Link Including Integral Surfaces Forming Inwardly Opening Groove (e.g., Silent Chain, Etc.) Patents (Class 474/212)
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Patent number: 7758461Abstract: The present invention relates to a tooth plate for an inverted tooth chain with two hinge openings spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and a tooth plate contour with two teeth arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction, the teeth each being limited by an outer flank and an inner flank. Here, at least one section of the tooth plate contour is shaved, where the ends of the shaved section comprise an overcut. This overcut is arranged in a low-stress area of the tooth plate contour. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for the manufacture of such a tooth plate with the pre-punching and shaving of a section of the tooth plate contour, wherein the overcut at least one end is arranged in a low-stress area of the tooth plate contour. In the subsequent normal punching of the non-shaved areas, the normally punched area of the tooth plate contour and the at least one shaved section meet in the area of the overcut at an angle to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Erwin Feld, Andreas Bongard
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Patent number: 7704175Abstract: A method of manufacturing a link plate for a roller chain, and the resulting link plate in which (1) the link plate has a shape comprising a pair of right and left pin holes, a pair of right and left half arcs, which are spaced outwardly from the pin holes respectively, and a pair of upper and lower straight line portions connecting both ends of the pair of right and left half arcs. There are shaved lengths along the pair of upper and lower straight line portions extending into the half arcs, the shaved length extending between the outermost positions of both ends of said pin holes.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Toshihiko Miyazawa, Toshifumi Satoh
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Patent number: 7695074Abstract: The present invention generally relates to braking systems for all-terrain vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to hand and foot actuated braking control systems for all-terrain vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Polaris Industries, Inc.Inventor: Harry Pongo
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Patent number: 7691020Abstract: In a roller or bushing chain transmission a standard roller or bushing chain having a uniform chain pitch meshes with a sprocket having at least two different tooth form pitches.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Shunji Sakura, Akira Hirai, Masatoshi Sonoda
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Patent number: 7682273Abstract: Power transmission chains (10, 40, 60) which are suitable for automotive uses as well as other uses and which have a reduced susceptibility to wear and corrosion, in which such chains (10, 40, 60) are constructed to include a plurality of sets (12, 14) of links (11, 13) joined at overlapped ends (11a, 13a) thereof by a pivot (16) including at least one ceramic joint component (16), such as a pivot means (16). Such chains (10) also include means (18a, 18b) to drivingly engage sprocket teeth (37) of a sprocket drive (35).Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Mott, Timothy J. Ledvina, James Wyckoff
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Publication number: 20100004083Abstract: The invention is related to a toothed chain with alternating inner and outer chain links each joined by means of a chain joint, wherein the inner chain links comprise at least one inner plate and at least two joint bushes running perpendicularly through the same, the outer chain links comprise at least two outer plates and at least two joint pins running perpendicularly through the same, and to form a chain joint, one joint pin of the outer chain link each extends through a joint bush of the inner chain link, and at least one inner plate of the inner chain link and/or at least one outer plate of the outer chain link is embodied as a toothed plate with each two teeth defined by an outer flank and an inner flank each.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Bongard, Volker Hirschmann, Lutz Welke
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Patent number: 7641578Abstract: There is provided a double-face driving silent chain wherein the size of each inner link plate of an exterior driving link train to a back face thereof is set to be equal to or greater than the size of each link plate of an interior driving link train. Thereby, inner side planes of the back face of the inner link plate abut against the both side planes of an interior driving sprocket and guide and prevent the silent chain from engaging with the sprocket in twist. All the link plates, other than the inner link plates of the exterior driving link train, have the same shape when seen from the side and the outermost link plate of the interior driving link train is thin as compared to the other link plates.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsui, Masahiro Nagae
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Publication number: 20090149288Abstract: In a silent chain having interleaved guide rows and joint rows, guide plates at the outer sides of the guide rows are connected by engagement pins which extend through overlapping recesses formed on the outer flanks of the guide row plates, and on the inner flanks of the joint row plates. The engagement pins contact sprocket teeth before the outer flanks of the guide row plates contact the sprocket teeth. Cutouts formed in the guide plates adjacent the engagement pins allow the guide plates to deform and thereby absorb the impact imparted to the engagement pins by the sprocket teeth.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Masatoshi Sonoda, Takayuki Morimoto
