Silent chain with improved rocker joint

Claim 2

A silent chain having a plurality of groups of links with sprocket engaging teeth, said links having openings at each end, the openings at one end of one group of links aligned with the openings at the opposite end of the adjacent group of links, said aligned openings defining a channel having opposing boundaries each defined by both said one group of links and said adjacent group of links, at least one of said boundaries defined by two substantially straight elongated wedging surfaces inclined to diminish the lateral span of the channel towards the outer edges of the channel, and a pair of pins and only a pair of pins received in said channel, said pins having arcuate facing surfaceS for rocking engagement and having opposite surfaces for engagement with the opposing boundaries of the channel, said opposite pin surfaces extending substantially the full width of the pin and being complementary to the opposing channel boundaries for wedging engagement therewith, said pins substantially filling the channel when in rocking engagement.

Claim 3

A silent chain having a plurality of groups of links with sprocket engaging teeth, said links having openings at each end, the openings at one end of one group of links aligned with the openings at the opposite end of the adjacent group of links, said aligned openings defining a channel having opposing boundaries each defined by both said one group of links and said adjacent group of links, both of said boundaries defined by two substantially straight elongated wedging surfaces inclined to diminish the lateral span of the channel towards the outer edges of the channel, and a pair of pins and only a pair of pins received in said channel, said pins having arcuate facing surfaces for rocking engagement and each having substantially straight opposing surfaces extending substantially the full width of the pin for engagement with one side of the opposing surfaces of said channel, said opposing pin surfaces being complementary to the opposing channel boundaries for wedging engagement therewith, said pins substantially filling the channel when in rocking engagement.

Claim 4

A silent chain having a plurality of groups of links with sprocket engaging teeth, said links having openings at each end, the openings at one end of one group of links aligned with the openings at the opposite end of the adjacent group of links, said aligned openings defining a channel having opposing boundaries each defined by both said one group of links and said adjacent group of links, both of said boundaries defined by two substantially straight elongated wedging surfaces inclined to diminish the lateral span of the channel towards the outer edges of the channel, and a pair of pins and only a pair of pins received in said channel, said pins having arcuate facing surfaces for rocking engagement and each having substantially straight opposing surfaces extending substantially the full width of the pin for engagement with one side of the opposing surfaces of said channel, said opposing pin surfaces being complementary to the opposing channel boundaries for wedging engagement therewith, said pins substantially filling the channel when in rocking engagement.

Claim 5

A silent chain having a plurality of groups of links with sprocket engaging teeth, each group of links having openings at each end, each of said openings having substantially straight, elongated converging opposing walls, the openings at one end of each group of links aligned with the openings at the opposite end of the adjacent group of links to define a channel with the opposing walls of one group of links converging oppositely to the opposing walls of the adjacent group, said walls converging as they extend outwardly from the center of the channel, a first pin received through openings of both of said groups of links, said first pin having converging substantially straight opposing walls extending substantially the full width of the pin to be received tightly between the converging walls of the openings in one of said group of links, a second pin received through openings of both of said groups of links, said second pin having converging substantially straight opposing walls extending substantially the full width of the pin to be received tightly between the converging walls of the openings in the adjacent group of links, said pins having facing arcuate surfaces for rocking engagement, said first and second pins alone received in said channel and said pins substantially filling the span between the outer edges of the channels.

Claim 6

A silent chain having a plurality of groups of links with sprocket engaging teeth, each group of links having openings at each end, each of said openings having substantially straight, elongated converging opposing walls, the openings at one end of each group of links aligned with the openings at the opposite end of the adjacent group of links to define a channel with the opposing walls of one group of links converging oppositely to the opposing walls of the adjacent group, said walls converging as they extend outwardly from the center of the channel, a first pin received through openings of both of said groups of links, said first pin having converging substantially straight opposing walls extending substantially the full width of the pin to be received tightly between the converging walls of the openings in one of said group of links, a second pin received through openings of both of said groups of links, said second pin having converging substantially straight opposing walls extending substantially the full width of the pin to be received tightly between the converging walls of the openings in the adjacent group of links, said pins having facing arcuate surfaces for rocking engagement, said first and second pins alone received in said channel and said pins substantially filling the span between the outer edges of the channels.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 1 in which each of said openings comprises opposite arcuate segments and opposite sloping straight segments.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 2 in which a clearance is provided between the outer edge of the link opening and the outer edge of a pin wedged therein.

Claim 9

The mechanism of claim 3 including outer links for one of said groups received tightly on the ends of one of said pins.