Transmission chain

A transmission chain for a cone pulley having oppositely facing cone surfaces, the chain comprising:

• a plurality of intercoupled links, each link having a longitudinally extending body which is aligned with a longitudinal direction of the transmission chain, the link body including first and second longitudinally opposite end portions, a hinge pin aperture defined in and extending transversely to the link and first and second link upright aperture surfaces located in the hinge aperture, the first upright aperture surface located toward the first end portion and facing toward the second upright aperture surface which is located toward the second end portion of the link;
• a plurality of hinge pins, each hinge pin passing through a plurality of the hinge pin apertures to effect an intercoupling of the links through which the respective pin passes, each hinge pin comprising an elongate body having a pair of opposite, curved rolling contact surfaces which face toward respective groups of upright aperture surfaces located in the links through which the hinge pin passes, each hinge pin further having a pair of opposite end surfaces shaped for frictional sliding engagement with the cone surfaces of the cone pulley;
• a plurality of elongate intermediate members, each being located between a respective hinge pin and a respective group of link upright aperture surfaces, each intermediate member having a rolling contact surface which extends along a length of the intermediate member and having an opposite link contact surface, the link contact surface of the intermediate member being in contact with the respective group of link upright aperture surfaces to which the link contact surface is adjacent, and the rolling contact surface of the intermediate member facing toward one of the rolling contact surfaces of its respective hinge pin, the rolling contact surfaces of the hinge pin and the intermediate member having different radii of curvature to permit rolling engagement therebetween;
• each of the hinge pins having a predetermined length, each of the intermediate members having a length which is not larger than the length of the respective hinge pin, the chain including means for securing each intermediate member to its respective hinge pin, the securing means being adapted to permit limited displacement of the intermediate member in a direction along the length thereof, the displaceability of the intermediate member permitting the intermediate member to project past one or the other of the end surfaces of its respective hinge pin.