Abstract: A barrel-shaped coil spring roller is formed by closely winding spring wire rods having fine crepe-like concave-convex surfaces on the surface of the barrel-shaped coil spring roller. The fine crepe-like concave-convex surfaces serve as a lubricating oil reservoir and are formed by a shotpeening process. Lubricating oil is retained on the fine crepe-like concave-convex surfaces formed by the shot-peening process. Sliding noises between the spring wire rods adjacent to each other, which noises are generated by elastic deformation of the barrel-like coil spring roller when in engagement with the toothed surface of the sprocket, are reduced by the lubricating oil. The wear on both of the barrel-shaped coil spring roller and the sprocket is lessened and the power loss is reduced. The low noise chain is capable of retaining a lubricating oil on the surface of spring wire rods of a barrel-shaped coil spring roller for long periods of time, while still maintaining a noise reduction effect.

Abstract: A planetary gear system has a driving sun gear, an internal gear fixed on a case concentrically with the sun gear, and a planetary carrier assembly having plural planetary gears pivotally supported on a carrier and engaged with the sun gear and the internal gear. The internal gear comprises a lamination of plural punched plates with internal teeth being in phase with each other.

Abstract: A frictional transmission chain drive for use between V-groove pulleys comprises a series of C-shaped chain struts and friction force struts superposed along the length of an endless transmission chain. The chain struts are fitted in grooves located across link plates of the chain, with their open ends alternately located on opposite sides of the transmission chain. The friction force struts are provided with recesses which grip the chain to prevent sideways movement of the struts relative to the chain. The friction force struts on opposite sides of a chain strut can have their open ends on the same said of the chain as the open end of the chain strut, or, alternatively, can have their open ends on the side of the chain opposite the side on which the open end of the chain strut is located.

Abstract: Noise reduction in a silent chain is achieved by forming the majority of the toothed link plates with modified tooth profiles having a circular concave portion conforming t the shape of the teeth of the sprocket engaged by the chain, and a circular convex portion near the tip, the center of curvature of the convex portion being on the dedendum side of the pitch line. Additional link plates having a different meshing pitch are disposed at irregular intervals along the length of the chain. These additional link plates can have linear of modified tooth profiles.

Abstract: A rocker-pin type continuously variable transmission chain having a plurality of link plates connected endlessly by rocker pins which project into pin insertion holes formed in the link plates. Each pin insertion hole defines thereon a side load transmitting surface which engages an opposed side load transmitting surface on the rocker pin. These load transmitting surfaces on the rocker pin and hole have opposed center surface portions which are maintained free of contact with one another. A pair of concave surface portions are smoothly joined directly to opposite ends of the center surface portion of the hole, and project outwardly in opposite directions therefrom. A similar pair of convex surface portions are formed on the rocker pin, and are joined to opposite ends of the center surface portion thereof and project outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: In a rocker pin type friction transmission chain, the engaged surfaces of the rocker pins and pin insertion holes in the link plates are in the form of parts of an ellipse which are symmetrical with respect to the minor axis of the ellipse. This configuration is easy to machine, prevents relative rotation of the pins and the link plates, avoids cracking of the link plates due to concentrations of loads, and reduces the likelihood of fatigue failure due to excessive pressures exerted by the pins and link plates on each other.

Abstract: A rocker-joint silent chain in which the pin insertion holes for each link have rocker-joint connecting pin means extending therethrough. Each pin insertion hole has two opposed, spaced-apart surfaces each having the cross-section form of arcs of uniform radius. The centers of curvature of said two surfaces are offset from one another so that they define an arcuate, but noncircular, cavity which is effective to wedge said connecting pin in load-transmitting relationship to its associated link when the chain is driven.

Abstract: An endless belt, for use in a variable speed transmission comprising at least one pulley having opposed conical surfaces, comprises a loop-shaped stack of I-shaped friction plates having left and right recesses, with chains located in the recesses in side-by-side relationship. Each chain comprises interleaved link plates, and the chains are out of phase with each other by one-half the pitch distance. Each friction plate is engaged, in driving relationship, in notches in the link plates of one of the two chains, and the next friction plate is engaged, in driving relationship, in notches of the link plates of the other chain. There are no friction plates which are not engaged in notches of the link plates. Consequently less pressure and improved friction are achieved. The preferred link plate comprises two separable layers formed by stamping. In one preferred embodiment, the chains comprise interleaved groups of link plates of uniform thickness, and each group consists of the same number of link plates.

Abstract: A silent chain having a series of links, with adjacent links being pivotally joined by transversely-extending connecting pins. Each link is defined by a plurality of link plates disposed in sidewardly adjacent relationship, which link plates define inwardly projecting sprocket teeth adjacent opposite ends thereof. Guide plates are disposed adjacent opposite sides of some of the links and extend between adjacent connecting pins. Plate spring links are sidewardly interposed between adjacent link plates or between a link plate and a sidewardly adjacent guide plate. The spring link plates have a configuration such that no portion thereof extends into the pitch circle of the sprocket which meshes with the chain links.