JP2006038140A - Driving chain - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light and inexpensive driving chain that can assemble easily and change the length freely besides it is excellent in the transmission efficiency and can take the speed change ratio largely. <P>SOLUTION: This is the driving chain 100 to which many variable speed connection units displacably abutting on a pair of conical sieves formed to a drive pulley and a driven pulley respectively are connected. Connection hinge mechanisms 131, 141, 150 to connect connection opposed faces 130, 140 of the above connection unit 110 mutually are formed in the position where the above connection opposed faces 130, 140 get across. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission chain used in a power transmission device such as a continuously variable transmission, and more particularly to a transmission chain in which a large number of connecting units are connected to each other by hinges so as to improve transmission efficiency.

  Conventionally, a continuously variable transmission has a V-shaped belt formed between a sheave and a driven pulley, each having a pair of conical sheaves each having a continuously variable groove width. By changing the width of the groove, the winding radius of the transmission belt is changed, and the rotation speed ratio between the driving pulley and the driven pulley, that is, the gear ratio is continuously changed continuously.

As a transmission belt (driving belt) of such a continuously variable transmission, a carrier made of an endless belt by slidably laminating a plurality of metal belts, supported by the carrier, and driven by the power of the driving pulley. It is composed of a large number of connecting units (elements) provided on both sides with sheave contact surfaces that transmit to the pulley, and the carriers are respectively fitted in slits provided on the left and right sides of the outer periphery side of the sheave contact surfaces of the connecting units ( Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2968547

  However, in such a transmission belt, since the carrier is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the sheave contact surface of the coupling unit, the rotation pitch diameter of the carrier and the rotation pitch diameter of the sheave contact surface are different. There is a problem that transmission efficiency decreases due to a lot of slippage. Moreover, since the carrier has a plurality of metal belts slidably laminated, the frictional resistance between the metal belts increases as the bending radius decreases. As a result, the transmission efficiency is lowered and the durability is also lowered, so that there is a problem that a large gear ratio cannot be obtained.

  In addition, the transmission belt is composed of a connecting unit and a carrier in which a plurality of metal belts are laminated, so the number of parts is large, and it is necessary to manufacture the metal belts to be laminated precisely. Since the unit forms a slit for inserting the carrier on the outer peripheral side of the sheave contact surface, the overall height is increased, the weight is increased, and the noise is increased, and the length of the transmission belt is determined by the length of the carrier. Therefore, there is a problem that the length cannot be changed after the transmission belt is formed.

  Furthermore, since the carrier is fitted in the left and right slits so that the connecting unit can slide, lateral displacement is likely to occur during traveling, and the connecting unit is separated from the carrier during assembly or when it is passed to the pulley. There is a problem that it takes time to assemble because it is easily detached, that is, easily disassembled.

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention, that is, the object of the present invention is excellent in transmission efficiency, can take a large gear ratio, can prevent lateral deviation during traveling, and is assembled. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-weight, low-noise and inexpensive transmission chain that can be easily changed in length.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 is a transmission chain in which a plurality of connecting units that are variably contacted with a pair of conical sheaves formed on a driving pulley and a driven pulley, respectively, and are variable in speed are connected. The connection hinge mechanism for connecting the connection facing surfaces of the units to each other is formed at a position crossing the connection facing surface, thereby solving the problem.

  Further, in the transmission chain according to claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the connection hinge mechanism includes a hollow protrusion-like connection boss and a hinge pin that penetrates the connection boss. Is a solution.

  Furthermore, the transmission chain according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or both of the connecting unit and the hinge pin are made of at least two different materials. It solves the problem.

  Further, in the transmission chain according to claim 4, in the invention according to claims 1 to 3, one or both of the connecting unit and the hinge pin are formed of at least two different thicknesses or diameters. The above-mentioned problem is solved.

By providing the configuration as described above, the present invention has the following specific effects.
That is, in the transmission chain according to the first aspect of the present invention, the connecting hinge mechanism for connecting the connecting facing surfaces of the connecting units to each other is formed at a position crossing the connecting facing surface, so that the rotational pitch radius of the transmission chain is increased. Is a coupling hinge mechanism that is close to or coincides with the rotational pitch diameter of the sheave contact surface that abuts the sheave, so that slippage with the sheave can be suppressed and transmission efficiency can be improved. Because it is connected by a hinge, it does not buckle even if the distance between the shafts is long, so it can handle transmissions with a long distance between the shafts, and even if the bending radius is reduced, the strength is not affected, and the sliding friction resistance in the hinge also changes. As a result, the gear ratio can be increased.

