PLATE LINK CHAIN

Abstract

A plate link chain for a continuously variable cone pulley belt transmission of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of cradle thrust pieces arranged in joints, a plurality of link plates coupled by the joints, and a contact device disposed between a pair of the joints. The contact device includes a contact surface arranged to contact a pulley surface. In an example embodiment, the contact device is arranged in a free space of the plate link chain facing towards the pulley surface. In an example embodiment the contact device is attached to a one of the plurality of link plates. In an example embodiment, the plate link chain includes a frame, and the contact device is attached to the frame. In an example embodiment, the contact surface is convexly curved. In an example embodiment, the contact surface is elastic relative to the pulley surface.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A plate link chain for a continuously variable cone pulley belt transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of cradle thrust pieces arranged in joints; a plurality of link plates coupled by the joints; and a contact device, disposed between a pair of the joints, comprising: a contact surface arranged to contact a pulley surface.

12. The plate link chain of claim 11, wherein the contact device is arranged in a free space of the plate link chain facing towards the pulley surface.

13. The plate link chain of claim 11, wherein the contact device is attached to a one of the plurality of link plates.

14. The plate link chain of claim 11, further comprising a frame, wherein the contact device is attached to the frame.

15. The plate link chain of claim 14, wherein the frame engages two joints which are adjacent in a running direction of the plate link chain.

16. The plate link chain of claim 14, wherein the frame engages the plurality of link plates transversely to a running direction of the plate link chain.

17. The plate link chain of claim 11, wherein the contact surface is convexly curved.

18. The plate link chain of claim 11, wherein the contact surface is elastic relative to the pulley surface.

19. The plate link chain of claim 11, wherein the contact device comprises: a contact element; and an elastic element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further advantages, features and details of the disclosure emerge from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. In the figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a conventional plate link chain;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a plate link chain similar to that in FIG. 1, wherein a contact device is arranged in a design-related free space;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged representation of a detail III from FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a plate link chain similar to that in FIGS. 2 and 3 in a plan view of a contact device;

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a plate link chain similar to that in FIG. 2 with a contact device which is attached to a frame which engages two joints of the plate link chain which are adjacent in the chain running direction;

[0025] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail VI from FIG. 5;

[0026] FIG. 7 shows the plate link chain from FIG. 6 with the contact device in a plan view;

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a representation similar to that in FIG. 2 with an alternative contact device;

[0028] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged detail IX from FIG. 8;

[0029] FIG. 10 shows the plate link chain from FIG. 9 with the contact device in a plan view;

[0030] FIG. 11 shows a plate link chain similar to that in FIG. 2 with an alternative contact device;

[0031] FIG. 12 shows an enlarged detail XII from FIG. 11;

[0032] FIG. 13 shows the plate link chain from FIG. 12 with the contact device in a plan view;

[0033] FIG. 14 shows a plate link chain similar to that in FIG. 2 with a contact device which is attached to a frame which engages the link plates transversely to the running direction of the plate link chain;

[0034] FIG. 15 shows an enlarged detail XV from FIG. 14; and

[0035] FIG. 16 shows the plate link chain from FIG. 15 with the contact device in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In FIG. 1, a conventional plate link chain 1 with a plurality of link plates 2 is shown in simplified form. The link plates 2 of the link plate link chain 1 are coupled to one another in a known manner by joints 3, 4. The plate link chain 1 is designed, for example, like the plate link chain shown in FIG. 1 of the German patent application DE 101 10 896 A1.

[0037] The cradle thrust pieces 5 to 8 are used to represent the joints 3, 4. The cradle thrust pieces 5, 6 are combined in a cradle thrust piece pair, which is used to represent the joint 3. The cradle thrust pieces 7, 8 are combined in a cradle thrust piece pair, which is used to represent the joint 4. The joints 3, 4 are also referred to as cradle joints.

[0038] In FIG. 2, a plate link chain 31 according to the disclosure is shown in the same manner as in FIG. 1. A contact device 20 is arranged in the plate link chain 31 in a design-related free space 32 of the plate link chain 31. As can be seen in the enlarged view of detail III from FIG. 2 in FIG. 3, a contact device 20 includes a contact element 21 and an elastic element 22.

[0039] The elastic element 22 is designed as a spring device and is attached to a link plate 33 which delimits the free space 32 between the cradle thrust pieces 6 and 7. The contact element 21 is made of metal, for example, and has a contact surface 26. The contact surface 26 is convexly curved. With the contact surface 26, the contact element 21 of the contact device 20 rests against a pulley surface 25, shown in simplified form, of a cone pulley, not further shown, of a cone pulley pair of a pulley set of a cone pulley belt transmission.

[0040] By means of the elastic element 22, the contact device 20 with the contact element 21 is pretensioned against the pulley surface 25. The elastic pretensioning ensures that the contact element 21 remains in contact with the pulley surface 25 during operation of the plate link chain 31. The pretensioning force of the elastic element 22 may be selected such that no forces are transmitted from the pulley surface 25 via the contact device 20 to the plate link chain 31.