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Patent number: 7497795Abstract: In an endless silent chain composed of alternating guide link rows and joint link rows connected by connecting pins, each guide link row is composed of a stack of three, centrally located, link plates and two outer guide plates, and each joint link row is composed of two pairs of link plates in abutting, side-by-side relationship. The pairs of link plates of the joint link rows extend into the spaces between the guide plates and the centrally located stack of each of two adjacent guide link rows.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Takashi Tohara, Akira Hirai
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Publication number: 20090054184Abstract: A transmission device (1) of a walking type self-traveling lawn mower (4) in which the reliable transmission of a rotating power is achieved as in the case of a shaft drive system by solving the problem of the durability of the transmission belt of conventional transmission devices while basically adopting the transmission device of a belt drive system. The transmission device (1) comprises a chain drive mechanism (2) and a rotating direction changing mechanism (3). The chain drive mechanism (2) is constituted by winding a transmission chain (23) around a drive sprocket (21) fitted to an output shaft (411) and rotating horizontally and a driven sprocket (22) connected to the rotating direction changing mechanism (3) and rotating horizontally.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: KAAZ CORPORATIONInventor: Shin-ichi Sakai
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Publication number: 20090054187Abstract: A chain drive is provided including a plurality of shafts (2, 4, 5), which are connected to the drive, each having one sprocket (3, 6, 7), and a chain (8) which is guided over the sprockets (3, 6, 7). At least one sprocket (3) is non-circular in order to reduce the chain forces which result from the disturbance vibrations introduced into the drive (1). The chain (8) is formed of links (9, 10, 11) which are connected to one another by pin-like connecting elements (15) and which have connection apertures (12, 13, 14), and the connection apertures (12, 13, 14) of all the links (9, 10, 11) are normally punched.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KGInventor: Rainer Pflug
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Publication number: 20090048047Abstract: In an inner link rank 9 of a silent chain before pre-stress is applied, hole pitches of outer link plates 37 are shortened as compared to those of inner link plates 38 and 39 (P 17<P18<P19), so that the hole pitches of the respective link plates are plastically deformed and are substantially lined up. Although the hole pitches of the respective link plates are substantially lined up after when the pre-stress is applied, the outer link plates in a width direction in the inner link rank has high fatigue strength by residual stress, so that the wear resistant performance of the chain may be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: Masahiro Nagae, Nobuyuki Matsui
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Publication number: 20090036245Abstract: In a double-sided engagement type silent chain in the form of an endless loop, the outermost link plates of the link rows whose outermost plates are not fixed to the chain's connecting pins, have teeth protruding toward the outside of the loon, and are paired in side-by-side relationship with adjacent inner link plates whose teeth protrude toward the inside of the loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Toshitaka Ogo, Tomonori Yoshimura, Kenichi Nagao, Shouta Miyanaga
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Patent number: 7476170Abstract: In a double-sided silent chain, the backs of the outermost link plates, which have their teeth protruding in one direction, are higher than the backs of the inner link plates, which have their teeth protruding in the opposite direction. The backs of the outer link plates adjacent the outermost link plates may also be higher than the backs of the inner link plates, and are preferably equal to the heights of the backs of the outermost link plates. The outermost link plates and their adjacent outer link plates are preferably of the outer tooth contact/outer tooth seating type.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Toshitaka Ogo, Toshifumi Sato
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Patent number: 7472539Abstract: A link plate for a plate-link chain that is composed of a plurality of chain links that include link plates, wherein adjacent chain links are hingedly connected with each other by connectors received in openings of the link plates. The link plate is a plate member having a predetermined thickness and a pair of spaced openings. Web regions between an outer edge section of the plate and an adjacent plate opening have a width that is less than about 0.8 times the predetermined thickness of the plate member.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Schaeffler KGInventor: Joachim Spö{umlaut over ( )}rrer
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Publication number: 20090000852Abstract: A chain link for a silent-type endless chain comprising a plate member having opposing first and second surfaces defining two apertures therethrough and two toes joined at a root. Each toe has an asymmetrical profile defined by a first flank joined to a second flank at a crest wherein the first flanks have a high-pressure involute angle and the second flanks have a low-pressure involute angle that is distinct from the high-pressure involute angle. The first flanks are oriented in a first direction and configured to engage with a plurality of asymmetrical sprocket teeth to transmit power in a first direction. The second flanks are oriented in a second direction distinct from the first and configured to engage with the plurality of asymmetrical sprocket teeth to transmit power in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Surendar Shawn Paul
