Belt Having Drive Surfaces On Opposite Side Edges Of Stacked Plates Having Planar Faces Perpendicular To Direction Of Belt Movement Patents (Class 474/201)
  • Patent number: 11721966
    Abstract: There is provided a supporting member having excellent durability and an apparatus including the supporting member. The supporting member includes an elastic member and a plurality of block members formed thereon. The supporting member is deformable from a shape in which end surfaces of the block members are in contact with each other to a shape in which the end surfaces are separated from each other. The elastic member includes a fixed region whose deformation is restricted by being fixed to a bottom surface of the block member, and the supporting member includes a flexure reduction unit for reducing flexure at a position near the fixed region of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: JUNKOSHA INC.
    Inventors: Daiki Hiraoka, Hiroshi Takeuchi, Yasuhiro Misu, Tetsuya Hirose
  • Patent number: 11566690
    Abstract: A variety of transmission mechanisms are provided that include split pulleys nested within each other in order to reduce the size of the transmissions, to provide infinitely variable transmission ratios that include forward and reverse ratios, or to provide some other benefits. The transmissions include multiple inner split pulleys nested within an outer split pulley. Two, three, or more inner split pulleys can be disposed within the transmission to balance the mass of the inner split pulleys in order to reduce vibration and internal stresses experienced by the transmission. This can increase the lifespan of the transmission, reduce wear, and increase efficiency. Additionally, providing multiple inner split pulleys in a nested configuration can allow for reduction of loads transmitted through bearings of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Alexander Kernbaum, Reuben Brewer, Murphy Kitchell, John Marlow
  • Patent number: 11506256
    Abstract: A metal element, which is pressed and punched by a mold, includes: a neck section positioned between a pair of right and left ring slots; an ear section continuous to a radially outer side of the neck section; and a body section continuous to a radially inner side of the neck section. A locking edge extending in a right-left direction is formed at a radially outer end of the front surface of the body section, and the metal element includes a projection section extending in the right-left direction on a back surface of the body section at a position backward of the locking edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 11486464
    Abstract: Transverse segments (10) for a drive belt (6) for a belt-and-pulley-type continuously variable transmission include a row of these transverse segments (10) mounted on a stack (9) of several, mutually nested rings. The transverse segments (10) are provided with a protrusion (40) that protrudes from a front surface (11) thereof and with a corresponding cavity (41) that is provided in a back surface (12) thereof. An offset is provided between the protrusion (40) and the cavity (41) in the radial direction of the drive belt (6), such that in the row of transverse segments (10) in the drive belt (6) these will be inclined backwards by the forced insertion of the protrusion (40) into the cavity (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Cornelis Johannes Maria Van Der Meer, Maud Groener, Rob Petrus Maria Van Hoek
  • Patent number: 11466752
    Abstract: Elements of a transmission belt wound around pulleys of a continuously variable transmission each include a body part, a pair of pillar parts, and a pair of side surfaces. The pair of side surfaces each include a first side surface formed on a corresponding one of the pillar parts; and a second side surface formed so as to continue from the first side surface, and located more on an inner circumference side than the first side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: AISIN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Ochi, Ryohei Urata, Wataru Ishihara, Junichi Tokunaga, Takayuki Miyake, Hideaki Takahara, Keisuke Ninomiya, Yu Inase, Fumiya Kaji, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11452572
    Abstract: A medical device includes a first link, a second link, and a band. A proximal end portion of the first link is coupled to a shaft. A proximal end portion of the second link is rotatably coupled to a distal end portion of first link about a first axis. The distal end portion of the second link includes a connector coupled to a tool member that is rotatable relative to the second link about a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis. The first link defines a first guide channel and the second link defines a second guide channel. A distal end of the band is disposed within the first guide channel and the second guide channel, and is coupled to the tool member. The second link is rotatable relative to the first link about the first axis when the distal end of the band is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Abbott, Isabelle Heye
  • Patent number: 11365783