[0041] In FIG. 4, a plate link chain 41 is shown in plan view. The plate link chain 41 can correspond to the plate link chain 31 in FIG. 2. A contact device 40 is attached to a link plate 42 of the plate link chain 41. The contact device 40 includes two elastic elements 43, 44, only indicated, which are designed as springs, for example. A common contact element 45 of the contact device 40 is attached to the two elastic elements 43, 44. The contact element 45 has the shape of an ellipse in the plan view shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] FIGS. 5 to 7 show a plate link chain 51 with a contact device 50. The contact device 50, for example, is the same as or similar to the contact device 20 in FIGS. 2 and 3 or 40 in FIG. 4. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiment, the contact device 50 is not attached to a link plate of the plate link chain 51, but rather to a frame 55.

[0043] As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame 55 engages the two joints 3, 4 of the plate link chain 51 which are adjacent in the chain running direction. The frame 55 has essentially the same shape as one of the link plates 2 of the link plate link chain 51. Depending on the design, the frame 55 can be designed to be at least partially elastic in order to ensure that the plate link chain 5 functions properly.

[0044] In FIG. 7 it can be seen that the essentially rectangular frame 55 includes a central web 56 to which the contact device 50 is attached. The two spring devices or elastic elements 43, 44 to which the contact element 45 is attached are used, for example, to fasten the contact device 50 to the central web 56.

[0045] In FIGS. 8 to 10, a plate link chain 61 with a contact device 60 is shown. The contact device 60 comprises only a single contact element 64. The contact element 64 is made, for example, from a suitable plastic material to represent the desired elasticity or elastic connection. Otherwise, the contact device 60 is designed and arranged in the same way as, for example, the contact device 20 in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0046] In FIGS. 11 to 13 it is indicated that the contact device (60 in FIGS. 8 to 10) of the plate link chain 61 can also be designed as a two-part contact device 66. The contact device 66 includes a metallic contact element 67 which is attached to an elastic element 68. The elastic element 68 is, for example, like the contact element 64 in FIGS. 9 to 11, formed from a suitable plastic material. In contrast to this, the contact element 67 is formed from a metallic material. This prevents undesirable wear when the contact device 66 comes into contact with the pulley surface.

[0047] In FIGS. 14 to 16 it is shown that a contact device 70, which for example corresponds to the contact device 20 in FIGS. 2, 3 or the contact device 40 in FIG. 4, can also be attached to an alternative frame 75. The frame 75 engages all the link plates 2 of the plate link chain 71 transversely to the chain running direction. The contact device 70 may be attached to the frame 75, for example, with a material fit and/or a form fit.

[0048] The same reference signs are used in FIGS. 1 to 16 to designate the same or similar parts. To avoid repetition, only or mainly the differences between the plate link chains 1; 31; 41; 51; 61; 71 are described.

[0049] All contact devices 20; 40; 50; 60; 66; 70 have in common that they are each arranged in the design-related free space 32 of the respective plate link chain. In the installed state, all free spaces in the plate link chain may be equipped with a contact device. In this way, a much shorter pulse sequence with positive acoustic properties can be achieved in a simple manner during operation of the plate link chain.

[0050] The contact devices 20; 40; 50; 60; 66; 70 should not necessarily transfer forces between the pulley sets, but rather only bring about an additional impact on the pulley. In order to ensure that the pulley is touched, but that no high forces are then absorbed, the contact elements 21; 45; 67 may be elastically connected to the plate link chain 1; 31; 41; 51; 61; 71.

[0051] Due to the rather low forces during operation, the wear on the contact devices 20; 40; 50; 60; 66; 70 can be kept low during operation of the plate link chain. The contact devices 20; 40; 50; 60; 66; 70 can also be introduced in conventional plate link chains 1; 31; 41; 51; 61; 71, since the existing free spaces can be used for receiving the contact devices 20; 40; 50; 60; 66; 70.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0052] 1 Plate link chain

[0053] 2 Link plates

[0054] 3 Joint

[0055] 4 Joint

[0056] 5 Cradle thrust piece

[0057] 6 Cradle thrust piece

[0058] 7 Cradle thrust piece

[0059] 8 Cradle thrust piece

[0060] 20 Contact device

[0061] 21 Contact element

[0062] 22 Elastic element

[0063] 25 Pulley surface

[0064] 26 Contact surface

[0065] 31 Plate link chain

[0066] 32 Free space

[0067] 33 Link plate

[0068] 40 Contact device

[0069] 41 Plate link chain

[0070] 42 Link plate

[0071] 43 Elastic element

[0072] 44 Elastic element

[0073] 45 Contact element

[0074] 50 Contact device

[0075] 51 Plate link chain

[0076] 55 Frame

[0077] 56 Central web

[0078] 60 Contact device

[0079] 61 Plate link chain

[0080] 64 Contact element

[0081] 66 Contact device

[0082] 67 Contact element

[0083] 68 Elastic element

[0084] 70 Contact device

[0085] 71 Plate link chain