Abstract: A torsion spring for an oil pump chain tensioner for use in an engine. The torsion spring has: a second end; a leg connected to the second end through a hook bend; an outer coil connected to the leg having an outer coil outer circumference and an outer coil inner circumference; a first inner coil connected to the outer coil, the first inner coil having a first inner coil outer circumference and a first inner coil inner circumference, the outer coil inner circumference being adjacent to the first inner coil outer circumference; and a second inner c-shaped coil connected to the first inner coil through a bend back loop, the second inner coil having a second inner coil outer circumference and a second inner coil inner coil circumference and terminating in a first end, where the second inner coil outer circumference and the first coil inner circumference define a gap.

Abstract: One or more radial holes in the body of the hydraulic tensioner are used to control outward hydraulic flow restriction from the hydraulic pressure chamber within the piston. The one or more holes can be arranged in different ways to allow the piston position to alter the outward oil flow of the tensioner.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a chain tensioner includes bending a sheet metal blank to form a connector portion perpendicular to a flat base. The connector portion has an arm extending beyond the base. The method further includes stamping an end of the arm to curl the end into a hollow cylinder having an axis perpendicular the flat base. Curling the end into a hollow cylinder may be performed in a series of stamping operations. The blank may define a gap which extends around a narrower portion of the arm after the end is curled into the hollow cylinder.

Abstract: A chain tensioning device which combats natural build-up of chain slack. In controlling the chain slack, the torque at which a chain jumps occurs is delayed resulting in a higher jump torque performance.

Abstract: A chain tensioner transmits power of a crankshaft provided in an engine to peripheral auxiliary devices and guides a chain belt that transfers engine oil. The chain tensioner includes a body portion that tensions the chain belt through a pivot, the upper surface of the body portion includes an oil guiding rib that collects the engine oil scattered from the chain belt to the upper part, one surface of the body portion in contact with the upper surface includes a pivot journal, and one surface of the body portion includes a first oil flow path that guides the engine oil to flow down to the pivot journal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide mechanism that can readily integrate all the components in a simple structure and enhance work efficiency during assembly or maintenance. The chain guide mechanism of the present invention is configured to be able to integrally support, on a frame, components including a plurality of sprockets, a chain, a fixed chain guide, and a pivoting chain guide. The frame includes a pivoting chain guide holding part that holds a mounting boss of the pivoting chain guide in a state of a loose fit. The pivoting chain guide holding part is configured to allow the mounting boss to be fitted therethrough from one side.

Abstract: To provide a simple-structured tensioner lever capable of consistently exerting a correct reaction force to various fluctuations of tension accompanying varying chain behaviors, whereby vibration and noise when the chain runs can be reduced. The tensioner lever of the present invention includes a lever body having a shoe surface that slidably guides a chain; a first pressing spring configured to have a first pressing arm extending from one end of a first helical part, with a distal end portion contacting the lever body to form a first loading point, and a first support arm extending from the other end of the first helical part, with a distal end portion contacting and being supported by a first support part provided to an attachment surface to form a first support point; and a second pressing spring supported on the lever body at a different position from that of the first pressing spring.

Abstract: To provide a tensioner capable of preventing slipping between a rack portion and ratchet pawls and securing a large backlash with a simple structure. The tensioner includes a ratchet rotatably mounted on a housing and having a front pawl and a rear pawl spaced apart in a front and rear direction on a side face positioned opposite the rack portion. The ratchet includes an additional pawl formed between the front pawl and the rear pawl in the front and rear direction on the side face positioned opposite the rack portion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that allows for reduction of the number of components and the weight, while being able to prevent vibration and noise during the running of the chain. The tensioner lever according to the present invention is configured such that a lever body rotatably supported on an attachment surface is urged to rotate toward the chain by the resilient force of a coil spring. The coil spring includes a pressing arm extending from one end of a helical part and contacting the lever body, and a support arm extending from another end of the helical part and supported by the attachment surface. The lever body includes an engagement portion configured to allow the support arm of the coil spring to be hooked thereon by resilient deformation, and to removably engage therewith by rebound resilience of the coil spring.