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transverse segment for a drive belt with a stack of rings and with a number of the transverse segments, which transverse segment includes a base part and two pillar parts that respectively extend from a respective axial side of the base part in radial outward direction, defining a central opening of the transverse segment between them, and that are each provided with a hook portion extending over a part of the central opening in the general direction of the respectively opposite pillar part. A width dimension of one of the pillar parts of the transverse segment is less than a width dimension of the respective other pillar part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Yuji Takahashi, Geert Lamers, Kouhei Toyohara, Michael Keersmaekers, Makoto Momoi, Takeshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11320023
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a transmission belt including a plurality of elements each including a pair of pillar portions and a ring arranged between the pair of pillar portions of each of the plurality of elements, and a lubricant supply portion arranged on an inner side of the transmission belt in a radial direction. Each of the plurality of elements further includes a pair of rocking edge portions formed away from each other in a width direction, and a non-contact portion extending between the pair of rocking edge portions in the width direction along a saddle surface. A clearance that communicates the non-contact portion and a region on an inner side in the radial direction with respect to the transmission belt is formed between the elements included in a looped portion of the transmission belt around a first or second pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Ishihara, Akira Ochi, Takayuki Miyake, Junichi Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11280385
    Abstract: A transfer belt wound between a primary pulley and a secondary pulley of a continuously variable transmission, the transfer belt including: a plurality of elements, each of which has a body that includes a saddle surface and a pair of pillars that extend toward a radially outer side of the transfer belt from both sides of the saddle surface in a width direction; and a bind ring that binds the plurality of elements annularly with an inner peripheral surface of the bind ring contacting the saddle surface of each of the plurality of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Sato, Kenji Kawano, Akira Ochi, Ryo Nakamura, Takayuki Miyake, Junichi Tokunaga, Masashi Hattori
  • Patent number: 11149820
    Abstract: In an element of a power transfer belt to be wound around a primary pulley and a secondary pulley of a continuously variable transmission to transfer torque, the distance from a boundary line between a surface positioned on the outer peripheral side of the power transfer belt with respect to a rocking edge portion and the rocking edge portion to a saddle surface is determined from the slip amount due to micro slip which is relative slipping between the element and the primary pulley caused when the primary pulley pushes out the power transfer belt toward the secondary pulley, and the angular speed of the element and the angular speed of a ring in a range in which the power transfer belt is wound around the secondary pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Nakamura, Akira Ochi, Takayuki Miyake, Junichi Tokunaga, Keisuke Ninomiya, Yu Inase, Fumiya Kaji, Yuji Hattori, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11143269
    Abstract: Among a plurality of layers of metal rings, an inner circumferential projection is formed on an inner circumferential surface of at least one metal ring, and an outer circumferential projection is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the outermost metal ring. Thus, cracks extending from a surface of the metal ring can be arrested by the inner circumferential projection and the outer circumferential projection. Moreover, the outer circumferential projection of the outermost metal ring that does not abut against any other members is set to have a smaller projection height than the inner circumferential projection that abuts against other members. Thus, even if the inner circumferential projection wears by abutting against the other members, the inner circumferential projection can remain and arrest extension of the cracks; also, the projection height of the outer circumferential projection is reduced to enhance flatness of the outer circumferential surface of the metal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 11002338
    Abstract: A drive belt includes a hoop and multiple elements joined together in a loop by the hoop. Each element has an assembly space into which one end portion of the hoop is inserted during assembly. Each element is configured such that a first opening width, which is a distance between a first hook and a second hook, is less than a width of the hoop, and a second opening width, which is a distance between the second hook and a contact site where the one end portion of the hoop housed in the assembly space contacts a first pillar, is greater than the width of the hoop. The first hook and the second hook respectively include a first displacement-restriction surface and a second displacement-restriction surface each configured to restrict relative displacement between the element and the hoop by contacting a corresponding one of edges of the hoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 10794451