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Publication number: 20080312019Abstract: In a silent chain transmission, a silent chain composed of uniform link plates meshes with a sprocket having two or three kinds of teeth randomly distributed around its circumference. The teeth have a common tooth gap bottom diameter, and a uniform angular spacing, but have different heights and different tooth forms.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.Inventors: Toshitaka Ogo, Kenichi Nagao, Toyonaga Saitoh
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Patent number: 7437870Abstract: A chain link plate includes an elliptical plate body having opposite first and second surfaces, and two mounting holes spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the plate body and extending from the first surface to the second surface. The plate body has a central longitudinal line that passes through centers of the mounting holes, and two transverse lines that pass respectively through the centers of the mounting holes and that are perpendicular to the central longitudinal line. The plate body has an intermediate juncture portion defined between the transverse lines, and opposite end portions integrally and respectively connected to opposite ends of the intermediate juncture portion. The intermediate juncture portion has a largest width greater than that of each of the end portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: KMC Chain Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Daniel Wu
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Publication number: 20080227575Abstract: Disclosed is a chain which includes a plurality of link plates 2, each of which has a pair of pin holes 4 and a plurality of connecting pins 5, each of which extends through a plurality of the pin hole 4 for connecting a plurality of adjacent link plates 2, wherein an inner circumference 6 of one of the pair of pin holes 4 includes a lower-hardness surface 6B and a higher-hardness surface 6A which is harder than the lower-hardness surface 6B, and wherein a distance from the other one of the pair of pin holes 4 to the higher-hardness surface 6A is longer than that to the lower-hardness surface 6B.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira FUJIWARA
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Patent number: 7419449Abstract: A low friction roller chain, bushing chain or silent chain is composed of links in which at least some of the link plates have convex and/or grooved edge surfaces adapted to slide on the surface of a chain guide.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Takashi Tohara, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Toshiyuki Nakajima
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Publication number: 20080194367Abstract: The present invention relates to a tooth plate for an inverted tooth chain with two hinge openings spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and a tooth plate contour with two teeth arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction, the teeth each being limited by an outer flank and an inner flank. Here, at least one section of the tooth plate contour is shaved, where the ends of the shaved section comprise an overcut. This overcut is arranged in a low-stress area of the tooth plate contour. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for the manufacture of such a tooth plate with the pre-punching and shaving of a section of the tooth plate contour, wherein the overcut at least one end is arranged in a low-stress area of the tooth plate contour. In the subsequent normal punching of the non-shaved areas, the normally punched area of the tooth plate contour and the at least one shaved section meet in the area of the overcut at an angle to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Erwin Feld, Andreas Bongard
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Patent number: 7404778Abstract: A hybrid roller/silent chain of the present invention has the wear resistance of a roller chain combined with the noise performance of a silent chain. This is accomplished with the use of transverse load-bearing elements that allow increased bearing area for the articulating members of the chain by allowing load to be transmitted through both the inside and outside diameter of the element in the same plane. In some embodiments, the transverse load-bearing elements are bushings. In other embodiments, the elements are projections extending from non-guide row inside links.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventor: Roger P. Butterfield
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Publication number: 20080167151Abstract: In a link plate for a silent chain, outer flanks of the teeth have a protruding surface and a retracted surface, the protruding surfac and the retracted surface being connected by a step, and the protruding surface being farther than the retraced surface from the back of the link plate. Both the protruding surface and the retracted surface comprise straight portions, and, preferably, the protruding surface is shaved, whereas the retracted surface is not shaved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Yoshinori Yonehara, Masatoshi Chadou