Abstract: To provide a tensioner unit, a rocking lever, and a tensioner, which, prevent breakage of the tensioner in use for a prolonged period of time. A protruding part is provided to a rocking lever near an abutment surface for abutment with a plunger to make contact with a tensioner body. h and H satisfy the relationship of h<H, where h denotes a protruding amount of a lead part of the plunger, where the lead part means a part protruding from the plunger bore, from a tip end surface on an opened side of the tensioner body in a state where the plunger sits on a bottom of the plunger bore, and H denotes an interval between the abutment surface of the rocking lever and the tip end surface of the tensioner body when the protruding part is brought into contact with the tensioner body.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide that can improve functional properties of a chain drive system. The chain guide of the present invention is attached to an engine block by a mounting bolt and slidably guides a running chain. The chain guide includes a mounting part provided with a shaft hole through which a mounting bolt is passed, and an oil jet passage for injecting lubricating oil, supplied to the shaft hole at a predetermined pressure, toward the chain.

Abstract: A stack of disk springs are placed between a second piston of a dual hydraulic variable force tensioner system and a hydraulic tensioner arm to allow much higher spring rates if desired. The springs may be stacked in multiple configurations to provide different spring rates. Package space can be reduced depending on the number of springs and orientations of said springs within the tensioner arm.

Abstract: To provide a tensioner that can keep the oil pressure in an oil pressure chamber stable and consistently generate suitable reaction force and damping force to impact loads to reduce looseness in the chain and noise. A piston is set such as to partition an inner space of a plunger into an adjustment space on the front side and the oil pressure chamber on the rear side, a piston restricting member restricting the movement of the piston toward the adjustment space. An oil relief mechanism is configured to cause the piston to move forward when oil pressure in the oil pressure chamber rises so as to discharge oil inside the oil pressure chamber to the outside. The piston restricting member has an orifice function that can control the amount of discharged oil.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that can reduce vibration and noise when the chain runs, and realize smooth attachment into an engine with minimal deformation of the lever body with a simple configuration. A tensioner lever according to the present invention includes a lever body and a torsion coil spring pressed the lever body toward the chain. The lever body includes a stopper member mounting part where a stopper member by which the support arm of the torsion coil spring is locked and which retains the torsion coil spring in a compressed state is removably mounted. The stopper member mounting part is located closer to a distal end of the lever body than a center position in the longitudinal direction of the lever body, or a center of gravity position of the lever body.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever capable of consistently exerting appropriate reaction force to various tension fluctuations in conjunction with varying chain behavior, and reducing vibration and noise when the chain runs. The tensioner lever of the present invention includes a torsion coil spring having a pressing arm in which a distal end portion abuts on a lever body to form a first load point, and a support arm in which a distal end portion abuts on a support part provided to an attachment surface to form a first support point. The tensioner lever further includes a spring load adaption structure configured to form one or both of a second loading point and a second support point when a certain level or more of load is received from the chain.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain tensioner that can prevent breakage or deformation of its components during transport or storage, prevent wrong assembly, and increase the degree of design freedom. The chain tensioner includes a guide lever supported pivotably on an arm part that is provided to a tensioner body. The tensioner body has a body-side fixing pin hole positioned for a stopper pin to pass through without extending through the plunger. The guide lever has a lever-side fixing pin hole that comes to be coaxial with the body-side fixing pin hole in a predetermined pivoting position.

Abstract: The problem to be solved is to provide a tensioner lever that inhibits friction-induced wear or seizure on a surface of a pivoting support boss contacting a shoulder bolt so that high durability is achieved, and that is easily producible and enables cost reduction. As a solution to the problem noted above, the tensioner lever includes a shoe having a traveling surface, a lever body, and a pivotal support boss provided at a proximal end of the lever body to allow a distal end thereof to swing. The shoe and the lever body are integrally formed and assembled together by double injection molding. The lever body includes a slide bearing member, and a connecting part that connects the slide bearing member and the shoe. The slide bearing member, the connecting part, and the shoe are made of the same synthetic resin, and configured as a continuous one-piece component.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide, which allows easy assembling of a guide shoe to a base member, and reliably prevents detachment of the guide shoe from the base member resulting from vibration or the like during the running of a chain. Provided is a chain guide wherein a base member includes an attachment extension extending upward from a base body part beyond a support surface, and a base-side engaged part formed in the attachment extension, a guide shoe includes a flexible extension extending from a shoe body part, and a shoe-side engaging part formed in the flexible extension, and the shoe-side engaging part is hooked to the base-side engaged part from below, or diagonally from below, or from front or back, to be positioned on the far side of the base-side engaged part during engagement therebetween.

