Silent chain and method of producing the same

A method of producing a silent chain comprising the steps of:

• a) interlacing a plurality of link plates in a link thickness and length direction to form a plurality of link rows along the length of the chain;
• b) preparing first guide links with a yield load and second guide links with a yield load, wherein the yield load of the first guide links are different than the yield load of the second guide links;
• c) placing the first guide links and the second guide links in guide link rows in a random pattern along the length of the chain;
• d) connecting the link plates, first guide links, and second guide links together with connecting pins;
• and
• e) applying a pre-stress load to the chain after the chain is assembled, such that a load greater than the yield load of the first guide links and the yield load of the second guide links acts on the first guide links and the second guide links and an engagement pitch of a first guide row and an engagement pitch of the second guide row after pre-stressing are located at a random pattern along the chain length direction.

A method of producing a silent chain comprising:

• a) interlacing a plurality of first link plates each having a first yield load and a plurality of second link plates each having a second yield load different from the first yield load in a link thickness and link length direction to form a plurality of first link rows composed of the first link plates and a plurality of second link rows composed of the second link plates at a random pattern along the length of the chain;
• b) connecting the first link rows and the second link rows by connecting pins;
• and
• c) applying a pre-stress load to the chain after assembly of the chain, wherein a load greater than the first yield load and the second yield load act on the first link plate and the second link plate and an engagement pitch of the first link rows and an engagement pitch of the second link rows after pre-stressing are located at a random pattern along the chain length direction.