Endless power transmission belt

Claim 2

An endless power transmission belt for operation in an endless path comprising a plurality of laterally spaced belt elements and a tie band interconnecting said belt elements, each of said elements comprising, a tension section, a load-carrying section, and a compression section, each of said elements having a plurality of teeth defined in its compression section, said teeth in each belt element being staggered relative to teeth of an immediately adjacent belt element, said teeth providing optimum flexibility for said belt characterized by a substantially uniform bending modulus, said staggered relation of the teeth assuring the belt is free of hinge points and also assuring quieter operation thereof in associated sheaves.

Claim 3

A belt as set forth in claim 1 in which said teeth are defined by a plurality of grooves in each compression section extending transverse said endless path.

Claim 4

A belt as set forth in claim 2 in which said teeth are of substantially equal size and the grooves in one element are offset from the grooves of an adjacent element within the range of 1/4 to 3/4 of the pitch of the teeth in each element.

Claim 5

A belt as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said elements has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration defined by non-parallel sides and said tie band binds said elements together by bonding each element adjacent the tension section thereof.

Claim 6

A belt as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising a fabric layer defining the crest of each tooth.

Claim 7

A belt as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said grooves is free of a cover and is thus raw edged.

Claim 8

A belt as set forth in claim 6 in which each of said grooves has a pair of flat sides diverging from a common junction line in a substantially V-shaped pattern.

Claim 9

A belt as set forth in claim 1 in which said teeth are defined by a plurality of grooves in each compression section extending transverse said endless path and said tie band is comprised of at least one fabric layer.

Claim 10

A belt as set forth in claim 8 in which said one fabric layer is a woven fabric layer having warps disposed perpendicular to said endless path and wefts disposed parallel thereto.

Claim 11

A belt as set forth in claim 8 in which said one fabric layer is a bias cut woven fabric layer having warps and wefts disposed at 90° with each other, said warps and wefts being disposed at an angle of 45° with the longitudinal axis of the endless belt.

Claim 12

A belt as set forth in claim 8 in which said one fabric layer is in the form of a stress-relieved fabric layer having warps and wefts which are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other ranging between 95° and 155°.

Claim 13

A belt as set forth in claim 8 in which said one fabric layer is a knitted fabric layer.

Claim 14

An elastomeric endless power transmission belt for operation in an endless path and made primarily of an elastomeric material with the belt comprising a plurality of laterally spaced belt elements and a tie band interconnecting said belt elements, each of said elements comprising a tension section, a load-carrying section, and a compression section, each of said elements having a plurality of teeth defined in its comression section by a plurality of machined grooves in each comression section extending transverse the endless path of said belt, said teeth in each belt element being staggered relative to the teeth of an immediately adjacent belt element, said teeth providing optimum flexibility for said belt characterized by a substantially uniform bending modulus, said staggered relation of the teeth assuring the belt is free of hinge points of substantially reduced thickness and also assuring quieter operation thereof in associated sheaves.

Claim 15

An elastomeric endless power transmission belt for operation in an endless path and made primarily of an elastomeric material with the belt comprising a plurality of laterally spaced belt elements and a tie band interconnecting said belt elements, each of said elements comprising a tension section, a load-carrying section, and a compression section, each of said elements having a plurality of teeth defined in its comression section by a plurality of machined grooves in each comression section extending transverse the endless path of said belt, said teeth in each belt element being staggered relative to the teeth of an immediately adjacent belt element, said teeth providing optimum flexibility for said belt characterized by a substantially uniform bending modulus, said staggered relation of the teeth assuring the belt is free of hinge points of substantially reduced thickness and also assuring quieter operation thereof in associated sheaves.

Claim 16

A belt as set forth in claim 13 in which said teeth are of substantially equal size and the grooves in one element are offset from the grooves of an adjacent element within the range of one-fourth to three-fourths of the pitch of the teeth in each element.

Claim 17

A belt as set forth in claim 13 in which each of said elements has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional configuration, said non-parallel sides are free of covers, and said tie band binds said elements together by binding each element adjacent the tension section thereof.

Claim 18

A belt as set forth in claim 13 in which each of said load-carrying sections in each element is defined by a helically wound load-carrying cord.

Claim 21

A method as set forth in claim 17 in which said forming step comprises notching each belt element to define said teeth.

Claim 22

A method as set forth in claim 18 in which said notching step comprises grinding said grooves in each belt element.

Claim 23

A method as set forth in claim 17 in which said forming step comprises molding said grooves in each belt element.