Abstract: A heavy-duty power transmission V-belt includes right and left tension members having concave parts on upper and lower faces thereof, and a large number of blocks having fitting parts for compressedly fitting the tension members therein on right and left side faces of the blocks. By compressedly fitting the tension members in the fitting parts of the blocks, the respective blocks are fixedly engaged with the tension members so as to allow the side faces thereof to be brought into contact with a groove face of the pulley. An innermost lower face is formed in an innermost portion of the fitting part of each block, and an innermost lower face angle &agr; between the innermost lower face and a vertical plane is determined so as to have a relationship of &bgr;−3<&agr;<&bgr;+3 with a belt side face angle &bgr;.

Abstract: A continuously variable all speed transmission apparatus employs a conically-shaped driven surface which is frictionally contacted by a taut endless compliant transmission member that extends to a circular power source such as the pedal hub of a bicycle. The driven surface is centered upon an axis upon which an axle is disposed that causes rotation of a wheel such as a bicycle wheel. A shifting mechanism moves the contact site of the transmission member axially along the driven surface, thereby producing variation in the rotational speed of the wheel. The transmission member includes a central wire and a series of rollers disposed upon the wire in a manner to rotate about the wire without moving longitudinally thereupon.

Abstract: A heavy-duty power transmission V-belt is so designed that respective upward projections each having an arcuate cross section of respective blocks are fixedly engaged with respective bottom-surface grooves each having an arcuate cross section of a tension member. The radius of curvature R2 of each bottom-surface groove is set larger than the radius of curvature R1 of the upward projection of the block (R2>R1) in the state that the tension member is put strait. Thereby, when the V-belt bends around a pulley, it can be avoided that a large local strain occurs at the bottom-surface groove. This allows a firmly fixed state of each block by the tension member to be maintained for a long time.

Abstract: A ball chain for interior decoration, sprocket drive or the like which includes a connecting mechanism in the form of a wire or yarn, a multiplicity of chain balls secured in place at equally spaced intervals along a length of the connecting mechanism, and a coupling interposed between adjacent chain balls. A splicing mechanism provided for splicing the ball chain includes a socket having a cavity dimensioned to receive the coupling.

Abstract: A ball chain positive drive stepless transmission comprising two V sheaves deployed on a pair of parallel shafts and an endless ball chain serving as transmission medium therebetween and characterized in, each sheave having a V shaped groove formed by two opposite bevel members with an undulating surface readily disposed thereon. Each link of the chain has a ball set adapted to be positively engaged with the undulating surface and also to enable the stepless change of speed while the unit is at rest.

Abstract: In a thrust piece forming a component of a chain for use in a friction pulley transmission in which the chain extends around, and circulates between, pairs of pulleys mounted on associated shafts, with one pulley of each pair being a cone pulley having a conical friction face and the other pulley of each pair being a friction pulley having a friction face which is flatter than that of the associated cone pulley, the thrust piece extending substantially transversely of the length of the chain and presenting opposed end faces via which the thrust piece bears against the friction faces of a pulley pair to effect friction force transmission between the pulley pair and the chain, one end face of the thrust piece, which contacts the friction pulley of a pulley pair, is formed to present an area of contact with the friction pulley which is reduced in relation to the area of contact between the other end face of the thrust piece and the cone pulley of the pulley pair.