Side-bar chain for infinitely variable cone-pulley transmissions

Claim 2

In a side-bar chain for an infinitely variable cone-pulley transmission which chain is an endless chain extending along a closed path in its longitudinal direction and includes chain links composed of individual side-bars and joint pieces connecting the links together, with each joint piece being composed of a pair of rocker pieces inserted into apertures of the side-bars, the rocker pieces having end faces extending laterally of the length of the chain for transmitting friction forces between associated friction pulley sheaves and the side-bar chain, each rocker piece being connected with its associated side-bars by being interlocked therewith to be secured against movement in the direction of pivoting between adjacent links, and each side-bar having a generally rectangular configuration and being composed of two straight longitudinal webs extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain and two end webs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the chain, extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and to the length of the rocker pieces, and each bounding a side-bar aperture, the improvement wherein: each said rocker piece is configured to bear against a respective end web of each associated side-bar only at two abutment regions spaced apart in the direction in which its associated end webs extend; each said rocker piece and said respective end web of each associated side-bar are configured to form, between said two abutment regions, a clearance region in which said rocker piece is permanently maintained out of contact with said respective end web of each associated side-bar at all operating tensile load levels of said chain; and the dimension of each said rocker piece in said direction in which its associated end webs extend is substantially equal to the distance between its associated abutment regions.

Claim 3

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein each said abutment region is configured to cause the direction of the bearing force of each said rocker piece against each associated side-bar end web to extend at an angle of the order of 45° to the longitudinal direction of the chain.

Claim 4

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein each said rocker piece is configured such that engagement of its abutment regions with each associated side-bar establishes the interlocked connection therebetween.

Claim 5

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing convex rocker faces via which these rocker pieces bear against one another, and each said side-bar presents a middle web located between said end webs and extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chain, such that each said side-bar presents two apertures separated by said middle web.

Claim 6

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing rocker faces via which these rocker pieces bear against one another, with one said rocker face having a concave form and the other said rocker face a convex form with a radius of curvature smaller than that of said rocker face of concave form.

Claim 7

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 5 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which defines a continuous space between said two end webs thereof.

Claim 8

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing rocker faces, said rocker faces of each said rocker piece pair have similar, mutually aligned regions of concave form, and each said joint piece further comprises a cylindrical member engaging said regions of concave form for transmitting compressive forces between said rocker pieces.

Claim 9

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 7 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which defines a continuous space between said two end webs thereof.

Claim 10

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein each said rocker piece is formed to have projections defining its said abutment regions and protruding, in the longitudinal direction of said chain, beyond the clearance region associated end with said rocker piece and toward said associated webs.

Claim 11

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein each said aperture has the general form of a polygon and each said abutment region is located essentially at a respective corner of said polygon of each associated side-bar.

Claim 12

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 2 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing rocker faces via which these rocker pieces bear against one another, with one said rocker face having a concave form and the other said rocker face a convex form with a radius of curvature smaller than that of said rocker face of concave form.

Claim 13

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 11 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which defines a continuous space between said two end webs thereof.

Claim 14

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 3 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing rocker faces via which these rocker pieces bear against one another, with one said rocker face having a concave form and the other said rocker face a convex form with a radius of curvature smaller than that of said rocker face of concave form.

Claim 15

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 13 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which define a continuous space between said two end webs thereof.

Claim 16

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 2 wherein said rocker pieces of each said pair present mutually facing rocker faces, said rocker faces of each said rocker piece pair have similar, mutually aligned regions of concave form, PG,24 and each said joint piece further comprises a cylindrical member engaging said regions of concave form for transmitting compressive forces between said rocker pieces.

Claim 17

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 15 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which defines a continuous space between said two ends webs thereof.

Claim 18

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 3 wherein said rocker pieces of said pair present mutually facing rocker faces, said rocker faces of each said rocker piece pair have similar, mutually aligned regions of concave form, and each said joint piece further comprises a cylindrical member engaging said regions of concave form for transmitting compressive forces between said rocker pieces.

Claim 19

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 17 wherein each said side-bar presents a single aperture which defines a continuous space between said two end webs thereof.

Claim 20

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein the dimension of each said side-bar in the direction in which said end webs extend is constant along the longitudinal direction of the chain.

Claim 21

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 19 wherein each said side-bar and its associated joint pieces are configured such that the forces exerted by said joint pieces on said side-bars create substantially only tension stresses in said two longiutinal webs and said two end webs of each said side-bar.

Claim 22

Side-bar chain as defined in claim 1 wherein each said side-bar and its associated joint pieces are configured such that the forces exerted by said joint pieces on said side-bars create substantially only tension stresses in said two longitudinal webs and said two end webs of each said side-bar.

Claim 23

In an infinitely variable cone-pulley transmission composed of two cone pulleys and an endless side-bar chain extending along a closed path in its longitudinal direction between the pulleys and in frictional force transmitting relation with the pulleys, the chain including links composed of individual side-bars and joint pieces connecting the links together, with each joint piece being composed of a pair of rocker pieces inserted into apertures of the side-bars, the rocker pieces having end faces extending laterally of the length of the chain for transmitting friction forces between associated friction pulley sheaves and the side-bar chain, each rocker piece being connected with its associated side-bars by being interlocked therewith to be secured against movement in the direction of pivoting between adjacent links, and each side-bar having a generally rectangular configuration and being composed of two straight longitudinal webs extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain and two end webs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the chain, extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and to the length of the rocker pieces, and each bounding a side-bar aperture, the improvement wherein: each said rocker piece is configured to bear against a respective end web of each associated side-bar only at two abutment regions spaced apart in the direction in which its associated end webs extend; each said rocker piece and said respective end webs of each associated side-bar are configured to form, between said two abutment regions, a clearance region in which said rocker piece is permanently maintained out of contact with said respective end web of each associated side-bar at all operating tensile load levels of said chain; and the dimension of each said rocker piece in said direction in which its associated end webs extend is substantially equal to the distance between its associated abutment region.

Claim 24

In an infinitely variable cone-pulley transmission composed of two cone pulleys and an endless side-bar chain extending along a closed path in its longitudinal direction between the pulleys and in frictional force transmitting relation with the pulleys, the chain including links composed of individual side-bars and joint pieces connecting the links together, with each joint piece being composed of a pair of rocker pieces inserted into apertures of the side-bars, the rocker pieces having end faces extending laterally of the length of the chain for transmitting friction forces between associated friction pulley sheaves and the side-bar chain, each rocker piece being connected with its associated side-bars by being interlocked therewith to be secured against movement in the direction of pivoting between adjacent links, and each side-bar having a generally rectangular configuration and being composed of two straight longitudinal webs extending in the longitudinal direction of the chain and two end webs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the chain, extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and to the length of the rocker pieces, and each bounding a side-bar aperture, the improvement wherein: each said rocker piece is configured to bear against a respective end web of each associated side-bar only at two abutment regions spaced apart in the direction in which its associated end webs extend; each said rocker piece and said respective end webs of each associated side-bar are configured to form, between said two abutment regions, a clearance region in which said rocker piece is permanently maintained out of contact with said respective end web of each associated side-bar at all operating tensile load levels of said chain; and the dimension of each said rocker piece in said direction in which its associated end webs extend is substantially equal to the distance between its associated abutment region.