Abstract: An invention relating to a tensioning device for the belt or chain drive of a stirred ball mill and to a stirred ball mill. The tensioning device includes a tensioning lever which is arranged on a rotatable tensioning foot and which includes a tensioning wheel. A rotatable adjusting disk with a guide contour is arranged on the rotatable tensioning foot. The position of the adjusting disk can be fixed on the machine housing of the stirred ball mill by means of a securing means paired with the guide contour of the adjusting disk. The tensioning device further includes a longitudinally variable tensioning element for rotating the adjusting disk relative to the machine housing of the stirred ball mill.

Abstract: A chain guide is provided which has a simple structure and improved durability, and which enables reduction in weight and in material cost, and moreover which does not inhibit smooth flow of resin inside a metal mold, and with which dimension errors, contour errors, internal distortion, defects and the like are reduced and concentration of internal stresses or repeatedly applied bending stresses can be prevented. A reinforcing rib of a body part includes a lateral rib that has an independent zone not connected to other parts of the reinforcing rib over a length of 20% or more of a distance between support portions at two locations of the rib. The independent zone is provided on a side further away from a guide surface than a midpoint of the height of the support wall.

Abstract: The application relates to a passenger transport apparatus comprising at least one drive sprocket for driving and deflecting a conveyor belt, and at least one detecting apparatus for detecting the rotational speed of the drive sprocket. Slot-shaped recesses are arranged on at least one annular side surface of the drive sprocket, wherein the longitudinal extension of the slot-shaped recesses extends in the radial direction with respect to the rotational center of the drive sprocket over the annular side surface. The detecting apparatus makes it possible to generate a signal that represents the rotational speed of the drive sprocket, by means of scanning of the slot-shaped recesses—which can move relative to the detecting apparatus—and the elevations present between the slot-shaped recesses.

Abstract: A tensioner moves the flow restriction controlling the tensioner tuning to the nose of the piston through a hole ranging in cross sectional area from 0.01 mm2 to 1.1 mm2. It also eliminates a component from the design of the tensioner. The piston hole geometry is one or a plurality of holes.

Abstract: A guiderail for a traction drive comprising a supporting body including a first surface with a recess that includes a first corresponding cavity. The guiderail further includes a slideway lining configured to contact the first surface, wherein the slideway lining includes a second surface that includes a locking hook that is formed on a first edge of the second surface and protrudes out from the first surface, wherein the locking hook is configured to engage with the recess to prevent the slideway lining from slipping off the supporting body.

Abstract: Drive belt systems and methods thereof are disclosed. Drive belt systems and methods thereof include driving a continuous belt around a drive pulley member and an idler pulley member by the drive pulley member and transporting a transport unit and/or reciprocating carriage unit coupled to the continuous belt in a first direction away from the drive pulley member. Drive belt systems and methods thereof also include applying at least a force to the belt in a traverse direction thereto to direct a portion of the belt about the drive pulley member by a belt stretch management apparatus coupled to the transport unit and/or reciprocating carriage unit.

Abstract: A chain tensioner arm or chain guide includes a main body extending in a longitudinal direction and including side walls, each side wall defining a ledge. The main body has a first end including a first tab formed by a set of first grooves extending inwardly from the first end towards a center of the main body, and having a tab end. The tab end of the first tab includes a first protrusion extending away from the main body. The chain tensioner arm or chain guide also includes a shoe with a chain sliding surface on which the chain slides. The shoe includes a side protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction along each side of the shoe. The side protrusion fits into the ledge of the main body. Methods of assembling the tensioner arm or chain guide are also disclosed.

