A stack of disk springs are placed between a second piston of a dual hydraulic variable force tensioner system and a hydraulic tensioner arm to allow much higher spring rates if desired. The springs may be stacked in multiple configurations to provide different spring rates. Package space can be reduced depending on the number of springs and orientations of said springs within the tensioner arm.

A tensioner comprising a base defining a hole, the hole having a center C, the hole having a diameter sufficient to receive a driven pulley, a rotary arm engaged with the base by a retaining member connected to the base, the rotary arm rotatable about the center C, a pivot arm mounted to the rotary arm on a pivot, the pivot offset from center C, a first pulley journalled to the rotary arm, a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a torsion spring engaged between the rotary arm and the pivot arm for biasing the second pulley toward the first pulley, a damping member frictionally engaged between the base and the rotary arm, and the rotary arm defining a portion for receiving a first pulley fastener whereby a first pulley position is adjustable.

A tensioner comprising a base defining a hole, the hole having a center C, the hole having a diameter sufficient to receive a driven pulley, a rotary arm engaged with the base by a retaining member connected to the base, the rotary arm rotatable about the center C, a pivot arm mounted to the rotary arm on a pivot, the pivot offset from center C, a first pulley journalled to the rotary arm, a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a torsion spring engaged between the rotary arm and the pivot arm for biasing the second pulley toward the first pulley, a damping member frictionally engaged between the base and the rotary arm, and the rotary arm defining a portion for receiving a first pulley fastener whereby a first pulley position is adjustable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive system capable of reducing sliding resistance between a chain and a guide shoe, suppressing an increase, over time, in sliding resistance, and reducing wear on the guide shoe. A chain drive system according to the present invention includes a chain having a plurality of chain plates, a plurality of sprockets on which the chain is wound, and one or more guides each including, integrally or separately, a guide shoe having a chain-running surface, and slidably guiding, in presence of lubricating oil, the chain. At least one of the plurality of chain plates has a lubricant region retaining a solid lubricant.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chain drive system capable of reducing sliding resistance between a chain and a guide shoe, suppressing an increase, over time, in sliding resistance, and reducing wear on the guide shoe. A chain drive system according to the present invention includes a chain having a plurality of chain plates, a plurality of sprockets on which the chain is wound, and one or more guides each including, integrally or separately, a guide shoe having a chain-running surface, and slidably guiding, in presence of lubricating oil, the chain. At least one of the plurality of chain plates has a lubricant region retaining a solid lubricant.

A belt-driven conical pulley transmission includes a first pulley sheave pair arranged on the first shaft, a second pulley sheave pair arranged on the second shaft, a belt means, a first slide rail, and a second slide rail. Each pulley sheave pair includes a first conical pully displaceable along a respective shaft axis and a second conical pulley fixed along the respective axis. The belt means is displaceable in a radial direction along respective contact faces of the pulley sheave pairs from an inner position to an outer position. The belt means includes a traction strand extending through an intermediate space between the first pulley sheave pair and the second pulley sheave pair, and a thrust strand extending through the intermediate space. The first slide rail is guides the traction strand and the second slide rail is designed different from the first slide rail and guides the thrust strand.

Wet-running flexible drive mechanism (1) for the transmission of torque having a drive element (2, 2) and an output element (3, 3), the drive element (2, 2) and the output element (3, 3) being drive-connected to one another via a flexible drive (14), the flexible drive (14) being arranged partially in a lubricant sump (4), characterized in that at least one guiding element (5) is arranged in the region of the lubricant sump (4), the guiding element (5) being shaped in such a way that a constriction (6) in the form of a gap which tapers in a wedge-shaped manner is formed between the flexible drive (14) which is arranged partially in the lubricant sump (4) and the guiding element (5).

Wet-running flexible drive mechanism (1) for the transmission of torque having a drive element (2, 2) and an output element (3, 3), the drive element (2, 2) and the output element (3, 3) being drive-connected to one another via a flexible drive (14), the flexible drive (14) being arranged partially in a lubricant sump (4), characterized in that at least one guiding element (5) is arranged in the region of the lubricant sump (4), the guiding element (5) being shaped in such a way that a constriction (6) in the form of a gap which tapers in a wedge-shaped manner is formed between the flexible drive (14) which is arranged partially in the lubricant sump (4) and the guiding element (5).

A drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley and an endless belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The drive pulley and the driven pulley rotate around axes parallel to each other. At least one of the drive pulley and the driven pulley has a protruding part protruding outwardly in a radial direction around an outer circumferential face along an entire circumference. At least one axial end portion among both axial end portions of the protruding part in an axial direction of the rotational axis has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of an axial center portion of the protruding part in the axial direction.

A drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley and an endless belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The drive pulley and the driven pulley rotate around axes parallel to each other. At least one of the drive pulley and the driven pulley has a protruding part protruding outwardly in a radial direction around an outer circumferential face along an entire circumference. At least one axial end portion among both axial end portions of the protruding part in an axial direction of the rotational axis has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of an axial center portion of the protruding part in the axial direction.