Transmission chain

Abstract

A transmission chain for a transmission having a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket with chain guides between the sprockets, at least one of the guides having a curved surface on which one of the runs of the chain slides in its travel between the sprockets. The chain has inner and outer link plates which respectively mount bushings and connecting pins which pass through the bushings with a clearance. The link plates have sliding surfaces which slide on the guide. The transmission chain has a chain pitch defined as P1, and the maximum clearance formed between the connecting pins and the bushings is defined as C. The sliding surfaces are curved like the guide and the curved surfaces of one of the outer and inner link plates, has a curve width X, and the curved surface of the other of the inner and outer link plates, has a curve width Y. The widths X and Y are selected relative to the chain pitch of P1 and the maximum clearance C to reduce or eliminate the loss of a film of lubricating oil between the sliding surfaces of the links and the curved surface of the guide as the chain travels from the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.