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Patent number: 7329198Abstract: In a silent chain composed of interleaved rows of link plates held by connecting pins secured to guide plates disposed along the sides of the chain, the guide plates are formed with protrusions, and are deformed so that they exert a spring action on the rows of link plates through the protrusions, pressing the link plates against one another to increase the frictional contact between the link plates, and thereby reduce vibration and vibration noise.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventor: Kazufumi Kotani
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Publication number: 20080020882Abstract: A low friction roller chain, bushing chain or silent chain is composed of links in which at least some of the link plates have convex and/or grooved edge surfaces adapted to slide on the surface of a chain guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Takashi Tohara, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Toshiyuki Nakajima
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Publication number: 20080015070Abstract: Two kinds of pins having rolling contact surfaces of different shapes are used as first pins. A recess is formed at that portion of the first pin disposed between a chain outer periphery-side edge portion thereof and the rolling contact surface thereof. A straight portion is formed at that portion of the second pin disposed between a chain outer periphery-side edge portion thereof and the rolling contact surface thereof. With this construction, the two kinds of pins can be easily discriminated from each other from their appearance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshihisa Miura
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Publication number: 20070161445Abstract: In a silent chain, back surfaces of the link plates of a guide link row, a non-guide link row, or both, are formed with concave, arc-shaped portions having radii of curvature shorter than the minimum radius of curvature of the chain-contacting region of a chain guide shoe. The minimum height of the back surface of link plates having concave back portions is greater than the minimum distance between the inner tooth flanks and the nearest pin holes, and the minimum distance between the outer tooth flanks and the nearest pin holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Applicant: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Kenichi Nagao, Tatsuya Konishi
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Patent number: 7056248Abstract: A Hybrid Roller/Silent chain that has the wear resistance of a roller chain combined with the noise performance of a silent chain. This is accomplished with the use of bushings that allow increased bearing area for the articulating members of the chain, specifically by allowing load to be transmitted through both the inside and outside diameter of the bushing in the same plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2003Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventor: Roger P. Butterfield
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Patent number: 7048665Abstract: A chain having a plurality of inside links and guide links. The plurality of inside links each have a pair of apertures and are interleaved and connected to form rows. The plurality of guide links each have a pair of apertures and are placed outside of alternate rows of interleaved inside links to form guide rows. Connecting pins are received in the apertures and extend across the rows of the chain securing the links together. Spacing elements are found on opposite side of the chain, specifically between the guide links and the adjacent outermost inside links. The spacing elements act to maintain a spaced relationship between each of the guide link sand adjacent outermost inside links. At least one of the spacing elements on one side of the chain is a spring link holding the inside links in compressive frictional contact therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Tim J. Ledvina, Dennis J. Bubel, Mark E. Michaels, Mark A. Giovannini, Roger P. Butterfield
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Patent number: 7048664Abstract: A link plate for silent chains includes a pair of teeth, each formed of an inside flank and an outside flank and a pair of pin apertures. A moment of force around a pin M=F×Lo, where F is a force applied by a sprocket tooth against the outside flank, and Lo is a length of a perpendicular drawn from a center O of a pin aperture to an action line of the force, is decreased by decreasing Lo. The link plate engages a sprocket tooth on an intersection between a straight line n and a flank, line n and the direction of a central line connecting each O forming a pressure angle ?, and contacting a circle having a center O and a radius r<0.25×P, where P is a pin aperture pitch. Also, ? of the outside flank satisfies an inequality, 32°??<34°, to lessen the force.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: BorgWarner Morse TEC Japan K.K.Inventor: Tetsuji Kotera
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Patent number: 7048666Abstract: A silent chain power transmitting apparatus has an endless link chain having a plurality of link plates (11A,11B,11C, . . . ) connected together, and sprocket wheels (20). Each of an inside flank (13) and an outside flank (14) of each link plate (11A,11B,11C, . . . ) is profiled by a circular shape of a same radius (?) of curvature whose individual center (d1, . . . ) of curvature is on a chain pitch line (PL). Each tooth (22) of the sprocket wheel (20) is profiled by a circular shape of the same radius(?) of curvature, which is meshed with corresponding inside flank (13) and outside flank (14) of each link plate (11A,11B,11C, . . . ). A power of the sprocket wheel (20) is transmitted to the link plates (11A,11B,11C, . . . ) in linear contact (or surface contact) momentarily, not in point contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeyoshi Nagata