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: The disclosure relates to a sliding system for a wraparound transmission for reducing vibrations and undulations of a wraparound means, the sliding system comprising a wraparound means for connecting a transmission input shaft to a transmission output shaft in a torque-transmitting manner. The wraparound means has a plurality of deflecting axes and a height oriented transversely with respect to the deflecting axes. The sliding system also includes a sliding rail which comprises a sliding channel with an inner sliding face and an outer sliding face, wherein the sliding channel defines a running direction for the wraparound means, and the sliding channel being divided in the running direction into an entry section, a main section and an exit section. The sliding channel has a setpoint height adapted to the height of the wraparound means.

Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention lies in making it possible to reduce costs and to reduce the size of an oil pump, without impeding the degree of freedom in chain layout. An oil jet 1 is constructed in order to supply lubricating oil to a tension-side span of a chain C while also causing a tensioning force to act on a slack-side span of the chain C. The oil jet arm 1 is provided with a pivoting-side part 2A, and a tip-end side part 2B which is provided in such a way as to be pivotable about the pivoting-side part 2A and is acted on by a pressing force from a piston 41 of a hydraulic tensioner 4, and an oil ejection hole 22a for ejecting to the outside oil supplied from an oil discharge hole 41a in the piston 41 is formed in the tip-end side part 2B. Oil ejected from the oil ejection hole 22a is supplied to a portion E on the meshing start side with a sprocket 100 on the tension-side span of the chain C.

Abstract: A tensioning device (1) for tensioning a traction mechanism of a traction mechanism drive, including a housing (2), a piston (3) that is mounted such that the piston can be displaced in an axial direction inside the housing (2), and a transport securing element (4), which in at least one transport position of the tensioning device (1) is arranged in the housing (2) transversely to the piston (3) and in abutment with the piston (3) such that a displacement of the piston (3) in at least one first axial direction is blocked. The transport securing element (4) is provided with a support portion (5), wherein in the transport position at least one first web area (6) of the support portion (5) is in abutment with one end face (7) of the piston (3), and an additional web area (8) of the support portion (5) extending in an axial direction away from the first web area (6) is supported in the housing (2), at least in a radial direction.

Abstract: A belt-driven continuously variable transmission in which a collision noise of a broken chain belt can be suppressed is provided. In the transmission, a chain belt is applied to belt grooves of pulleys to transmit power therebetween, and a speed ratio is varied by changing a width of the belt groove of at least one of pulleys. The transmission comprises: a guiderail that is contacted to the chain belt to suppress vibrations in the chain belt and that is allowed to rotate with a change in an inclination of the chain belt; and a pushing mechanism that applies a load to the guiderail to rotate the guiderail to alter an inclination of the chain belt in a direction to increase the speed ratio when the chain belt is broken.

Abstract: A chain-tensioning rod, for an internal combustion engine with an overhead camshaft valvetrain to keep in tension a timing chain, includes a shoe, which is pressed against the timing chain, and a supporting arm of the shoe, allows a simple assembly of the arm and of the relative shoe because the shoe is formed by a monolithic piece having, on one side thereof, a sliding surface and on, the opposite side, a supporting surface and a contact element connected to the supporting surface by a longitudinal central rib; and the supporting arm is formed by an elongated sheet having a longitudinal pass-through slit extending from a distal end thereof, wherein it is open, so that insertion of the supporting arm on the supporting surface takes place by making said rib to slide in the slit, the rib operating as transversal locking device of the supporting arm on the supporting surface.

Abstract: Provided is a chain that can reduce friction resistance between the running chain and a chain guide with a simple structure. The chain 10 is formed of a plurality of plates 30, 50 including sliding plates 30 that are slidably guided by a chain guide G, the plates being coupled together with connecting pins 40 such that the chain is bendable. The sliding plates 30 each include a guide-side end face 31, and the guide-side end face 31 includes a recessed section 32 formed by cutting away part of the guide-side end face 31, and a guide sliding section 33 located on a front side in a chain running direction of the recessed section 32. The recessed section 32 includes a negative pressure canceling surface 32a at a front end thereof in the chain running direction.