  In addition, since the connecting unit does not require a structure on the outer peripheral surface such as a slit that accommodates the carrier, the height can be reduced, so that the weight can be reduced and noise can be reduced, and the length also depends only on the number of connecting units. Therefore, the length can be easily changed by attaching or removing a required number of connecting units.

  The transmission chain according to claim 2 is the transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein the connection hinge mechanism includes a hollow protrusion-like connection boss and a hinge pin penetrating the connection boss. In addition to the effect of the invention according to item 1, since it can be formed simply by inserting a hinge pin into a connecting boss of an adjacent connecting unit, it is easy to assemble, and the components are only two points: a connecting unit having a connecting boss and a hinge pin. Therefore, it can be manufactured at low cost, and the side of the hollow boss-like connecting bosses provided on the connecting opposing surfaces collide with each other during traveling, so that the movement of the connecting unit in the horizontal direction is suppressed and lateral displacement is prevented. can do.

  Furthermore, the transmission chain according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or both of the connecting unit and the hinge pin are made of at least two different materials. By combining connecting units with different masses and / or hinge pins with different masses, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the meshing order sound can be reduced.

  Further, in the transmission chain according to claim 4, in the invention according to claims 1 to 3, one or both of the connecting unit and the hinge pin are configured with at least two or more different thicknesses or diameters, That is, by combining coupling units having different thicknesses and / or hinge pins having different diameters, in addition to the effects of the inventions according to the first to third aspects, the meshing order sound can be reduced.

  The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a continuously variable transmission in which a transmission chain of the present invention is wound between pulleys, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one connection facing surface of the connection unit of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the other connection facing surface of the connection unit of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the transmission chain connected to the connecting unit of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view of one connecting facing surface of the connecting unit of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the other connecting facing surface of the connecting unit of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a transmission chain connecting the connecting unit of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows a part of.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the transmission chain 100 of the present invention is configured in an endless manner by connecting a number of connecting units 110, and includes a drive pulley DP and a driven pulley RP of the continuously variable transmission CVT. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both side surfaces 120 of the coupling unit 110 are arranged in the pulleys DP and RP so as to transmit the power of the driving pulley DP to the driven pulley RP. A pair of conical sheaves DP1 and RP1 are in contact with each other, and by changing the V-shaped groove width between the sheaves DP1 and RP1, the winding radius of the transmission chain 100 is changed from the position shown in FIG. It changes steplessly to the position shown, and the rotation speed ratio between the driving pulley DP and the driven pulley RP, that is, the gear ratio, is continuously changed steplessly.

  The connection unit 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a metal plate-like body, and is formed between a pair of conical sheaves DP1 and RP1 of pulleys DP and RP as shown in FIGS. A sheave contact surface 120 that is inclined toward the shaft center of the pulleys DP and RP, and is in contact with a V-shaped groove formed on both sides. A hollow protrusion-like connecting boss 131 having an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface and a fitting recess 132 having an arc-shaped inner peripheral surface are provided adjacent to each other. A fitting recess 142 having an arc-shaped inner peripheral surface and a connecting boss 141 having an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface are provided adjacent to each other at a position corresponding to the fitting recess 132. Further, the through-hole 131a of the hollow projection-shaped connection boss 131 provided on one connection facing surface communicates with the fitting concave portion 142 provided on the other connection facing surface, and the hollow projection-shaped connection boss 131 provided on the other connection facing surface. The through hole 141a of the connecting boss 141 communicates with the fitting recess 132 provided on one connection facing surface, and is a recess integral with the fitting recesses 142 and 132. Note that the through hole of the hollow protrusion-shaped connecting boss and the recess for fitting may be provided independently of each other.

