JP2005054940A - Power transmitting chain and power transmission using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power transmitting chain in which an abnormal wear and an abnormal slippage can be effectively prevented from occurring even when a misalignment exists between pulleys. <P>SOLUTION: The power transmitting chain is provided with a plurality of links 2, a plurality of pins 3, and a plurality of strips. A gap permitting the misalignment existing between the pulleys is formed between the links 2, pins 3, and the strips 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power transmission chain used in a so-called chain type continuously variable transmission or the like employed in a vehicle or the like, and a power transmission device using the power transmission chain.

As a continuously variable transmission (CVT) of an automobile, for example, a drive pulley provided on the engine side, a driven pulley provided on the drive wheel side, and a plurality of links spanned between the two And an endless chain having a plurality of pins and a plurality of strips for interconnecting them. In such a chain-type continuously variable transmission, the conical sheave surface of each pulley and the pin end surface of the chain make a slight sliding contact in the circumferential direction of the sheave surface, thereby generating traction. To transmit power. Then, by continuously changing the groove width (distance between sheave surfaces) of at least one of the drive pulley and the driven pulley, it is possible to perform a continuously variable transmission with a smooth movement different from the conventional gear type. .
In such a chain type continuously variable transmission, the chain is configured by press-fitting a pin or a strip into a through-hole of a link in order to transmit power with high efficiency (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-312725 (page 4)

  However, the chain as described above is formed to be able to bend in the power transmission direction (chain traveling direction), but can hardly be moved in directions other than that direction. As shown in a) to (c), misalignment A in which a deviation occurs in the horizontal direction (direction orthogonal to the power transmission direction) between the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32, and directions in which the pulleys 31 and 32 are different from each other. If there is a misalignment B caused by turning to a position, a misalignment C caused by rotating so as to be twisted between the pulleys 31 and 32, or a misalignment in which these are combined, the pulley on the side with a smaller winding angle is suitable. Difficult to clamp. Therefore, when power is transmitted over a long period of time, contact between the sheave surface of the pulley and the end surface of the pin occurs, causing abnormal wear on the sheave surface of the pulley or the end surface of the pin, or between the sheave surface of the pulley and the end surface of the pin. There is a problem that an abnormal slip occurs between the two. For this reason, in a power transmission device such as a chain-type continuously variable transmission, development of a technology having a large allowable range of misalignment between pulleys is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a power transmission chain that can effectively suppress the occurrence of abnormal wear and abnormal slip even if misalignment exists between pulleys, and power transmission using the power transmission chain The purpose is to provide a device.

  The power transmission chain of the present invention includes a plurality of links having through holes, a plurality of pins that are inserted through the through holes and interconnect the plurality of links, and one side of the plurality of pins that are inserted through the through holes. A plurality of strips having one side contacting the first pulley, and a first pulley having a conical sheave surface and a second pulley having a conical sheave surface. A power transmission chain in which the end face of the pin and the sheave surfaces of the first and second pulleys are in contact with each other to transmit power, between the inner wall surface of the through hole of the link and the other side surface of the pin; At least one of the inner wall surface of the through hole of the link and the other side surface of the strip has a gap that allows misalignment that exists between the first pulley and the second pulley. .

  According to said structure, the clearance gap which accept | permits the misalignment which exists between at least one of between the through-hole of the said link and the said pin and between the through-hole of the said link and the said strip is provided. Therefore, it has flexibility also in directions other than the power transmission direction. That is, it has flexibility also in the misalignment direction. For this reason, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of one-side contact between the pin end surface and the sheave surface of the pulley, and the pulley being unable to properly clamp the chain.

  In the power transmission chain, it is preferable that at least one of a side surface on both ends of the pin and a side surface on both ends of the strip has a protruding portion for locking the link. In the above power transmission chain, a pin or strip is not press-fitted into the through hole of the link, and a gap of a certain size is provided, so that the link is more easily dropped compared to a conventional chain. However, if a further configuration in which at least one of the pin and the strip is provided with a projection for preventing the link from falling off, the projection functions as a stopper for the link, so that the link falls off while providing flexibility to the chain. It has the advantage of becoming a power transmission chain that is difficult to perform.

