail is a segment of such a sliding body profile strand, the plastic material being oriented in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tensioning rail or a guide rail for tensioning and/or guiding a drive chain, comprising an opening for receiving a retaining bolt and a retaining bolt which can be inserted into the opening, wherein a lock device working between the retaining bolt and the opening is provided with a lock projection at the opening and a lock recess at the retaining bolt or vice versa, which lock device secures the retaining bolt in a mounting position relative to the opening and at least temporarily releases the retaining bolt in order to move it to a fixing position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tensioner, in particular a tensioner for a driving chain of an internal combustion engine, comprising a tensioning plunger which is axially movably guided in a plunger bore of a plunger reception means and an adjuster for readjusting the shift of the operating range of the tensioning plunger caused by wear. The adjuster comprises a hydraulic adjusting element and a closable pressure chamber provided on the bottom of the plunger bore. The adjusting element delimits the pressure chamber against the plunger bore and is axially movably guided in said plunger bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tensioning rail or a guide rail for tensioning and/or guiding a drive chain, comprising an opening for receiving a retaining bolt and a retaining bolt which can be inserted into the opening, wherein a lock device working between the retaining bolt and the opening is provided with a lock projection at the opening and a lock recess at the retaining bolt or vice versa, which lock device secures the retaining bolt in a mounting position relative to the opening and at least temporarily releases the retaining bolt in order to move it to a fixing position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tensioner, in particular a tensioner for a driving chain of an internal combustion engine, comprising a tensioning plunger which is axially movably guided in a plunger bore of a plunger reception means and an adjuster for readjusting the shift of the operating range of the tensioning plunger caused by wear. The adjuster comprises a hydraulic adjusting element and a closable pressure chamber provided on the bottom of the plunger bore. The adjusting element delimits the pressure chamber against the plunger bore and is axially movably guided in said plunger bore.

Abstract: A tension or guide rail for a flexible drive means, in particular for a timing chain of an internal combustion engine, with a carrier body and guide track which can be pressed onto the flexible drive means, where the tension or guide rail comprises an installation channel which is independent of the action of the guide track. The carrier body can comprise at least a first and at least a second carrier-body side part, which are permanently joined together and which jointly define the installation channel. Furthermore, an internal combustion engine with a timing drive comprising a flexible drive means and at least one such tension or guide rail, whereby the flexible drive means is in contact with the guide track and an additional component acting interactively with the internal combustion engine extends through the installation channel at least in some regions.