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Patent number: 6969332Abstract: A silent chain comprises a plurality of link plates, each having a pair of tooth parts and pin holes, stacked in the thickness direction as well as in the length direction and linked together using linking pins. Guide links are provided on the outermost sides of the link plates and are press-fit to the ends of linking pins. The guide links and link plates are relatively positioned to reduce wear on a chain guide surface by causing either the guide links or the link plates to substantially contact the guide surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive K.K.Inventors: Naoji Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Takeda, Akio Matsuda
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Patent number: 6939260Abstract: A chain assembly drivingly engages a plurality of sprocket teeth that extend radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain. The chain assembly includes a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other to form an endless loop, wherein each of the plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth during rotation of the sprocket in a first driving direction. A plurality of flexible links are each operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of rigid links for engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth prior to the driving engagement with the driving surface, wherein each of the plurality of flexible links are elastically deformable for dampening noise due to the driving engagement between the plurality of sprocket teeth and the plurality of rigid links.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Tesma International Inc.Inventors: Cheng Mu, David Mark Pascoe, Jianwen Li
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Patent number: 6908407Abstract: A silent chain transmission mechanism includes a sprocket and a silent chain having link interleaved link rows each composed of plural randomly selected link plates and connected together by connecting pins. The outside dimensions of the link plate are smaller than the outside dimensions of a link, but the outside dimensions of the link match the design reference dimensions of a link plate capable of proper meshing with the sprocket. The requirement for manufacturing accuracy and the effort required for assembly of the silent chain are reduced. However, the silent chain travels on the sprocket on the chain traveling line so that improved noise, vibration and friction properties, and traveling stability are realized.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventor: Toyonaga Saitoh
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Patent number: 6872158Abstract: In a transmission having a silent chain meshing with a sprocket, each link plate of the chain includes inside engaging surfaces and outside engaging surfaces having the same shape as that of a tooth profile of a hob cutter for shaping the sprocket teeth. The sprocket, which engages the outside engaging surfaces of the link plates when the chain is seated on the sprocket teeth, includes tooth head portions shaped to avoid contact interference with inwardly curved portions of the link plates. The silent chain transmission device controls the engagement time of the inside engaging surface, and thereby decreases vibration noise and impact noise, and prevents stress concentration and wear loss on the inside engaging surface, the inwardly curved inside portion of the link plate, and the tooth head portion of the sprocket, thereby improving durability, making assembly easier, and improving production accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventor: Toyonaga Saitoh
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Publication number: 20040214673Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothed chain comprising plates interconnected on chain joints, in particular tooth plates, each of the chain joints comprising a pin bolt and at least two substantially directly adjacently arranged tooth plates whose aligned joint openings surround a respective pin bolt. The wear characteristics of such a toothed chain shall be improved. To this end, the edge portions of the joint openings are rounded at the opposite sides of at least the outer ones of the adjacently arranged tooth plates for a wear-reducing nestling of the pin bolt in case of load. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of producing a toothed chain.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: Joh. Winklhofer & Soehne GmbH Und. Co. KGInventor: Peter Bachmair
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Patent number: 6805646Abstract: In a double-sided meshing type silent chain, guide plates each having a flat back face formed on one side thereof and a pair of pin-accommodation holes formed therein are disposed at opposite widthwise ends of the chain with the pin-accommodation holes press-fit with connecting pins which are each adapted to articulately connect two adjacent rows of link plates with each other in an interleaved fashion. The guide plates do not take part in meshing engagement with a sprocket but operate to guide the travel of the chain stably without causing flattering or vibration. The guide plates further serves as a strengthening member of the chain.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Nobuto Kozakura, Toshifumi Sato
