Plural Connector Or Bearing Members With Concave Surface Abut Convex Surface Or Surfaces On Another Connector Or Bearing Member Patents (Class 474/217)
  • Patent number: 8776491
    Abstract: There is provided a lifting engagement chain unit that autonomously erects a pair of engagement chains, ensures engagement accuracy between link plates and improves buckling strength. A plurality of buckling restricting attachment plates is arrayed along an outer surface of the engagement chains in a chain longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Michio Oitaka, Takahisa Ando
  • Patent number: 8708851
    Abstract: With a view to suppressing fretting in a power transmission chain, when a chain straight-line area is seen from a chain widthwise direction W, a flat portion 18 of a first pin 3 of the chain extends in an inclination direction D. A point of intersection P0 is formed by an imaginary line L1 which passes through a center position of an overall height h of the first pin 3 along the inclination direction D intersecting the flat portion. A point of intersection P2 is formed by an imaginary line L2 which passes through a contact portion A0 and which extends in a chain advancing direction X intersecting the flat portion 18 between the point of intersection P0 and one end P1 of the flat portion. When assuming that a distance between the point of intersection P0 and the point of intersection P2 is referred to as h1 and a distance between the point of intersection P2 and the one end P1 of the flat portion 18 is referred to as h2, 0.1·h1?h2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Tada, Shigeo Kamamoto
  • Patent number: 8398513
    Abstract: A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. The chain includes a plurality of link plates articulatingly connected with each other by rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain. The chain includes curved contact surfaces formed on the rocker members and on the link plates, along which the rocker members and link plates are in contact with each other to transmit force. The respective contact surfaces have a width that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain, and when considered in a side view running transversely to the width and in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain, they have an arc length. The contact surfaces have at least three regions along the arc length with different curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Simonov, Martin Vornehm, Andreas Triller, Marcus Junig, Olga Ispolatova
  • Patent number: 8328670
    Abstract: An engagement chain in which a buckling strength of a pair of engagement chains engaged with each other is improved without blocking engagement operations between inner tooth plates and between outer tooth plate. The chain includes inner tooth plates, bushes, outer tooth plates and connecting pins. Buckling limiting flat surfaces of adjoining plates are brought into surface contact with each other when opposing segments of the chain are integrated together by driving sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Tomoo Suko, Kohei Nakanishi, Tomoyuki Saji
  • 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: 7993229
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a power transmission chain capable of effectively reducing noises and a power transmission assembly using the same. In the power transmission chain including plural links each possessing through-holes and plural pins inserted through the through-holes for interconnecting the plural links, all the plural pins substantially have the same longitudinal length while the plural pins include plural types of pins which have mutually different rigidities against force acting in the pin longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a locus of contact position between the pin and a strip is defined by an involute of a circle. The pins and strips are combined to form two or more types of pairs which provide the involutes of base circles having different radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Kamamoto, Nobuki Fukui, Shinji Yasuhara, Kazuhisa Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7942772
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Sonoda, Takayuki Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20100140572
    Abstract: There is provided an engagement chain whose driving force per occupied space is increased, whose durability is improved by reducing stress in a direction of bending a connecting pin and whose engagement noise during driving is reduced. The engagement chain includes a large number of outer and inner link plates, each having hook-like portions, which are connected in a chain longitudinal direction by connecting pins, the large number of outer and inner link plates are connected flexibly without gap in the chain width direction while the back surfaces of the link plates opposite to the hook-like portions engage with driving sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Toshihiko AOKI
  • Patent number: 7658690
    Abstract: A plate link chain for a motor vehicle drive system. A number of link plates are hingedly connected by pairs of rocker members that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain. Curved contact surfaces are located on each of the rocker members and link plates, along which contact surfaces the rocker members and link plates contact each other to transmit power. The rocker members also include curved pitch surfaces along which rocker member pairs roll against each other to transmit power. The rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in the height direction and about a cross section plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain. Contact surfaces are provided on each of the upper and lower contact surface areas in the height direction of the rocker members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Michael Pichura, Martin Vornehm, Anton Simonov
  • Patent number: 7246699
    Abstract: A section of chain for conveying product along a material handling system includes a pin connecting a center link between two side links. The pin may be dialable or selectably positioned at the side links to control and adjust the wear surface of the pin relative to the chain links. The pin may have a rotationally non-symmetrical shaft portion to provide different wear surfaces that engage a center link of the section of chain. The different wear surfaces may be sized and shaped to accommodate wear at the wear surface of the center link. The shaft portion may include a rotationally non-symmetrical ball member or portion on the shaft portion to enhance flexibility of the section of chain. The pin may be dialed to the next position or wear surface in response to an output of a wear measurement device or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Frost Links, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C Frost, Jonathan M Rathbun, Ryan L Kastamo
  • Patent number: 6666013
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Takerou Nakagawa, Shigeo Tamura
  • Patent number: 6450911
    Abstract: A silent chain includes a number of interleaved rows of link plates articulately connected together by joint pins. Each of the link plates has a pair of teeth and a pair of pin holes. The link plate further has a tubular portion protruding continuously from one surface of the link plate and defining a peripheral surface of each of the pin holes. The tubular portion has a height substantially equal to the thickness of the link plate. The tubular portion increases the contact area between the plate and the joint pin and thus suppresses wear on the joint pin. Further, by the tubular portion, the plate can retain sufficient rigidity and strength without narrowing the web width between each pin hole and the outside flank or the inside flank of the corresponding tooth. The silent chain as a whole is relatively light in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Toyonaga Saitou