Abstract: There is provided a chain guide that reduces a space occupied by the chain guide in an engine room while maintaining required strength, rigidity, and durability with a simple configuration, reduces the number of manufacturing steps and the waste of a material, does not require a structure that permits an error, prevents increases in vibration and noise during use, and reduces the burden of a maintenance operation. The chain guide has a guide shoe and a base member that reinforces the guide shoe, and an attachment portion includes an attachment member that is provided separately from the guide shoe and the base member and can be fixed to at least one of the guide shoe and the base member or both of the guide shoe and the base member.

Abstract: A supporting body (1) for guiding or tensioning a circumferential traction mechanism of a traction drive, a front side (12) that has an elongated sliding surface for making contact with the traction mechanism, a rear side (2) that lies opposite and includes an elongated receiving groove (5) for form-fittingly receiving a reinforcement panel, the receiving groove (5) being formed by delimiting elements (3) which protrude, at the sides of the groove, from the rear side, and at least two delimiting elements (3, 3?) on one side of the receiving groove (5) being separated in the longitudinal direction by a spacing in the form of a gap (4).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sliding rail half for a two-piece sliding rail, the sliding rail being set up to reduce vibrations and undulations for a wraparound means of a wraparound gear mechanism, the sliding rail half being distinguished, above all, by the fact that a first pin is arranged in a first mounting, wherein the first pin, in interaction with a hook of a second sliding rail half to be joined, prevents a displacement of the second sliding rail half relative to the first sliding rail half along a longitudinal axis when a first sliding face and a second sliding face are arranged in a sliding plane and a first joining face is in contact at least partially with a corresponding second joining face and the hook is not received in the first mounting.

Abstract: A tensioning rail for a drive chain, in particular for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprises a basic body and a spring unit, the basic body including a sliding surface for contact with the drive chain and a press-on surface. The spring unit comprises a tensioning end arranged on the press-on surface and a support end supportable on a counter bearing, a wear protection element being provided, which is arranged at the support end of the spring unit. In addition, the invention relates to a chain drive including such a tensioning rail as well as to the use of such a tensioning rail for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A chain tensioner includes a blade assembly operatively connected to a bracket. The blade assembly includes a plastic blade and a spring, with a first spring end located in a first slot and a second spring end located in a second slot. The first spring end contacts a first lower wall at a first contact location and the second spring end contacts a second lower wall at a second contact location. A pivot end spring force vector SFP acts on the first lower wall at the first contact location and a free end spring force vector SFR acts on the second lower wall at the second contact location. A chain is in contact with the outer surface of the blade. The blade assembly is mounted on the bracket with a bracket pin located in the pivot bore and with the foot of the blade supported on a bracket ramp. A pivot pin force vector FP acts on an inside diameter of the pivot bore through the pivot axis. A ramp force vector FR acts on the blade foot at a ramp contact location.

Abstract: A chain drive assembly for an internal combustion engine comprises a tensioning rail supportable on an engine block so as to be pivotable about a pivot bearing axle and further comprises a pivot bearing that can be provided on the engine block. The tensioning rail having a projection, which protrudes from the tensioning rail relative to the support body, so as to hold, at least during mounting, the tensioning rail at a mounting position. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of such a tensioning rail for mounting on the engine block of an internal combustion engine as well as to a bipartite chain drive of an internal combustion engine and a suitable mounting method.

Abstract: A compression limiter retainer arrangement for a plastic chain guide is provided that minimizes the packaging requirements. The plastic chain guide contains an oblong aperture and a round aperture for mounting to an internal combustion engine. At least one radially inward protruding finger is present at each of the longitudinal ends of the oblong aperture to retain a first compression limiter. Additionally, at least one radially inward protruding finger can be placed proximate to the round aperture to retain an optional second compression limiter. The angular position of the radially inward protruding fingers is defined and limited for optimum chain guide packaging and performance.

