Plate-link chain
AssigneeLuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
InventorsAndre Linnenbrugger, Oswald Kroninger, Klaus Scheufele, Andre Teubert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive chain suitable for use in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission having two pairs of spaced drive members about which the chain passes to transfer torque from one drive member to the other. The chain includes a plurality of link elements that include spaced, side-by-side plate links. The plate links include openings in which pairs of parallel rocker members are disposed for relative rocking movement of at least one rocker member about its longitudinal axis. A method for stretching the chain is also disclosed, in which areas of some of the plate links are plastically deformed by stretching the chain before the chain is put to use.
Claims15
A plate-link chain for a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, said chain comprising:
- a) a plurality of interconnected chain links having side-by-side plate links that each include a plate-link opening that is at least partially aligned with a corresponding plate-link opening in an adjacent plate link to define a connecting element passageway;
- b) a plurality of plate-link connecting elements in the form of elongated rocker members that each have longitudinal axes that extend within the plate-link openings of each of at least one pair of side-by-side plate links, the rocker members disposed in pairs of opposed, parallel rocker members, wherein the respective rocker members of a pair of rocker members each include opposed, convex rocker surfaces that are in contact with each other to allow relative rocking movement between the contacting rocker members as the chain passes around a drive member associated with the transmission;
- c) wherein contact surfaces of the plate-link openings that are contacted by respective rocker members are disposed at an acute angle relative to a chain transverse axis, and wherein contact surfaces of plate links adjacent an outer longitudinal edge of an assembled chain define relative to the chain transverse axis an acute angle that is greater than an angle defined by contact surfaces of plate links at an interior position relative to the chain transverse axis.
A method for increasing the load-carrying capacity of plate links of a plate-link chain for a power transmission system, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a plate link having a pair of oppositely-facing side surfaces and an opening that passes through the side surfaces and that has an initial inner width in a longitudinal direction of the plate link, wherein the opening receives a pair of rocker members having rocker faces that are supported against each other for relative rolling movement, and wherein the inner width is defined by opposed inner surfaces of the opening contacted by the rocker members and adjacent longitudinal ends of the plate links;
- b) applying a longitudinally-extending compressive force against each of the opposed inner surfaces of the plate link to enlarge the plate-link inner width and thereby stretch the plate link longitudinally;
- and
- c) assembling a plurality of stretched links together to form a drive chain.
A method of making a plate-link chain, from a plurality of plate links and rocker members that are inserted into apertures in the plate links, said method comprising:
- assembling a chain by interconnecting a plurality of plate links with pairs of rocker members that are received in apertures provided in the plate links;
- and stretching the chain to extend the service life of the chain when it is in use in a conical disk transmission.
A method of making a plate-link chain from a plurality of plate links and rocker members that are inserted into apertures in the plate links, said method comprising:
- stretching individual plate links in a longitudinal direction by applying oppositely-directed forces on opposed inner surfaces of the plate-link apertures;
- and assembling the stretched links into a chain with pairs of rocker members that are received in the plate-link apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.