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US 2003/0216207 A1Published application
Silent drive chain assembly having flexible links
AssigneeTesma International Inc.
InventorsCheng Mu, David Mark Pascoe, Jianwen Li
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTesma International Inc.
InventorsCheng Mu, David Mark Pascoe, Jianwen Li
Estimating the term…
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.
A chain assembly for drivingly engaging a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain, said chain assembly comprising:
A flexible link for use with a chain assembly having a plurality of rigid links pivotally interconnected to each other by a plurality of pins, wherein each of the plurality of rigid links includes a driving surface for drivingly engaging a plurality of teeth of a rotatable sprocket, said flexible link comprising:
A flexible link as set forth in claim 13 wherein said dampening tooth includes a dampening surface spaced apart from the drive surface for engaging the plurality of teeth prior to driving engagement with the driving surface, wherein said dampening surface is displaced with respect to the driving surface due to elastic deformation of said bridge and said dampening tooth for dampening noise associated with said driving engagement.
A chain assembly for drivingly engaging a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from a sprocket of an automobile drivetrain, said chain assembly comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.