    Abstract: In a pushbelt for a continuously variable transmission that includes at least one endless carrier and a number of transverse segments, which are mounted on the endless carrier. The transverse segments include a bearing surface that contacts the radial inside of the endless carrier, as well as a convexly curved tilting edge that is a part of a main body surface of the transverse segment. According to the present disclosure the convex curvature of the tilting edge extends both radially inward or below and radially outward or above the bearing surface, at least as seen in radial or height direction relative to the endless carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Arjen Brandsma
  • Patent number: 10203021
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a transverse segment (33) for a drive belt with a carrier ring and with a plurality of these transverse segments (33) that are placed slideably on the carrier ring, which transverse segments (33) are provided with main body surfaces (38, 41), where between the transverse segment (33) extends in thickness direction, one main body surface (38) being provided with a rocking edge (42) that defines a transition between an upper side and a tapered lower side of the transverse segment (33) with a lowermost edge (34). The lower side of the transverse segment (33) includes at least one opening (44) and at least an upper, radially outward limiting boundary surface (46) of the opening (44) is provided with an undulating shape, i.e. is provided with multiple protrusions (47) that protrude generally towards the lower, radially inward limiting boundary surface (46) of the opening (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Lucas Hendricus Robertus Maria Prinsen
  • Patent number: 10184550
    Abstract: A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission in a motor vehicle. The chain includes longer and shorter chain links that include longer and shorter link plates that are coupled to each other by pairs of rocker pressure pieces. The plate link chain includes only two types of link plates, namely shorter link plates and longer link plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Penner, Jürgen Ochs, Konstantin Braun
  • Patent number: 9791037
    Abstract: A speed control mechanism for controlling selective engagement of the self-propelled transmission assembly for a walk-behind lawn mower is provided. The speed control mechanism is also configured to control the relative output speed of the transmission assembly. The speed control mechanism includes a speed engagement assembly and a speed adjustment assembly, wherein the speed engagement assembly includes a pair of rotatable levers for causing the transmission assembly to actuate between a disengaged position and an engaged position and the speed adjustment assembly includes a rotatable knob for causing the relative output speed of the transmission assembly to the wheels of the lawn mower to increase or decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventors: Philip Helin, Rick Baehr
  • Patent number: 9772005
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission metal element includes a first ring slot, a second ring slot, a neck portion, an ear portion, and a body portion. The body portion includes an inclined surface. A plate thickness of the continuously variable transmission metal element in a longitudinal direction at an inner end of the inclined surface in a radial direction is larger than a distance between a first metal mold molding surface of a first metal mold and a second metal mold molding surface of a second metal mold in the longitudinal direction at a position corresponding to the inner end of the inclined surface. The first metal mold and the second metal mold constitute a metal mold to press a roughly formed metal element material between the first metal mold molding surface and the second metal mold molding surface so as to provide the continuously variable transmission metal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 9746056
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is obtained by winding, around a drive sheave and a driven sheave, a continuously variable transmission belt in which a plurality of metal elements are stacked and supported on an endless ring. In at least one of the metal elements, flange parts are formed on a head part positioned at an outer peripheral side of the endless ring and a trunk part positioned at an inner peripheral side of the endless ring. The continuously variable transmission is provided with a fluid supply device which, during movement of the continuously variable transmission belt from the driven sheave to the drive sheave, sprayed lubricating oil in a movement direction of the continuously variable transmission belt, towards the flange parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toyomi Sassa, Satoru Ando, Yoshikazu Ishii
