Abstract: To reduce the noise level of chains connecting cone pulleys in variable ratio transmissions, in which chain links (1, 15, 43) are joined by rocker elements (3, 16, 44), frame bodies or frames elements (7, 8, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 46, 51, 64, 65) are positioned between adjacent hinge joints formed by the rocker elements, located transversely to the chain, the frame bodies having lateral engagement surfaces (11, 24, 25, 26, 55, 56, 57, 66, 67) located laterally adjacent to the sides of the outermost chain link elements for resilient frictional engagement with the facing surfaces of the cone pulleys (12, 40, 41) of the transmission, so that the transmission will be engaged by the engaging surfaces (45) of the rocker elements as well as the engagement surfaces of the frame bodies. The frame bodies are retained on the chain by force engagement with the chain link elements and/or the rocker elements.

Abstract: Fail-safe operation is insured by forming a camming surface on an axially extending camming element (19), axially and rotatably secured to the take-off shaft (2), the camming surface being in engagement with a camming projection (18, 36) formed on the piston (10) which is in driving engagement with one of the cone disks (6) on the take-up shaft, and rotatably coupled to the cone disk, the cone disk, normally, being hydraulically positioned with respect to an opposing cone disk (5) of a cone pair; upon failure of hydraulic pressure, relative circumferential displacement of the cone disk (6) and hence of the piston, will cause axial movement of the piston (10) and hence transfer of axial movement to the cone disk (6) to raise a transmission belt (7) to operate at the largest circumference of the cone transmission, thus permitting limp-home operation of a motor vehicle equipped with the transmission at slow speed, but without loss of driving torque.

Abstract: An infinitely variable cone pulley transmission has a first and a second pulley mounted on driving and driven shafts and connected by an endless belt. Each pulley is formed of first and second pulley discs. A hydraulic device sets and maintains each first pulley by hydraulic pressure in an axial position corresponding to a desired transmission ratio between the driving and the driven shafts. A torque sensor is mounted adjacent a second pulley disc for receiving a torque. The torque sensor has a pressing device mounted for axial displacement as a function of the torque and a valve arranged for displacement by the pressing device for varying the hydraulic pressure on the first pulley discs. The pressing device has a first ring torque-transmittingly and axially immovably mounted in the vicinity of the second pulley disc, a second ring relatively rotatably and axially slidably mounted between the second pulley disc and the first ring and forming a movable part of the valve.

Abstract: In a side-bar chain for an infinitely variable cone pulley transmission, which chain is composed of packs of side bars forming successive links which are articulatedly connected with one another, and thrust pieces acting transversely of the longitudinal direction of the chain for friction force transmission between cone pulleys and the side-bar chain, the lengths of selected ones of the links, between associated articulations, are made different from those of the remainder of the links of the chain.

Abstract: In a thrust piece forming a component of a chain for use in a friction pulley transmission in which the chain extends around, and circulates between, pairs of pulleys mounted on associated shafts, with one pulley of each pair being a cone pulley having a conical friction face and the other pulley of each pair being a friction pulley having a friction face which is flatter than that of the associated cone pulley, the thrust piece extending substantially transversely of the length of the chain and presenting opposed end faces via which the thrust piece bears against the friction faces of a pulley pair to effect friction force transmission between the pulley pair and the chain, one end face of the thrust piece, which contacts the friction pulley of a pulley pair, is formed to present an area of contact with the friction pulley which is reduced in relation to the area of contact between the other end face of the thrust piece and the cone pulley of the pulley pair.

Abstract: A transmission means for drive by a prime mover, particularly the engine of an automobile, comprising a torque converter for direct drive by the prime mover, a continuously variable speed belt drive comprising a belt or chain entrained around two variable pitch pulleys driven directly by the torque converter and a change-direction gearing driven by the belt drive and driving a rotary output, e.g. the road wheels of an automobile, the gearing having a neutral state in which the output is disconnected from the belt drive.