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Patent number: 6796920Abstract: In a transmission comprising an endless silent chain and a sprocket the inside tooth faces of the link plates of the chain are identical to tooth profiles, arranged axially, of a hob cutter for forming teeth of the sprocket. The inside and outside tooth faces also satisfy Hi=Ho+Hs, where Hi is the distance from a pin center line Lp to a pitch line Li of the inside tooth faces, Ho is a distance from the pin center line to a pitch line Lo of the outside tooth faces, and Hs is the amplitude of polygonal motion of the chain. Each link plate also has a concave bottom surface between its teeth to avoid interference with edges of the involute teeth arising due to the chain polygonal motion amplitude when the outside tooth faces are brought into meshing engagement with the involute teeth and become seated thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Kazumasa Matsuno, Shigekazu Fukuda, Takayuki Funamoto, Yoshinori Iwasaki, Toyonaga Saito, Masatoshi Sonoda, Kenshi Suzuki
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Publication number: 20040176201Abstract: Power transmission chains (10, 40, 60) which are suitable for automotive uses as well as other uses and which have a reduced susceptibility to wear and corrosion, in which such chains (10, 40, 60) are constructed to include a plurality of sets (12, 14) of links (11, 13) joined at overlapped ends (11a, 13a) thereof by a pivot (16) including at least one ceramic joint component (16), such as a pivot means (16). Such chains (10) also include means (18a, 18b) to drivingly engage sprocket teeth (37) of a sprocket drive (35).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Philip J. Mott, Timothy J. Ledvina, James Wyckoff
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Publication number: 20040166978Abstract: The present invention provides a silent chain that can decrease noise and improve oscillation performance. A silent chain 1 includes a plurality of link plates interlaced in a thickness and length direction and guide links 4, 4′ disposed on the outside edge portions of the link plates, where the link plates and the guide links are connected by connecting pins. The guide link 4 has a yield load lower than that of the guide link 4′. These guide links 4, 4′ are located at a random pattern along the length of the chain. During operation, at the onset of the engagement with a sprocket tooth, contact with an inside flank of a link plate varies aperiodically. When the engagement proceeds and an outside flank of the link plate seats on the sprocket, seating at the sprocket tooth varies aperiodically.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: BorgWarner Morse TEC Japan K.K.Inventors: Akio Matsuda, Naoji Sakamoto, Yasuaki Nishimori
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Patent number: 6746353Abstract: This invention relates to a guide bar for a drive chain, provided with two orifices for passage of a pintle pin, each orifice being substantially triangular in shape, with substantially identical edges, in the form of arc of circle and concave. The bar is provided with a recess which extends, from an outer edge of the bar, in the direction of an opposite edge, between the afore-mentioned orifices. The bar comprises, on either side of the recess, two series of two convex edges in the form of an arc of circle, each of these convex edges being centred on the geometrical centre of one of the concave edges of a triangular orifice.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Sachs Automotive France SAInventors: Jean-Louis Albertin, Jean-Luc Teruel, Jean-Paul Lethy
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Patent number: 6743134Abstract: In a silent chain, wear of the connecting pins and bushings, and wear elongation of the chain itself, are suppressed by the formation of through holes in the approximate centers of the teeth of toothed link elements for relieving strains in the inner peripheries of the bushings due to press-fitting of the bushings into the toothed link elements. The shortest distances between the bushing hole on the one hand, and the through-hole, the outside tooth surface and the inside tooth surface, on the other hand, are made substantially equal to one another. The through holes also reduce the weights of the individual link elements and contribute to a reduction in overall weight of the chain.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Isamu Okabe, Toshifumi Sato
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Publication number: 20040097314Abstract: A silent chain for preventing chordal action and conducting a smooth wrapping around a sprocket comprising a plurality of link plates that are arranged in lateral and longitudinal directions and pivotably connected by connecting pins. Each of the link plates has a pair of teeth and pin apertures into which the connecting pins are inserted. Each of the teeth are formed of an inside flank and an outside flank. The inside flank is formed of a first circular arc on the addendum side and a second circular arc on the dedendum side. Inequalities, R1≧2*P and R1>>R2, are satisfied where the radius of curvature of the first circular arc is R1, the radius of curvature of the second circular arc is R2, and the chain pitch is P.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Applicant: BorgWarner Morse TEC Japan K.K.Inventor: Tetsuji Kotera
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Patent number: 6733410Abstract: A wear-elongation resistant silent chain includes guide link rows and articular link rows articulately connected together in an alternate fashion along the length of the chain by connecting pins inserted through respective pin holes of guide plates, guide link plates and articular link plates, with guide plate retainers secured to respective both ends of the connecting pins so as to keep the guide plates in position against removal from the connecting plates. The guide link plate and the articular link plates have different thicknesses so dimensioned as to balance the tensile strength of the guide link plate in one guide link row and the tensile strength of the articular link plates in the adjacent articular link row connected together by one of the connecting pins, thereby suppressing bending of the connecting pin. By thus suppressing the bending of connecting pin, wear elongation of the chain is prevented from occurring during power transmitting operation of the chain.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventor: Toyonaga Saito
