A conveyor chain having links joined by link pin biased into any of multiple operating positions with its positioning head blocked against rotation by engagement with a detent on a positioning link. The pin can be lifted so that its head is above the level of the detent, rotated to a new operating position, and allowed to be biased back into its position with the head again blocked against rotation by the detent, whereby the wear surface of the pin can be changed to accommodate for chain wear occurring when a link rotates relative to the link pin.

A conveyor chain having links joined by link pin biased into any of multiple operating positions with its positioning head blocked against rotation by engagement with a detent on a positioning link. The pin can be lifted so that its head is above the level of the detent, rotated to a new operating position, and allowed to be biased back into its position with the head again blocked against rotation by the detent, whereby the wear surface of the pin can be changed to accommodate for chain wear occurring when a link rotates relative to the link pin.

Niobium chromium low allow carbon steel for automotive chain link plates has improved wear resistance. In one preferred embodiment, the steel composition includes niobium, chromium, carbon, iron, and any impurities. One preferred composition including these components includes, by weight percentage, approximately 0.25% to 0.75% carbon, approximately 0.20% to 2.0% chromium, approximately 0.26% to 1.5% niobium, and the remaining component of the composition is iron. Trace amounts of impurities may also be present. In another embodiment, a steel composition includes, by weight percentage, approximately 0.25% to 0.75% carbon, approximately 0.2% to 1.0% manganese, approximately 0.05% to 0.60% silicon, approximately 0.26% to 1.5% niobium, approximately 0.20% to 2.0% chromium, up to approximately 0.30% aluminum, up to approximately 0.03% phosphorus, up to approximately 0.03% sulfur, and a remainder of the composition being iron and any other impurities.

In a chain belt having: plurality of link plates each provided with a pin hole; plurality of connecting pins to connect a part of the plurality of link plates in an endless annular form by being inserted into the pin holes across the part of the plurality of link plates in a state where the part of the plurality of link plates are overlapped; and a retainer pin welded to an end portion of the connecting pin and engaged with the link plate to prevent the link plate from coming off the connecting pin, the retainer pin is disposed in a posture in which an outer circumferential surface is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the connecting pin, and a plurality of points on the outer circumferential surface of the retainer pin separated from each other in the circumferential direction are welded to the connecting pin.

Provided are a chain component that has a simple surface treatment structure and can maintain good wear resistance over a long time, and a chain that includes the chain component and maintains good wear elongation resistance. The chain component of a power transmission chain for industrial use includes a chromium nitride layer formed on an outer side of a steel base material and containing more than 0 mass % but not more than 55 mass % iron. At least a surface of the chromium nitride layer that slides against other components is a rough surface with peaks and valleys.

A chain belt for a continuously variable transmission which has a plurality of links and a plurality of coupling members which connect the plurality of links together. Each of the coupling members has a first end with a first bore and a second end with a second bore. A first retaining pin is fastened within the first bore of each of the coupling members and a second retaining pin is fastened within the second bore of each of the coupling members. The first and second retaining pins retain the plurality of links on the coupling member.

A method is provided for producing chain link plates for a plate link chain with alternating inner chain links and outer chain links, where the contour of the chain link plates has several punch sections and two face side and rear side contact sections which, after punching out the punch sections from the sheet metal strip provided, are first connected to complementary contact sections of adjoining chain link plates and separated in a subsequent separation cut. Further provided are bush or roller chains with outer chain link plates thus produced and a corresponding chain drive for an internal combustion engine with such a bush or roller chain. The method comprises the steps of: providing a sheet metal strip, punching out the punch sections of the chain link plates from the sheet metal strip, where a further rear side contact section, in addition to the face side contact sections, is respectively connected at the head portions of the chain link plates to a complementary contact section of adjoining chain link plates, and separating the face side contact sections and the rear side contact sections of the head portions of the chain link plates by way of a substantially waste-free separation cut.

A method is provided for producing chain link plates for a plate link chain with alternating inner chain links and outer chain links, where the contour of the chain link plates has several punch sections and two face side and rear side contact sections which, after punching out the punch sections from the sheet metal strip provided, are first connected to complementary contact sections of adjoining chain link plates and separated in a subsequent separation cut. Further provided are bush or roller chains with outer chain link plates thus produced and a corresponding chain drive for an internal combustion engine with such a bush or roller chain. The method comprises the steps of: providing a sheet metal strip, punching out the punch sections of the chain link plates from the sheet metal strip, where a further rear side contact section, in addition to the face side contact sections, is respectively connected at the head portions of the chain link plates to a complementary contact section of adjoining chain link plates, and separating the face side contact sections and the rear side contact sections of the head portions of the chain link plates by way of a substantially waste-free separation cut.

A method for forming a laser-marked chain assembly. The method includes: coupling a plurality of chain links to one another for form a length of chain having a first and a second end; marking an outer plate of at least one of the plurality of chain links with a laser; and coupling the first and second ends to one another to form the laser-marked chain assembly.

Provided are a chain component that has a simple surface treatment structure and can maintain favorable wear resistance over a long time, and a chain that includes this chain component and maintains favorable wear elongation resistance. The chain component of a power transmission chain for industrial use includes a chromium nitride layer containing more than 0 mass % but not more than 55 mass % iron and formed on an outer side of a steel base material.