  • Patent number: 9739351
    Abstract: When a chain is wound around a pulley, a pin-pulley contact point as a contact point of a pin of the chain with the pulley slides and moves on a conical surface of the pulley. A contact point slip distance, namely the distance by which the pin-pulley contact point moves on the conical surface at this time, is associated with an offset. The offset is the distance between a pin-pin contact point, which is a contact point between the pins at the time the chain is in a linear state, and the pin-pulley contact point in a y-axis direction. Offsets that minimize the contact point slip distance at the maximum running radius and the minimum running radius of the chain are obtained, and the offset is set between these values. The pin-pulley contact point is set close to the pin-pin contact point of the chain in the linear state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Yasuhara, Taizou Wakayama, Teruhiko Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9714690
    Abstract: A metal belt for a continuously variable transmission includes a metal element wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, in which a rocking edge is provided at the radially outer end of a front face of a body part. The rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element, and a recess is formed in a rear face of a neck part, and therefore, when the metal element on the rear side is displaced toward the radially outer side with respect to the metal element on the front side, the rocking edge of the metal element on the rear side enters a ring slot and the recess of the metal element on the front side, and the metal element on the rear side moves so as to be closer to the metal element on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 9494212
    Abstract: Transverse segment (32) for a drive belt (3) for a continuous variable transmission provided with two cut-outs (33) that are each bounded in one direction by a radially outwardly facing saddle surface (42) of the transverse segment (32), which saddle surface (42) is convexly curved according to a local radius of curvature that, at least on average, is smaller on a first axial side of the saddle surface (42) relative to a geometric midpoint (MP) thereof, as compared to an average local radius of curvature of the respectively opposite axial side of the saddle surface (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Guillaume Gerard Hubertus Rompen, Pascal Henricus Johannus Rinket
  • Patent number: 9423003
    Abstract: A drive belt (3) includes an endless carrier (31) and a plurality of transverse members (32) of varying thickness, i.e. of varying dimension measured in the circumference direction “L” of the belt (3), which transverse members (32) are provided with a rocking edge (18) in the form an axially and radially extending section of a respective main body surface (38; 39) of the transverse member (32) that is convexly curved in radial direction. According to the invention, the design of such drive belt (3) can be improved, at least in terms of durability, by shaping the rocking edge (18) of the thinner transverse members (32) of such drive belt (3) according a larger radius of curvature in comparison with the radius of curvature of the rocking edge (18) of thicker transverse members (32) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Francis Maria Antonius Van Der Sluis, Joost Johannes Cornelis Jonkers
  • Patent number: 9334923
    Abstract: A metal belt is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley of a continuously variable transmission. Since intervals between multiple adjuster metal element groups are set so as to avoid that the number of the adjuster metal element groups simultaneously existing on a driving-side chord portion of the metal belt between the drive pulley and the driven pulley is 2 or more, it is possible to prevent large vibration which would occur if two or more adjuster metal element groups would exist on the driving-side chord portion of the metal belt. Furthermore, since the multiple adjuster metal elements are distributionally disposed in the multiple adjuster metal element groups, it is possible to decrease imbalance among the adjuster metal element groups, compared with a case where all the adjuster metal elements are disposed in a single adjuster metal element group. Thereby, the vibration can be reduced more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Soichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 9109657
    Abstract: A link chain has alternating inner and outer chain links connected by a chain articulation, having a direction of motion, wherein each inner chain link has at least one inner plate, and each outer chain link has at least two outer plates and two chain link pins connecting these plates, each pin being rotationally fixed in a pin opening of the associated outer plate and extending through a link opening of the associated inner chain link to form a chain articulation. The inner and/or outer chain links have plate backs contactable with a tensioning rail or guide rail. A forward region of the plate backs in the direction of motion of a part of the inner and/or outer plates extends at an angle to a plane projected between the center lines of the pin openings or link openings. The vertex of the angle points away from the direction of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Martin Bodensteiner, Renzo Perissinotto