  When the adjacent connecting units 110 are brought into contact with each other at the time of connecting the connecting units, as shown in FIG. 6, the hollow protruding connection bosses provided on the connection facing surface 130 of one of the adjacent connecting units 110. 131 is fitted into the fitting recess 142 of the connection facing surface 140 of the other connection unit 110, and similarly, the hollow protrusion-shaped connection boss 141 provided on the connection facing surface 140 of the other connection unit 110 is also connected to the one connection unit 110. Of the connecting facing surface 130 of the first connecting unit 110 and the through hole 131a of the hollow projection-like connecting boss 131 of the connecting facing surface 130 of the one connecting unit 110 and the hollow of the connecting facing surface 140 of the other connecting unit 110. The through holes 141a of the projecting connection boss 141 communicate in the left-right direction, and the hinge pins 1 are connected to the through holes 131a and 141a. More inserting the 0, the hinge mechanism comprising a connecting boss 131, 141 and hinge pin 150 at a position crossing the center of the coupling facing surface is formed, and the transmission chain 100 connected units are connected to each other at the central portion. As described above, when the coupling hinge mechanism is formed at the center of the coupling facing surfaces 130 and 140, the rotational pitch diameter of the coupling unit 110 matches the rotational pitch diameter of the sheave contact surface 120, so that slippage with the sheave is suppressed. The transmission efficiency can be greatly improved.

  Further, the connection unit 110 is formed with a taper portion 133 that reduces the plate thickness from the connection protrusion 131 toward the inner peripheral surface on one or both of the connection facing surfaces 130 and 140. The shaft 100 is rotatable about the axis of the hinge pin 150, that is, the transmission chain 100 is rotatable within the pulleys DP and RP. Note that a stepped portion may be used instead of the tapered portion 133.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, a large number of hollow protrusion-like connection bosses 131 and 141 are provided at intervals on the connection facing surfaces 130 and 140 of the connection unit 110. As in the first embodiment, the pulleys DP and RP Sheave contact surfaces 120 inclined toward the axial center are provided on both sides, and at the center of one connection facing surface 130, there are seven hollow projecting connection bosses 131 having an arcuate outer peripheral surface and an arcuate inner periphery. Six fitting recesses 132 having a surface are alternately arranged, and the other connection facing surface 140 has seven arc-shaped inner peripheries at positions corresponding to the hollow protrusion-like connection boss 131 and the fitting recess 132. Recesses 142 for fitting having surfaces and hollow boss-like connection bosses 141 having six arcuate outer peripheral surfaces are alternately arranged, and in the same manner as in the first embodiment, a hollow protrusion shape provided with one connection facing surface. Through hole 13 of connecting boss 131 a is communicated with the fitting recess 142 provided on the other connection facing surface, and the through-hole 141a of the hollow projection-like connection boss 141 provided on the other connection facing surface is the fitting recess 132 provided on one connection facing surface. However, the through holes of the hollow protrusion-shaped connecting bosses and the recesses for fitting may be provided independently of each other. Further, a taper portion 133 is formed on one connection facing surface 130 so as to reduce the plate thickness from the hollow protrusion-shaped connection boss 131 toward the inner peripheral surface side.

  Then, when the adjacent connecting units 110 are brought into contact with each other when the connecting units are connected, as shown in FIG. 9, seven hollow projection-like connections provided on the connection facing surface 130 of one of the adjacent connecting units 110 are connected. The boss 131 is fitted into each of the seven fitting recesses 142 of the connection facing surface 140 of the other connection unit 110, and is similarly connected to six hollow protrusions provided on the connection facing surface 140 of the other connection unit 110. The boss 141 is fitted into each of the six fitting recesses 132 of the connection facing surface 130 of the one connection unit 110 and penetrates through the hollow protruding connection boss 131 provided on the connection facing surface 130 of the one connection unit 110. The through hole 141a of the hollow boss-like connection boss 141 provided on the connection facing surface 140 of the other connection unit 110 is in the left-right direction. Through these through holes 131a, by inserting the hinge pin 150 to 141a, the coupling unit 110 are coupled to each other the transmission chain 100 hinge mechanism is formed at a position crossing the center of the coupling facing surface. Also, when connecting, at least a part of the hollow boss-like connecting boss through hole and the hinge pin are firmly fitted, or after connecting, the hinge pin end is caulked to prevent the hinge pin from coming off. For example, in FIG. 9, when the insertion terminal portion of the hinge pin 150 has a large diameter and is inserted into the through holes 131a and 141a of the hollow projection-shaped connecting bosses 131 and 141, the large diameter portion of the hinge pin 150 is the hollow projection at the end. Can be firmly fitted into the through hole 161a of the connection boss 161.