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Patent number: 6689003Abstract: A limited articulation chain design that prevents or reduces chain jumping at a given amount of chain slack comprises a chain having a plurality of alternating inner and outer links having ends interconnected by pins, wherein the ends of the outer links are partially or substantially squared on the sprocket side, such that the ends of adjacent outer links limit articulation of the links around the pins to a predetermined radius, by interfering with the adjacent outer links at the predetermined radius.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, Brian R. Scotti, George L. Markley
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Patent number: 6685589Abstract: A silent chain is provided with strength and elongation of respective link rows made uniform, elongation of every link made equal regardless of elastic and/or plastic deformation, and inexpensive production cost. The silent chain includes a first link row, a second link row, a connection pin and a pin stopper. Each of the first and second link rows consists of a guide plate and the same number of link plates whose shapes and sizes are the same. The first and second link rows are staggered in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and connected in alternating, interleaved relationship by connection pins. The guide plates and the link plates of the first and second link row are relatively rotatable to the connection pins. The first and second link rows are alternately arranged in mirror image symmetry.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Hiroshi Horie, Toyonaga Saito, Toshifumi Sato
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Publication number: 20030236145Abstract: A chain having a plurality of inside links and guide links. The plurality of inside links each have a pair of apertures and are interleaved and connected to form rows. The plurality of guide links each have a pair of apertures and are placed outside of alternate rows of interleaved inside links to form guide rows. Connecting pins are received in the apertures and extend across the rows of the chain securing the links together. Spacing elements are found on opposite side of the chain, specifically between the guide links and the adjacent outermost inside links. The spacing elements act to maintain a spaced relationship between each of the guide link sand adjacent outermost inside links. At least one of the spacing elements on one side of the chain is a spring link holding the inside links in compressive frictional contact therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2003Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Tim J. Ledvina, Dennis J. Bubel, Mark E. Michaels, Mark A. Giovannini, Roger P. Butterfield
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Patent number: 6666013Abstract: A chain which does not generate hydrogen brittleness is formed with components having improved wear resistance. At least one part of the chain, for example a surface, is covered with a diamond-like amorphous carbon coating (DLC). Further, metallic particles are dispersed into the diamond-like amorphous carbon coating.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Takerou Nakagawa, Shigeo Tamura
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Patent number: 6663522Abstract: A random arrangement type silent chain is provided, which restricts run-upon and reduces contact noise and vibration noise of the free span of the chain, and also restricts abnormal elongation and excessive load during power transmission. In the silent chain a first link plate, which begins to engage with a sprocket tooth by its inner crotch and sits on the sprocket teeth by its outer flanks, and a second link plate, which engages with and sits on the sprocket teeth only by engagement with its outer flanks, are mixed and combined in an endless chain in the longitudinal direction. The mixture ratio of the first link plates to the total link plates is less than 50%, at least one or more of the second link plates are arranged before and after each of the first link plates, and the number of second link plates arranged before and after each first link plate varies randomly along the length of the chain.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventor: Hiroshi Horie
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Publication number: 20030216207Abstract: A chain assembly drivingly engages a plurality of sprocket teeth that extend radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain. The chain assembly includes a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other to form an endless loop, wherein each of the plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth during rotation of the sprocket in a first driving direction. A plurality of flexible links are each operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of rigid links for engaging each of the plurality of sprocket teeth prior to the driving engagement with the driving surface, wherein each of the plurality of flexible links are elastically deformable for dampening noise due to the driving engagement between the plurality of sprocket teeth and the plurality of rigid links.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Inventors: Cheng Mu, David Mark Pascoe, Jianwen Li