  • Patent number: 9080639
    Abstract: A driving belt comprising plate elements juxtaposed in its thickness direction and a flat ring fastening the elements annularly. The elements includes at least one adjuster element configured to adjust an endplay as a total of clearances between the adjacent elements in the elements fastened annularly by the ring. The adjuster element comprises an insertion groove opening toward the endplay, and an inserting member inserted into the insertion groove and configured to protrude partially from the insertion groove thereby adjusting the endplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Harima, Yuji Hattori, Michio Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150045166
    Abstract: A drive belt (3) includes an endless carrier (31) and a plurality of transverse members (32) of varying thickness, i.e. the dimension measured in the circumference direction of the belt (3). According to the invention, the design of such drive belt (3) can be improved, at least in terms of durability, by also varying the width, i.e. the dimension measured in the axial direction “W” of the drive belt (3), of the transverse members (32) in such a way that the thinner transverse members (32) of the drive belt (3) are of a larger width than the thicker transverse members (32) thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Francis Maria Antonius Van Der Sluis, Joost Johannes Cornelis Jonkers
  • Patent number: 8944946
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission belt includes rings each superimposing annular component pieces on each other's inner and outer peripheries, and plural elements attached to the rings side by side in a circumferential direction. Each element includes a neck portion. The rings are disposed on opposite sides of the neck portion. The elements contact a driving pulley and a driven pulley. A lubrication oil discharge mechanism discharges out a lubrication oil in at least one of a gap between the component pieces, and a gap between each ring and the elements. A function of discharging the lubrication oil present in a region remote from the neck portion is higher than a function of discharging the lubrication oil present in a region near the neck portion. Thereby, the rings to which the elements are attached or the component pieces of the rings restrain decline in the centering characteristic in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Baba
  • Patent number: 8491426
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for motor vehicles is provided with a driving pulley (1) and with a driven pulley (2) around which is arranged a drive belt (3) which, at least when the transmission is operating, is clamped between two substantially conical pulley sheaves (4, 5) of the two pulleys (1, 2). The cone surface (10) of the pulley sheaves (4, 5) of the driving pulley (1) in a cross-section including the central pulley axis (9) is provided with a convex curvature having a radius of curvature (R10) that decreases in radially outward direction and the cone surface (10) of the pulley sheaves (4, 5) of the driven pulley (2) in a cross-section including the central pulley axis (9) is provided with a convex curvature having a radius of curvature (R10) that increases in radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Arjan Van Der Leest
  • Patent number: 8490266
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a driving belt, which can measure and adjust an endplay of the driving belt including a ring and elements to improve productivity of the driving belt, the method including: obtaining a correlation among a circumferential length of the ring, a total weight of the elements fastened by the ring, and a range of a movement of the fastened elements in the length direction of the ring; determining a range of a required element weight as a total weight of the elements to be fastened by the ring, on the basis of the obtained correlation, a desired moving range of the element, and the length of the ring; feeding the elements in the amount within the range of the required element weight while measuring a total weight of the element being fed; and fastening the element fed at the element feeding by the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8337347
    Abstract: A method and device of assembling a driving belt, which can fit a ring into a recess of an element easily, and which can prevent the ring from being damaged when fitting the ring into the recess of the element. A driving belt, in which two rows of endless rings are accommodated parallel to each other in a recess of a plurality of elements interlinked annularly in a manner to situate the recess to open to an outer circumferential side, includes a guide face, which is formed on an end face of a protruding portion for holding the ring to prevent detachment of the ring from the recess. The guide face produces an inward component of a pushing force pushing one of the rings to one of the end faces, and the produced inward component of pushing force is applied to an outer lateral side of the pushed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8123641
