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US 6,558,281 B1Granted
Chain
AssigneeLuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligunes KG
InventorIvo Greiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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. The rocker members extend outwardly beyond the plate links and are retained in position by retaining members that engage particular rocker members. A method for stretching the chain is also disclosed in which areas of some of the plate links are plastically deformed before the chain is put to use.
Claims53
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element, wherein the chain links are provided in pairs of side-by-side plate links, and adjacent pairs of chain links are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction of the chain;
- 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, wherein the rocker members are disposed as two 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes, wherein the retaining elements engage rocker members that pass through different pairs of side-by-side plate links.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes, wherein the at least one retaining element is in contact with four rocker members.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes, wherein at least one retaining element engages a recess formed in one rocker member and frictionally engages a surface of a second rocker member.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes, wherein at least one retaining element engages a rocker member on different sides, to clampingly hold the rocker member.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes, wherein the chain includes a plurality of pairs of spaced, side-by-side plate links, wherein the pairs of plate links are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and retaining elements engage rocker members that extend outwardly beyond laterally outermost plate links, and wherein retaining elements on opposite outermost sides of the chain are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the chain.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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, wherein at least one pair of rocker members includes opposed recesses on their respective contacting surfaces to allow rocking movement when one of the rocker members includes a retaining element that extends into its recess on its surface;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element;
- 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, and wherein at least one recess is formed in one rocker surface of a rocker member for receiving the retaining element, and the retaining element is received in the recess;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element, wherein plate links within a chain link are disposed to define a V-shape, wherein the V-shape diverges relative to the chain longitudinal axis and in a chain movement direction;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes.
1 more element
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 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and 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 passageway for receiving a transversely-extending plate-link connecting element, wherein the plate links within a chain link are disposed to define a V-shape, wherein the V-shape converges relative to the chain longitudinal axis and in a chain movement direction;
- 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;
- and
- c) at least one retaining element for engaging at least one rocker member of a pair of contacting rocker members for limiting movement of the rocker members in the direction of their longitudinal axes.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.