Greasable idler pulleys and related kits and methods are disclosed. The greasable idler pulley has a rotating body, a bearing, to enable the rotating body to rotate with respect to a shaft, and grease fitting defined through the rotating body. The rotating body may have a bearing seal cap having an orifice and a rotator. The grease fitting may be in fluid communication with the bearing through the orifice in the bearing seal cap. Kits are also contemplated, such as a kit for retrofitting a non-regreasable idler pulley including a rotator to a regreasable idler pulley. Methods may include methods of producing a regreasable idler pulley from a non-regreasable idler pulley.

A single chain drive is disclosed that includes a drive sprocket, a drive motor, idler sprockets, front and rear axle sprockets, and a single chain. The drive motor rotates the drive sprocket, which rotates the idler sprockets, which rotate the single chain, which rotates the front and rear axle sprockets. The drive sprocket can be a lantern gear with covers, and pins that connect the cover, and the idler sprockets can have teeth that mesh with the pins between the covers of the drive sprocket. A drive shaft can couple the drive motor and drive sprocket, and an integrated parking brake can prevent rotation of the drive shaft when engaged. A chain case with lubricant can enclose the drive sprocket, idler sprockets, chain, and axle sprockets. The drive sprocket, idler sprockets and axle sprockets can be sized to provide a desired gear reduction.

An intermediate wall is provided with a return oil hole through which oil discharged from a friction engagement device returns toward an oil reservoir. A chain drive is disposed adjacent to the intermediate wall. The chain drive transmits a driving force from an input member and/or a rotary electric machine to an oil pump. There is provided an oil guide through which oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided to a region other than a chain placement region inside a case. The chain placement region is a region where a chain of the chain drive is placed.

To provide a chain guide, chain drive device, and transmission system, with which an amount of lubricating oil supplied to guide surfaces is increased. The chain guide includes an upper additional extension formed to extend from an upper end of a sliding guide part in the guide longitudinal direction and having an oil-recovery guide surface positioned opposite and spaced from the chain.

A transmission for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor and a flexible traction drive mechanism which includes a first traction mechanism wheel, such as, a gear or pulley, which is rotationally fixed to a rotor shaft of the electric motor, a second traction mechanism wheel which can be rotationally fixed to a transmission component and which is drivingly connected to the first traction mechanism wheel by a traction mechanism, such as, a belt or chain, and a bearing journal for supporting the first traction mechanism wheel. An oil line extends through the bearing journal, and oil can be fed to the electric motor via the oil line.

A transmission for a motor vehicle includes an electric motor and a flexible traction drive mechanism which includes a first traction mechanism wheel, such as, a gear or pulley, which is rotationally fixed to a rotor shaft of the electric motor, a second traction mechanism wheel which can be rotationally fixed to a transmission component and which is drivingly connected to the first traction mechanism wheel by a traction mechanism, such as, a belt or chain, and a bearing journal for supporting the first traction mechanism wheel. An oil line extends through the bearing journal, and oil can be fed to the electric motor via the oil line.

An intermediate wall is provided with a return oil hole through which oil discharged from a friction engagement device returns toward an oil reservoir. A chain drive is disposed adjacent to the intermediate wall. The chain drive transmits a driving force from an input member and/or a rotary electric machine to an oil pump. There is provided an oil guide through which oil flowing through the return oil hole is guided to a region other than a chain placement region inside a case. The chain placement region is a region where a chain of the chain drive is placed.

When a contact area with a chain guide is reduced to a small area by forming a back surface of a link plate into a convex portion having a round shape or the like, a friction coefficient in a fluid lubrication region is reduced (region E). A coating film containing 10% or more of chromium is formed on the link plate. A friction modifier made of a molybdenum compound such as MoDTC and added to a lubricating oil promotes generation of MoS.sub.2 by the chromium coating film, and prevents an increase in the friction coefficient in a boundary lubrication region.

When a contact area with a chain guide is reduced to a small area by forming a back surface of a link plate into a convex portion having a round shape or the like, a friction coefficient in a fluid lubrication region is reduced (region E). A coating film containing 10% or more of chromium is formed on the link plate. A friction modifier made of a molybdenum compound such as MoDTC and added to a lubricating oil promotes generation of MoS.sub.2 by the chromium coating film, and prevents an increase in the friction coefficient in a boundary lubrication region.

A single chain drive is disclosed that includes a drive sprocket, a drive motor, idler sprockets, front and rear axle sprockets, and a single chain. The drive motor rotates the drive sprocket, which rotates the idler sprockets, which rotate the single chain, which rotates the front and rear axle sprockets. The drive sprocket can be a lantern gear with covers, and pins that connect the cover, and the idler sprockets can have teeth that mesh with the pins between the covers of the drive sprocket. A drive shaft can couple the drive motor and drive sprocket, and an integrated parking brake can prevent rotation of the drive shaft when engaged. A chain case with lubricant can enclose the drive sprocket, idler sprockets, chain, and axle sprockets. The drive sprocket, idler sprockets and axle sprockets can be sized to provide a desired gear reduction.