    Abstract: A continuous variable transmission belt, comprising an annular continuous band comprising a body reinforced by a longitudinal armature and a plurality of friction plugs connected by coupling of shape with at least one of either an outer spine of the continuous band or an inner surface opposite to the outer spine with respect to the armature, the friction plugs comprising respectively a friction member adapted to cooperate with a pulley of the transmission and a connection member cooperating with the friction member to rigidly connect the friction plug to the continuous band. Each of the connecting members is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the friction members and presents an abutting surface against either of the outer spine or the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Giuseppe Costa, Sergio Lolli
  • Patent number: 8109851
    Abstract: A driving belt and method of assembling the same, which can fit rings with elements easily even at a final phase of fitting work. In a driving belt, two rows of endless rings are accommodated and held parallel to each other in a recess of a plurality of elements interlinked annularly in a manner to situate the recess to open to an outer circumferential side and in a manner to pivot with respect to the adjoining elements, and the element includes plural types of elements having different configurations of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8100797
    Abstract: A method for forming a convex tilting zone (23) at a main body-surface (11) of a transverse element for application in a push belt for a continuously variable transmission comprises the step of applying a die (30) that is placed against the main body surface (11) under pressure. However, the die (30) is pressed against the main body surface (11) just outside of an area where the tilting zone (23) needs to be formed. By applying the die (30), a recessed area (27) is arranged in the main body surface (11), wherein retraction of the material of the transverse element takes place along an upper edge (28) of this area (27). A retraction area that is obtained in this manner is suitable to function as tilting zone (23). An important advantage of the application of the described method is that the pressure that is exerted on the die (30) may be considerably lower than the pressure that is required during conventional processes for forming a tilting zone (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lucas Hendricus Maria Prinsen
  • Patent number: 8062159
    Abstract: In a metal ring for a metal belt of a belt type continuously variable transmission, a relationship is established between a compressive residual stress of a metal ring of an innermost layer imparted by a nitriding treatment and a free state radius of the metal ring nondimensionalized by a minimum winding radius. In the relationship, the sum of a compressive residual stress acting on the inner peripheral face of the metal ring, a compressive stress due to flexure and a contact stress does not exceed the elastic deformation limit of the metal ring. The maximum compressive stress of the metal ring does not become excessive, and an abrasion resistance of the surfaces of the metal ring is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kanehara, Toru Yagasaki
  • Patent number: 8016706
    Abstract: A plate-link chain composed of a plurality of plates that form plate sets, which are connected to an adjacent plate set with a hinge joint. At least some of the plates have a stopping means that limits bending of the plate-link chain in a direction opposite to the bend direction the chain undergoes when it passes over and around a pulley or a gear with which the chain comes into contacting engagement when the pulley or gear rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura, Martin Vornehm, Aurel Vietoris
  • Patent number: 7966798
    Abstract: Device for stretching a transmission chain closed in itself and comprising pairs of elongated rocker elements mutually coupled by links, said rocker elements being destined for a torque transferring cooperation with the pulley sheaves of a pulley sheave transmission, and comprising a first and a second supporting surface which support a chain to be treated over an angle of an arc and having an adjustable mutual distance to generate tensile stresses in the chain supported thereby, in which the first supporting surface is freely rotatable accommodated between the first ends of two distant frame parts, the second supporting surface is freely rotatable accommodated on an auxiliary carrier between the two frame parts, said carrier being provided with two opposite stubby shafts, protruding there from and of which the axis lies at a distance from the axis of rotation of the second supporting surface which is rotatably supported by said auxiliary carrier and lies near the second end of the frame parts while of said s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Gear Chain Industrial B.V.