  Further, in the power transmission chain, the links disposed on both ends in the chain width direction among the plurality of links have a through hole formed smaller than through holes of other links, and the pins and It is preferable that at least one of the strips is press-fitted only into links arranged on both ends in the chain width direction among the plurality of links. In this case, since at least one of the pin and the strip is fitted and fixed to the through-holes of the links arranged at both ends in the chain width direction, there is an advantage that the link is a power transmission chain in which the link is difficult to drop off. .

  Further, in the power transmission chain, the links disposed on both ends in the chain width direction of the plurality of links have a through hole formed smaller than the through holes of the other links, and the pins It is preferable that at least one of the side surfaces on both ends and the side surfaces on both ends of the strip has a groove portion into which the inner wall edge portion of the through hole of the link disposed on both ends in the chain width direction enters. In this case, the inner wall edge portion of the through hole of the link on both ends in the chain width direction enters the groove on the side surface on at least one of the pins and the strip, and locks the links on both ends. Has the advantage of becoming a power transmission chain that is less likely to fall off.

  The power transmission device according to the present invention includes a first pulley having a conical sheave surface, a second pulley having a conical sheave surface, and a plurality of through holes that are spanned between the two pulleys. A chain having a link, a plurality of pins that are inserted through the through-holes and connect the plurality of links to each other, and a plurality of strips that are inserted through the through-holes and have one side that contacts one side of the plurality of pins And the chain is the power transmission chain described above.

  According to the above configuration, even if there is a misalignment between the first pulley and the second pulley, between the through hole of the link and the pin and between the through hole of the link and the strip. At least one of them is provided with a gap that allows misalignment between the pulleys, so that the chain exhibits flexibility in the misalignment direction. For this reason, when power is transmitted, it is effectively suppressed that the pin end surface and the sheave surface of the pulley are caused to come into contact with each other, resulting in abnormal wear and slippage, and the pulley cannot properly clamp the chain. It will be a thing.

As described above, the power transmission chain according to the present invention has a gap that allows misalignment between pulleys in at least one of the link through hole and the pin and between the link through hole and the strip. Therefore, the occurrence of abnormal wear or abnormal slip is effectively suppressed.
In addition, since the power transmission device of the present invention uses the chain having the above gap, the occurrence of abnormal wear or abnormal slip is effectively suppressed, and power transmission can be performed stably over a long period of time.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a main configuration of a chain for a so-called chain-type continuously variable transmission (hereinafter also simply referred to as “chain”) according to a first embodiment of a power transmission chain of the present invention. The chain 1 according to this embodiment is endless, and includes a plurality of metal (bearing steel, etc.) links 2, and a plurality of metal (bearing steel, etc.) pins 3 for connecting the links 2 to each other. The strips 5 are slightly shorter than the pins 3. In FIG. 1, some of the links and pins at the approximate center in the width direction of the chain 2 are partially omitted.

  The link 2 has a shape in which the outline is a gentle curve, and two through-holes 4 are provided for each sheet, and all the links 2 are formed to have substantially the same outline. The through hole 4 is formed so that the pin 3 and the strip 5 can be inserted. Such links 2 are arranged in a predetermined order in parallel to the width direction of the chain 1 and are connected so as to be bent in the longitudinal direction (power transmission direction) of the chain 1.

  2 and 3, the pin 3 is a rod-like body having an end surface that comes into contact with the sheave surface of the pulley, and is inserted through the through holes of the links 2 arranged in the width direction of the chain 1. It is comprised so that 2 can be connected. A gap d is formed between the other side surface of the pin 3 (the surface not in contact with the strip 5) and the inner wall surface of the through hole 4 of the link 2. The gap d is set to a size that is equal to or greater than the amount of misalignment between the first pulley and the second pulley in which the chain 1 is disposed. Thereby, the misalignment which exists between pulleys can be accept | permitted reliably. Here, the “misalignment amount” is an index representing the degree of deviation between the first pulley and the second pulley, and the center line of the groove formed between the sheave surfaces of the first pulley and the second pulley. The state where the center line of the groove formed between the sheave surfaces of the pulley is aligned on a straight line is 0, and the distance or angle at which the second pulley deviates from this state. If the gap d is too large, the fluctuation of the link 2 is increased, which may adversely affect the power transmission efficiency. Therefore, it is preferable that the gap d is slightly larger than the misalignment amount.

