Power transmission chain with ceramic joint components
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Mott, Timothy J. Ledvina, James Wyckoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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).
Claims29
A power transmission chain and sprocket drive, comprising:
- a sprocket having sprocket teeth, and
- a chain comprised of a plurality of sets of links operatively engaging said sprocket teeth, and pivots joining successive sets of the links to permit articulation of each set of links relative to adjacent sets of links, wherein said pivots comprise ceramic material effective to reduce the elongation of the chain.
A power transmission chain, comprising a chain having a plurality of sets of links, and pivots joining successive sets of the links to permit articulation of each set of links relative to adjacent sets of links, wherein said pivots comprise ceramic material.
A power transmission chain and sprocket drive, comprising a continuous loop chain means for controlling timing in an internal combustion engine, said chain means having a plurality of sets of linking means, and pivoting means joining successive sets of the linking means to permit articulation of each set of linking means relative to adjacent sets of linking means, wherein said pivoting means comprise ceramic material;
- and a chain driving means and chain driven means each having means for operatively engaging the chain means.
A method of using a power transmission chain means for controlling timing in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- operatively engaging a continuous loop chain with a chain driving means and a chain driven means each having means for operatively engaging the chain means, wherein said chain means having a plurality of sets of linking means, and pivoting means joining successive sets of the linking means to permit articulation of each set of linking means relative to adjacent sets of linking means, wherein said pivoting means comprise ceramic material effective to reduce elongation of the chain;
- driving said chain driving means effective to impart rotational movement in the chain around the driving means and driven means in a manner effective to provide controlled timing in the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.