  • Patent number: 6427433
    Abstract: A rocker joint pin for use in a chain to articulately interconnect link plates of the chain has a beveled edge at opposite end faces thereof. The beveled edge is formed by forming a V-shaped groove transversely across a surface of a continuous wire and subsequently severing the wire at the bottom of the V-shaped groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kubota, Yoshiaki Takagishi
  • Publication number: 20010046917
    Abstract: A link chain for use in the continuously variable transmission of the power train in a motor vehicle is assembled of pairs of composite identical or dissimilar links each having a stack of apertured plates, and of coupling units employing pairs of non-circular pins extending through registering portions of apertures in the respective stacks of plates. The pins are designed to cooperate with the plates to limit the extend of inward and outward pivotability of links of the respective pairs from positions of alignment, and the pins carry stops which act alone or cooperate with diaphragm springs or with other types of springs to prevent wobbling of the plates. The plates can be provided with projections which cooperate with the pins to limit the extent of pivotability of the pairs of links relative to each other and/or to prevent jamming of pairs of links in angular positions from which they cannot return to the positions of alignment. Each plate is traversed by two pairs of pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau
    Inventors: Andre Linnenbrugger, Andre Teubert
  • Patent number: 6277046
    Abstract: Two rocker pins inserted into each of two pin holes of each link plate of a silent chain each include a rocker surface, a first non-contact surface opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the pin hole on a side opposite to the rocker surface, a pair of load-bearing surfaces contiguous with both circumferential ends of the first non-contact surface, and two second non-contact surfaces interconnecting the pair of load-bearing surfaces and both circumferential ends of the rocker surface, respectively. A part of the inner peripheral surface of the pin hole is formed in a pair of pin-seating surfaces which is in register with the pair of load-bearing surfaces of each rocker pin, respectively, to prevent rotation of the rocker pin within the pin hole. Since the load-bearing surfaces are supported by the pin-seating surfaces in an exactly matched or registered condition, rotation and wobbling of the rocker pin within the pin hole are securely prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ohara, Makoto Kanehira, Shigekazu Fukuda, Yoshihiro Kusunoki, Takayuki Funamoto, Masao Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6077181
    Abstract: A silent chain has a plurality of interconnected plates adapted for operative engagement with toothed surfaces of a sprocket. Each of the plates has flank surface portions and crotch surface portions, with the crotch surface portions having protruding portions. The protruding portions of the crotch surface portions make contact with the toothed surfaces of the sprocket at the beginning of engagement of each plate with the sprocket and are spaced away from the toothed surfaces of the sprocket at least during engagement of the flank surface portions with toothed surfaces of the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanehira, Takero Nakagawa, Masao Maruyama, Hitoshi Ohara, Nobuyuki Fujimoto, Masahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 5921881
    Abstract: A derailleur bicycle chain includes a plurality of intermediate links, a plurality of pairs of outer links, and a plurality of fasteners. Each fastener connects an end of one of the plurality of intermediate links between a corresponding pair of outer links so that the plurality of intermediate links alternate with the plurality of pairs of outer links. Each intermediate link defines a recess between each end thereof for receiving a sprocket tooth therein, and each end of each intermediate link forms drive faces facing toward and away from the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5700217
    Abstract: A power transmission chain in which round pins are inserted in link apertures with D-shaped cross-section and a bushing of U-shaped cross-section. The bushing can be formed of several different shapes in order to decrease the wear between the pins and the associated link apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventor: Shozo Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 5236400
    Abstract: A silent chain in which several engaging links each comprised of a plurality of piled-up link plates are coupled with connector pins in an endless form. Irregular engaging links having different engaging surface angles relative to sprocket teeth and having different long and short engaging lengths between the engaging surfaces are irregularly arranged longitudinally of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Hideo Tsuyama
  • Patent number: 5176586
    Abstract: A silent chain comprising link plates each having a pair of meshing teeth adapted to mesh with a sprocket tooth, and a pair of connection pin insert holes through each of the link plates adjacent opposite ends thereof. A pair of long and short connection pins are inserted into each of the insert holes. The long connection pin has opposite ends secured within holes formed in guide plates disposed adjacent opposite sides of an array of link plates, which guide plates prevent disengagement from the sprocket teeth. The rigidity of the guide link with respect to transmission of tension along the chain is about one-half the rigidity of the meshing link plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 4986799
    Abstract: Transmission chain for a cone pully drive, with intercoupled links and pivot pins inserted through link openings of which the end surfaces cooperate with the cone surfaces, where between each pivot pin, on the one hand, and the opposite opening sides of a number of adjacent links, on the other, an intermediate piece with rolling contact action is inserted with a coupling rib for coupling the intermediate piece to the link opening sides, and of which the opposite-lying longitudinal side forms the rolling surface cooperating with the longitudinal side of the pin, the end of each intermediate piece being provided with a recess at right angles to the longitudinal axis running between the longitudinal sides through the coupling rib and opening out into the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Volvo Car B.V.
    Inventor: Hermanus A. C. Holweg
  • Patent number: 4581001
    Abstract: A side-bar chain for an infinitely variable cone-pulley transmission which chain includes chain links composed of individual side-bars and joint pieces connecting the links together, with each joint piece being composed of a pair of rocker pieces pushed into apertures of the side-bars, the rocker pieces having end faces extending laterally of the length of the chain for transmitting friction forces between associated friction pulley sheaves and the side-bar chain, and each rocker piece being connected with its associated side-bars by being interlocked therewith to be secured against movement in the direction of pivoting between adjacent links. Each said side-bar presents two end webs spaced apart in the running direction of the chain, extending transverse to the running direction and to the length of the rocker pieces, and each bounding a side-bar aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: P.I.V. Antrieb Werner Reimers GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Rattunde, Walter Schopf