  In the first and second embodiments, an odd number of hollow protrusion-like connection bosses and an even number of recesses for fitting are provided on one connection facing surface of the connection unit, and an even number of hollow protrusions are provided on the other connection facing surface. The connecting boss in the shape of a hollow and an odd number of recesses for fitting are provided, but the connecting boss in the shape of a hollow protrusion provided on the connecting facing surface of one adjacent connecting unit is provided for the connecting facing surface of the other connecting unit. The number of hollow protrusion-like connecting bosses and fitting recesses can be arbitrarily selected as long as the recesses can be fitted into the recesses. By providing a large number of hollow protrusion-like connection bosses in this way, the force applied to the inside of the hinge pin and the hollow protrusion-like connection boss is dispersed and made uniform, and the sliding between the hinge pin and the through hole of the hollow protrusion-like connection boss becomes uniform. Wear is suppressed and the life can be extended.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the hollow projecting connection bosses of the opposing connection facing surfaces are fitted into the respective connection facing surfaces so that the connection facing surfaces of the adjacent connection units come into contact with each other. In addition to providing a recessed portion for fitting, and a tapered portion that forms a rotation space between the connecting facing surfaces, the connecting hinge mechanism is disposed at a position protruding from the connecting facing surface, and between adjacent connecting units. If it is possible to form a space in which the connecting unit can rotate around the connecting hinge mechanism, a fitting recess for inserting the tapered boss and the hollow projecting connecting boss is not required, but from the viewpoint of transmission efficiency and running stability. As in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable to form a tapered portion and a fitting concave portion and connect the adjacent connecting units so as to contact each other.

Furthermore, the transmission chain of the present invention is configured by combining (a) a coupling unit made of different materials and / or hinge pins made of different materials, and (b) combining a coupling unit of different thicknesses and / or hinge pins of different diameters. And (a) and (b) can be combined. When the transmission chain is configured in this way, the meshing with the sheave becomes random, and the timing of contact with the sheave is different, so that the meshing order sound can be reduced.
In addition, as a material of a connection unit, although a metal is preferable from workability and durability, you may form with a synthetic resin or a ceramic.

  In addition, the connecting unit can be provided with a recess for storing oil on the sheave contact surface to draw out the performance of the oil, and an indentation for weight reduction is formed on the inner peripheral surface and / or the outer peripheral surface. It may be formed. By forming such a weight reducing recess, the transmission chain can be further reduced in weight.

  As described above, in the transmission chain of the present invention, the coupling facing surfaces of the coupling units are coupled by the coupling hinge mechanism formed at a position crossing the coupling facing surface, thereby improving the transmission efficiency and increasing the gear ratio. It is possible to prevent lateral displacement during traveling, and it is easy to assemble, can be freely changed in length, is light and inexpensive, and has a tremendous effect.

The front view of the continuously variable transmission which spanned the transmission chain of this invention between the pulleys. AA sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view of one connection opposing surface of the connection unit of 1st Example of this invention. The perspective view of the other connection opposing surface of the connection unit of 1st Example of this invention. The partial perspective view of the power transmission chain of 1st Example of this invention. The perspective view of one connection opposing surface of the connection unit of 2nd Example of this invention. The perspective view of the other connection opposing surface of the connection unit of 2nd Example of this invention. The partial perspective view of the transmission chain of 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Transmission chain 110 ... Connection unit 120 ... Sheave contact surface 130 ... One connection opposing surface 131 ... Connection boss 131a ... Through-hole 132 ... Fitting recessed part 133 ... · Tapered portion 140 ··· other connecting facing surface 141 ··· connecting boss 141a ··· through hole 142 ··· fitting recess 150 · · · hinge pin CVT · · · continuously variable transmission DP · · · drive pulley DP1 ... sheave RP ... driven pulley RP1 ... sheave

Claims (4)

In a transmission chain in which a plurality of connecting units that are variably contacted with a pair of conical sheaves formed respectively on a driving pulley and a driven pulley are connected to each other,
A transmission chain, wherein a coupling hinge mechanism for coupling the coupling facing surfaces of the coupling unit to each other is formed at a position crossing the coupling facing surface.   The transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein the connection hinge mechanism includes a hollow protrusion-like connection boss and a hinge pin that penetrates the connection boss.   3. The transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the connecting unit and the hinge pin are made of at least two different materials.   4. The transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the connection unit and the hinge pin are configured of at least two or more different thicknesses or diameters. 5.

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