High-performance silent chain

Abstract

A hybrid roller/silent chain of the present invention has the wear resistance of a roller chain combined with the noise performance of a silent chain. This is accomplished with the use of transverse load-bearing elements that allow increased bearing area for the articulating members of the chain by allowing load to be transmitted through both the inside and outside diameter of the element in the same plane. In some embodiments, the transverse load-bearing elements are bushings. In other embodiments, the elements are projections extending from non-guide row inside links.

1 . A chain comprising: 
 a plurality of links, each link comprising a pair of link apertures, each link aperture having an aperture diameter and an inner aperture surface;    a plurality of transverse load-bearing elements, each element comprising an outer element surface, having an outer element diameter, and an element aperture, having an inner element surface and an inner element diameter, each element passing through at least one link aperture; and    a plurality of cylindrical pins, each pin comprising an outer pin surface and an outer pin diameter, each pin passing through at least one link aperture and through at least one element aperture, the outer pin diameters being less than the inner element diameters, such that the outer pin surface is moveable relative to the inner element surface;    wherein the aperture diameter of at least one link is larger than the outer element diameters, such that the outer element surface is moveable relative to the inner aperture surface of the link;    such that the outer pin surface bears and articulates against the inner element surface and the inner aperture surface, through which the element passes, bears and articulates against the outer element surface, a use of both the inner element surface and the outer element surface to carry a load in a plane of the links allowing an increased bearing area for a given chain width.    
   
   
       2 . The chain of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse load-bearing elements are bushings.  
   
   
       3 . The chain of  claim 1 , the plurality of links further comprising a plurality of first links, a plurality of second links, and a plurality of outside links; 
 wherein each transverse load-bearing element passes through at least one second link aperture;    wherein each pin passes through at least one outside link aperture;    wherein the links are arranged in rows, alternating between a first row comprising at least one first link and a second row comprising at least one outside link on each edge of the chain and at least one second link;    wherein the first links and the transverse load-bearing elements are fixed such that no relative movement occurs between the first link and the transverse load-bearing element;    wherein the second link aperture diameters are larger than the outer element diameters such that the outer element surface is moveable relative to the second link inner aperture surface; and    wherein the outside link aperture diameters and the pin diameters are tightly fit such that no relative movement occurs between the outside link inner aperture surface and the outer pin surface;    such that the chain is made up of alternating first rows of first links rigidly affixed to the transverse load-bearing elements and second rows of second links movable on the transverse load-bearing elements and outside links affixed to the pins, wherein the first rows and second rows are articulately connected together along a direction of travel.    
   
   
       4 . The chain of  claim 3 , the first links further comprising: 
 a first link body comprising a pair of first link apertures, each first link aperture having a first link aperture diameter and a first link inner aperture surface; and    the transverse load-bearing elements, each element comprising a pair of projections, each projection extending laterally from the first link body at each first link aperture, thereby increasing the width of the first link inner aperture surface, and comprising an outer projection diameter and an outer projection surface.    
   
   
       5 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the first links are inverted-tooth type links.  
   
   
       6 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the second links are inverted-tooth type links.  
   
   
       7 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the outside links are inverted-tooth type links.  
   
   
       8 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the outside links are guide links.  
   
   
       9 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the second links are positioned along a centerline of the chain.  
   
   
       10 . The chain of  claim 9 , wherein the second links are non-inverted center guide links.  
   
   
       11 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein each first row is a non-guide row.  
   
   
       12 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein each second row comprises a plurality of second links positioned symmetrically along a centerline of the chain.  
   
   
       13 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein each pin passes through links in a sequential order of an outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, and an outside link.  
   
   
       14 . The chain of  claim 13 , wherein each at least one first link in the sequential order comprises two first links.  
   
   
       15 . The chain of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one second link in the sequential order comprises two second links.  
   
   
       16 . The chain of  claim 15 , wherein each at least one first link in the sequential order comprises two first links.  
   
   
       17 . The chain of  claim 16 , the sequential order further comprising a third link between the two second links, wherein the third link is in the first row and is a non-inverted link.  
   
   
       18 . The chain of  claim 3 , wherein the inner element surface is discontinuous on each pin, such that each pin passes through two transverse load-bearing elements.  
   
   
       19 . The chain of  claim 18 , wherein each pin passes through links in a sequential order of an outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, at least one outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, and an outside link.  
   
   
       20 . The chain of  claim 19 , wherein the two transverse load-bearing elements are separated on the pin by the at least one outside link.  
   
   
       21 . The chain of  claim 18 , wherein the two transverse load-bearing elements are separated by at least one third link, each third link being in the second row and comprising a pair of third link apertures, each third link aperture having a third link aperture diameter and a third link inner aperture surface, the third link aperture diameters being larger than the pin diameters such that the outer pin surface is moveable relative to the third link inner aperture surface.  
   
   
       22 . The chain of  claim 21 , wherein each pin passes through links in a sequential order of an outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, at least one third link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, and an outside link.  
   
   
       23 . The chain of  claim 18 , wherein the two transverse load-bearing elements are separated by at least one third link, each third link being in the second row and comprising a pair of third link apertures, each third link aperture having a third link aperture diameter and a third link inner aperture surface, the third link aperture diameters and the pin diameters being tightly fit such that no relative movement occurs between the third link inner aperture surface and the outer pin surface.  
   
   
       24 . The chain of  claim 23 , wherein each pin passes through links in a sequential order of an outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, at least one third link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, and an outside link.  
   
   
       25 . The chain of  claim 18 , wherein each pin passes through links in a sequential order of an outside link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, at least one second link, at least one first link, and an outside link.  
   
   
       26 . The chain of  claim 25 , wherein each at least one second link in the sequential order comprises two second links.