Abstract: A chain guide is provided, which can readily achieve, with a simple structure, both favorable attachability and tightness of a guide shoe relative to a base member, even though the base member has side wall ribs on both left and right side edges. A base member of a chain guide includes an upstream engagement portion and downstream engagement-portions, while a guide shoe includes an upstream hook and downstream hooks. Downstream engagement portions include restricting portions. The downstream hooks are hooked to the downstream engagement portions from an outer side in a guide width direction by twisting and elastically deforming the guide shoe in a state where the upstream hook is engaged with the upstream engagement portion.

Abstract: A chain guide element having a pair of guide rails spaced from each other to guide a moving chain therebetween. A coupling element extends from one guide rail for receiving a transversely arranged holding element for allowing pivotal movement of the chain guide element relative to the holding element. A securing element is carried by the holding element for engagement with the coupling element.

Abstract: A lubrication device for a belt-driven continuously variable transmission is provided. The lubrication device comprises a stabilizer 24 brought into contact to a straight portion of a belt 6 between the pulleys to suppress vibrations of the belt. The stabilizer 24 comprises openings 31, 32, 33 and 34 oriented to each contact point between a sheave 7, 8, 13 or 14 and the belt 6 to apply oil thereto, while being allowed to pivot and twist in response to a change in posture of the belt 6 resulting from a speed change operation to keep the opening oriented to the contact point.

Abstract: In an aspect, a tensioner is provided for maintaining tension in an endless drive member in a belt-in-oil drive system. The tensioner includes a base that is mountable to a stationary structure and that has a circumferential wall that defines an arm pivot axis, an arm having a radially inner arm surface, and an endless drive member engagement surface that is engageable with an endless drive member, a bushing positioned between the radially inner arm surface and the circumferential wall of the base cup, and a tensioning spring. The arm is supported on the base cup via the bushing. The tensioning spring is positioned to bias the arm in a first direction about the arm pivot axis.

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: An object is to provide a guide shoe having a simple structure and suppressing a significant shift in pitch line while reducing friction losses and preventing possible noise. In a guide shoe having a shoe surface on which a traveling chain is guided, the shoe surface includes a plate guide surface which is formed on an upstream side of the shoe surface in a shoe longitudinal direction and on which only chain plates are slidably guided, a guiding protruding portion which is formed on a downstream side of the plate guide surface and on which only a chain roller or a chain bush is guided, and a continuously transitioning protruding portion that smoothly connects the plate guide surface and the guiding protruding surface together. Plate escaping portions are formed on opposite sides across the guiding protruding portion in a shoe width direction to avoid contact with the chain plates.

Abstract: A guiding device for guiding a belt of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The device includes a first guiding section and a second guiding section that is spaced from the first guiding section, and between which the belt is guided in a running direction. The guiding sections have a longitudinal extent that corresponds to the running direction of the belt and a transverse extent that is perpendicular thereto, and lateral edge sections that delimit the guiding sections in the transverse direction. At least one guiding section has at least one longitudinal rib that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is positioned apart from the lateral edge sections in order to improve the guiding device structurally and functionally.

Abstract: An improved food slice stacker that can be coupled to a meat slicer, to automatically stack the slices on food into stacks, wherein the stacker can be easily washed and sanitized to remove food particles therefrom. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a plurality endless transport chains, an integrally formed sprocket sleeve with sprocket portions that engage and drive the chains and an integrally formed pulley sleeve with a smooth surface an a plurality of pulley members that also engage the transport chains, wherein the sprocket and pulley sleeves are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the pulley sleeve engages the transport member. The pulley sleeve is integrally formed of a friction-free material so as to provide for smooth surfaces that substantially prevent retention of food particles thereon during washing.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that can reliably prevent displacement or detachment of a torsion coil spring, prevent the torsion coil spring from interfering with an attachment surface, and allow smooth attachment of the tensioner lever to the attachment surface. The tensioner lever includes a lever body having a shoe surface, and a torsion coil spring pressing the shoe surface toward a chain. The lever body includes a base part and a cylindrical boss. The torsion coil spring includes a helical part loosely fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the boss, a pressing arm making contact with the lever body, and a support arm supported on the attachment surface. The outer circumferential surface of the boss includes a restricting protrusion formed at a position closer to the attachment surface than the helical part.

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 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.