    Inventor: Jacobus Hubertus Maria Van Rooij
  • Patent number: 7963873
    Abstract: A transmission belt is formed by annularly arranging elements including a plate-shaped first element and a plate-shaped second element, and annularly connecting the elements using a ring. The first element includes a first edge surface on which a burr is formed when the first element is formed by a press operation. The second element includes a second edge surface on which a burr is formed when the second element is formed by the press operation. The first and second edge surfaces face in directions opposite to each other in a direction in which the elements are arranged. The first edge surface includes a first rocking edge that contacts the element adjacent to the first element when the elements are arranged in an arc. The second edge surface includes a second rocking edge that contacts the element adjacent to the second element when the elements are arranged in the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7892126
    Abstract: The present invention is a transverse element for a drive belt for a continuously variable transmission. The drive belt includes two endless carriers, wherein transverse elements are continuously arranged along the entire length of the carriers. The transverse elements are on both sides provided with recesses for at least partially receiving the carriers. Furthermore, the transverse elements include supporting surfaces for supporting the carriers, as well as pulley sheave contact surfaces for the purpose of contact between the transverse elements and pulley sheaves of the continuously variable transmission. A convex transition region which has two parts having different curvature radii is situated between a supporting surface and a pulley sheave contact surface, wherein a first curvature radius of a first part at the side of the supporting surface is larger than a second curvature radius of a second part at the side of the pulley sheave contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Bosch Transmission Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Hendrikus van Lith, Johannes Haaije van der Kamp, Jeroen Herman van Liempd
  • Patent number: 7882689
    Abstract: In the state where plural sheets of link plates which are single parts are laminated, tension for widening a distance between through-holes is loaded by a pair of pins which are inserted through the through-holes of the link plates so as to load pretension serving as a predetermined compressive residual stress on the link plates. Subsequently, the pair of pins are extracted from the link plates. Consequently, connection members are inserted through the corresponding through-holes of the plurality of link plates so as to assemble a chain with an endless shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Kozue Matsumoto, Kazuo Rokkaku
  • Patent number: 7867121
    Abstract: A metal V-belt includes a plurality of metal elements supported by a metal ring. The metal ring includes front and rear main surfaces, a pair of left and right slots that receive the metal ring therein, the slots being defined between a saddle surface and an ear-part bottom surface. A protrusion is provided on one of the front and rear main surfaces, and a concavity is provided in the other of the front and rear main surfaces. A clearance defined between an outermost peripheral surface of the metal ring and the ear-part bottom surface of the metal element is set to a value that at an exit of a driven pulley, contact of the innermost peripheral surface of the metal ring with the saddle surface of the metal element, and contact of the protrusion of a succeeding metal element and the concavity of a preceding metal element is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Yagasaki, Hideaki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7846049
    Abstract: A belt (metal V belt) has a number of elements held by a ring in an endless shape and aligned in a peripheral direction of the ring. The element includes a head portion, a neck portion and a body portion. The body portion has a V face brought into contact with a drive pulley and a driven pulley and left and right locking edge portions wrapped with the ring and disposed on an inner peripheral side of the ring. The head portion is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the ring and having an ear portion extended to left and to right sides to be opposed to the locking edge portion. The neck portion integrally connects the body portion and the head portion. Front faces of the ear portion, the neck portion and the locking edge portion of the element are formed with contact portions capable of bringing the contiguous elements into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kanehara, Toru Yagasaki, Motonori Ohnuki
  • Patent number: 7837583
    Abstract: In a silent chain, link plates having two different back heights are arranged so that V-shaped oil guiding walls, opening in the direction of chain travel, are formed on the back of the chain that comes into sliding contact with the shoe of a chain guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Takashi Tohara
  • Patent number: 7806794
    Abstract: A power transmission chain includes a plurality of links, a plurality of pins, and a plurality of interpieces. By pressing upper and lower edges of the pin into upper and lower edges of a through hole, the pin is connected to the link. The end of the pin which is located at a front end side when the pin is pressed is formed in a shape into which the upper and lower edges of the pin are pressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Fuse
