A metal element for continuously variable transmission and method of producing the same are provided. A rear surface of a metal element includes first contact parts formed at top positions on the outer side in the radial direction of a saddle surface on left and right sides of an ear part, a second contact part formed in a neck part, and third contact parts formed at a top position of the saddle surface on left and right sides of the body part. In a chord on the driving force transmission side of the metal belt, the first to third contact parts are able to be brought into contact with a front surface of another metal element adjacent to the rear side. A plate thickness of the metal element at the second contact part is smaller than the first contact part and is larger than the third contact part.

A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission in a motor vehicle. The chain includes longer and shorter chain links that include longer and shorter link plates that are coupled to each other by pairs of rocker pressure pieces. The plate link chain includes only two types of link plates, namely shorter link plates and longer link plates.

Provided is an endless metal ring manufacturing method for manufacturing an endless metal ring by carrying out a barrel polishing step for polishing the endless metal ring by using a barrel of a resin material, a rolling step for rolling the endless metal ring which was cleaned, and a nitriding step for nitriding the endless metal ring which was rolled, wherein after the barrel polishing step and before the rolling step, provided is a resin removing step for removing resin that has adhered to the endless metal ring.

Provided is an endless metal ring manufacturing method for manufacturing an endless metal ring by carrying out a barrel polishing step for polishing the endless metal ring by using a barrel of a resin material, a rolling step for rolling the endless metal ring which was cleaned, and a nitriding step for nitriding the endless metal ring which was rolled, wherein after the barrel polishing step and before the rolling step, provided is a resin removing step for removing resin that has adhered to the endless metal ring.

Provided is an endless metal ring manufacturing method for manufacturing an endless metal ring by carrying out a barrel polishing step for polishing the endless metal ring by using a barrel of a resin material, a rolling step for rolling the endless metal ring which was cleaned, and a nitriding step for nitriding the endless metal ring which was rolled, wherein after the barrel polishing step and before the rolling step, provided is a resin removing step for removing resin that has adhered to the endless metal ring.

Provided is an endless metal ring manufacturing method for manufacturing an endless metal ring by carrying out a barrel polishing step for polishing the endless metal ring by using a barrel of a resin material, a rolling step for rolling the endless metal ring which was cleaned, and a nitriding step for nitriding the endless metal ring which was rolled, wherein after the barrel polishing step and before the rolling step, provided is a resin removing step for removing resin that has adhered to the endless metal ring.

A plate link chain for a continuously variable transmission in a motor vehicle comprising chain links. The chain links have link plates coupled to one another by pairs of rocker pins and at least two different sprocket pitches. At least one absorption mass is arranged between two pairs of rocker pins in an absorption space within a link plate inner contour.

A method for manufacturing a metal element includes performing press processing and punching processing on a band plate-shaped metal element material having a constant cross section by a mold with a main punch in contact with a rear surface of the metal element and a counter punch in contact with the front surface thereof. The main punch or the counter punch has protrusion portions which are in contact with at least a part of the ear portion or the body portion to form a recessed portion, and a bulging portion bulging in the longitudinal direction from the radial direction inner edge of ear portions of the metal element or the radial direction outer edge of a body portion thereof, which is formed by the material extruded from the recessed portion by the protrusion portion.

In a metal belt for a continuously variable transmission having a saddle face of a metal element and a rocking edge positioned at substantially the same position in the radial direction, a rocking edge is provided at a radially outer end of a front face of a body part, the rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element of the metal belt which is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, and a recess is provided extending from a front face of a neck part to a front face of the body part. Thus, it is possible to minimize a space created between the front and rear metal elements and reduce the bending stress applied to the metal elements, thereby minimizing degradation of the power transmission efficiency.

In a metal belt for a continuously variable transmission having a saddle face of a metal element and a rocking edge positioned at substantially the same position in the radial direction, a rocking edge is provided at a radially outer end of a front face of a body part, the rocking edge being a fulcrum for pitching of the metal element of the metal belt which is wound around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and transmits a driving force between the two pulleys, and a recess is provided extending from a front face of a neck part to a front face of the body part. Thus, it is possible to minimize a space created between the front and rear metal elements and reduce the bending stress applied to the metal elements, thereby minimizing degradation of the power transmission efficiency.