Power transmission chain with ceramic joint components
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Mott, Timothy J. Ledvina, James Wyckoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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).
Claims28
An automotive power transmission chain subject to fluctuating loads, comprising a chain operable over a range of engine speeds when drivingly engaged to a sprocket, the 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, the pivots comprise rocker joints, the rocker joints including a long rocker pin and a short rocker pin, the long rocker pin extending completely through an aperture to join one outermost link to the opposite outermost link of a given set, and the short rocker pin extending partly, but not completely, through the same aperture, such that the short rocker pin and long rocker pin in the aperture are operable to rock against each other, the short rocker pins comprising toughened ceramic material effective to reduce the elongation of the chain by at least about 10% after 50 hours of operation with an internal combustion engine subjecting the chain to at least 100 pounds of tension at 3250 rpm relative to the elongation of the chain with steel pivots.
A silent chain comprising:
- at least one silent chain operable over a range of automotive engine speeds, the chain comprised of a plurality of successive sets of links having teeth which are effective for operatively engaging sprocket teeth, the chain further comprising pivots joining successive sets of the links to permit articulation of each set of links relative to adjacent sets of links, the pivots comprising ceramic material which is resistant to wear and corrosion and wherein the pivots comprise rocker joints, the rocker joints including a long rocker pin and a short rocker pin, the long rocker pin extending completely through an aperture to join one outermost link to the opposite outermost link of a given set, and the short rocker pin extending partly, but not completely, through the same aperture, such that the short rocker pin and long rocker pin in the aperture are operable to rock against each other, the short rocker pins comprising the ceramic material.
A silent chain comprising a chain operable over a range of engine speeds when drivingly engaged to a sprocket, the 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, the pivots comprise rocker joints, the rocker joints including a long rocker pin and a short rocker pin adjacent to the long rocker pin, the long and short rocker pins extending through apertures in the sets of links such that the short rocker pin and long rocker pin in the apertures are operable to rock against each other, the long rocker pins comprising steel and the short rocker pins comprising toughened ceramic material effective to reduce the elongation of the chain by at least about 10% after 50 hours of operation with an internal combustion engine subjecting the chain to at least 100 pounds of tension at 3250 rpm relative to the elongation of the chain with steel short and long rocker pins.
An automotive power transmission chain subject to fluctuating loads, comprising a chain operable over a range of engine speeds when drivingly engaged to a sprocket, the chain having a plurality of sets of links which links include a plurality of steel link plates, and pivots joining successive sets of the links to permit articulation of each set of links relative to adjacent sets of links, the pivots comprise rocker joints, the rocker joints including a long rocker pin and a short rocker pin comprising toughened ceramic material, the long rocker pin extending completely through an aperture to join one outermost link to the opposite outermost link of a given set, and the short rocker pin extending partly, but not completely, through the same aperture, such that the short rocker pin and long rocker pin in the aperture are operable to rock against each other, the short rocker pins comprising toughened ceramic material effective to reduce the elongation of the chain by at least about 10% after 50 hours of operation with an internal combustion engine subjecting the chain to at least 100 pounds of tension at 3250 rpm relative to the elongation of the chain with steel pivots.
A silent chain comprising:
- at least one silent chain operable over a range of automotive engine speeds, the chain comprising of a plurality of sets of links having teeth which are effective for operatively engaging sprocket teeth, the chain further comprising pivots joining successive sets of the links to permit articulation of each set of links relative to adjacent sets of links, the successive sets of links comprising a plurality of inner link plates and outer link plates, the inner link plates having teeth which are effective for drivingly engaging the sprocket and the outer link plates not configured for drivingly engaging the sprocket, the pivots comprising ceramic material which is resistant to wear and corrosion and wherein the pivots comprise rocker joints, the rocker joints including a long rocker pin and a short rocker pin, the long rocker pin extending completely through an aperture to join one outermost link to the opposite outermost link of a given set, and the short rocker pin extending partly, but not completely, through the same aperture, such that the short rocker pin and long rocker pin in the aperture are operable to rock against each other, the short rocker pins comprising the ceramic material, the ceramic material is effective to reduce the elongation of the chain by at least about 10% relative to the elongation of the chain with steel pivots when the chains are subjected to a tension of 100 pounds for ten hours at 3250 rpm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.