  • Patent number: 7670241
    Abstract: In a continuously variable transmission metal belt, a lateral-most projecting portion of a side edge of a metal ring assembly wherein each metal ring is located between a radially central plane and a radially inner peripheral surface of the metal ring. A contact point in which the projecting portion abuts against a V-face of a pulley is closer to the radially central plane than to the radially inner peripheral surface. Moreover, as the metal rings are laminated on one another, recesses are formed between the side edges of the adjacent metal rings to retain oil therein, which lubricates the sliding faces of adjacent metal rings and enhances durability of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Aoyama, Toru Yagasaki, Manabu Murakami, Shigeru Kanehara
  • Patent number: 7648435
    Abstract: A belt-type continuously variable transmission (15) includes a primary sheave (29) having a pair of first clamp surfaces (37a, 37b), a secondary sheave (30) having a pair of second clamp surfaces (51a, 51b), and a belt (31) endlessly wound between both the sheaves (29, 30). The belt (31) has contact surfaces (58a, 58b) clamped between the first clamp surfaces (37a, 37b) and between the second clamp surfaces (51a, 51b). Powder (64) having infusibility as a friction enhancing material is held on at least one of the first clamp surfaces (37a, 37b) of the primary sheave (29), the second clamp surfaces (51a, 51b) of the secondary sheave (30), and the contact surfaces (58a, 58b) of the belt (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yousuke Ishida, Masaru Oosuga
  • Patent number: 7470204
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Andreas Triller, André Teubert
  • Publication number: 20080274848
    Abstract: A drive belt for continuously variable transmission for motor vehicles is provided with two pulleys, each including two substantially conical pulley sheaves, between which the drive belt can be held at a variable radial position, which drive belt is provided with transverse elements (32), which on both lateral sides are provided with a flank (40) that is intended for frictional contact with the pulleys, and which, at least in its height direction, i.e. radially relative to the pulleys (1, 2), is provided with a convex curvature, in which flank (40) one or more grooves (41) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicants: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, VAN DOORNE'S TRANSMISSIE B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Johannes Wilhelmus Van Der Leest, Cornelis Johannes Maria Van Der Meer, Paulus Adrianus Josephus Maria Faes, Mark Van Drogen
  • Publication number: 20080254927
    Abstract: A power transmission chain used in a power transmission device of the present invention includes: a plurality of link plates having through holes; and a plurality of pin members that are inserted through said through holes and connect said plurality of link plates to one another. An amount of skew in a chain width direction per chain length of 200 mm is 1 to 2 mm in the power transmission chain. Thus, even if misalignment occurs in the power transmission chain, occurrence of abnormal wear and reduction in transmission efficiency can be effectively prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Shinji Yasuhara, Shigeo Kamamoto, Nobuki Fukui
  • Publication number: 20080229581
    Abstract: Sheave surfaces 11a to 14a of a primary pulley 2 and a secondary pulley 3 contacting a V-belt 4 which is looped around the pulleys 2, 3 are provided with an initial wear height at which a reaction film between the V-belt 4 and the sheave surfaces 11a to 14a does not become worn and a sufficient oil keeping depth to promote generation of the reaction film such that metallic contact does not occur between the sheave surfaces 11a to 14a and the V-belt 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Yasuo Ito, Yoshiaki Katou, Makoto Yoshida, Masanori Yamazaki, Masami Matsubara, Toshiaki Segawa
  • Patent number: 7351172
    Abstract: A composite driving belt provided with a carrier and a plurality of transverse elements assembled slidably thereon, the carrier including one or more bands, preferably composed of a plurality of endless metal bands disposed radially around each other, each element being provided with a radially outward directed carrier contact plane for contacting a radial inner contact plane of the carrier while in operation, wherein the contacting plane of the transverse element is shaped by an substantially flat surface, while the inner contacting face of the carrier contacting the contact plane the element has a profiled surface, the combined roughness Ra? of both surfaces being more than 0.6 ?m, preferably over 0.75 ?m. In particular the roughness and shape of the relevant contacting faces of a belt are adapted to achieve a boundary lubricating condition, while the lubricating oil is defined to meet the requirements of prohibiting the occurrence of scratch, at least reducing the urging thereof considerably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Van Doorne's Transmissie B.V.
    Inventors: Arjen Brandsam, Mark Van Drogen, Sebastiaan Pieter Hendricus Jozef Bongers