  Further, a protrusion 3b is formed on the side surface 3a on both ends of the pin 3, and the protrusion 3b locks the link 2 so that the link 2 does not fall off. Here, the protrusion 3b may have any shape as long as the link 2 can be locked. For example, it may be a ridge formed along the outer periphery of both ends of the pin 3, or may be a ridge formed only on the side surface facing the inner wall surface of the through hole 4, Or the convex part divided | segmented into the several location may be sufficient. Such protrusions can be easily formed using a caulking tool or the like. Moreover, you may form the projection part 3b by fixing another members, such as a ring-shaped member (a retaining ring, a snap ring), a split pin, a clip, a holder | retainer, to a pin or a strip.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the strip 5 is a rod-like body formed slightly shorter than the pin 3 so as not to contact the sheave surface. The strip 5 is inserted into the through hole 4 so that one side surface thereof is in contact with one side surface of the pin 3 (rolling sliding contact: contact including rolling contact, sliding contact, or both contacts). As a result, the pin 3 hardly rotates with respect to the sheave surface of the pulley. For this reason, friction loss is reduced and high power transmission efficiency can be ensured. In such a strip 5, like the pin 3, a gap d may be formed between the other side surface of the strip 5 and the inner wall surface of the through hole 4 of the link 2. Further, similarly to the pin 3, protrusions for locking the link 2 may be formed on the side surfaces on both ends of the strip 5.

  The chain according to this embodiment configured as described above is formed with a gap d that is set to be larger than the amount of misalignment existing between the pulleys, so that flexibility is provided in directions other than the power transmission direction. Have. For this reason, since it exhibits the flexibility also in the misalignment direction described above existing between the pulleys, the pulley sheave surface and the pin end surface even if it is incorporated into the power transmission device and power transmission is performed for a long time. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of abnormal wear and the occurrence of abnormal slip. Further, in this embodiment, since the protrusions 3b are provided on the side surfaces on both ends of the pin 3 to lock the link 2, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of a problem that the link 2 falls off. Furthermore, the chain of the present embodiment does not press-fit the pins 2 and the strips 3 into the through holes 4 of the link 2, so that it is easy to manufacture and has advantages such as improved productivity and reduced production costs.

  In addition, although the above demonstrated the aspect which provided the clearance gap d between the side surface of the pin 3, and the inner wall face of the through-hole 4 of the link 2, and also formed the projection part 3b in the side surface of the both ends side of the pin 3, this invention was demonstrated. Is not limited to this. That is, the first pulley and the second pulley are provided at least one of between the inner wall surface of the through hole 4 of the link 2 and the other side surface of the pin 3 and between the inner wall surface of the through hole 4 of the link 2 and the other side surface of the strip 5. It is only necessary to have a gap that allows misalignment between the two pulleys. Moreover, what is necessary is just to form the protrusion part which latches the link 2 in the side surface of the both ends of at least one of the pin 3 and the strip 5 in order to prevent the link 2 from dropping off.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a chain according to the second embodiment. Compared with the chain 1 of the first embodiment, the chain according to the present embodiment has a through hole 4a smaller than the through hole 4b of the other link 2b as the link 2a disposed on both ends of the chain. The difference is that the pin 3 and the strip 5 are press-fitted only into the link 2a. Even in such a mode, a gap d greater than the misalignment amount is formed between the inner wall surface of the through hole of the link 2b on the inner side in the chain width direction and the other side surface of the pin 3. It becomes flexible with respect to the direction. For this reason, it has flexibility in the above-mentioned misalignment directions, and misalignment is reliably allowed, so that abnormal wear or slippage between the sheave surface of the pulley and the pin end surface can be prevented. It can be effectively suppressed. Further, the chain of the present embodiment does not form the protruding portion 3b unlike the chain 1 (see FIG. 2) of the first embodiment, and the through holes 4a of the links 2a at both ends in the chain width direction are made smaller. Since the pin 3 and the strip 5 are press-fitted into 4a, the drop-off of the links 2a and 2b is effectively prevented.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a chain according to the third embodiment. As compared with the chain of the first embodiment, the chain according to the present embodiment uses a link 2c arranged on both ends of the chain that has a through hole 4c smaller than the through hole 4d of the other link 2d. A pin 3 having a groove 3c formed along the periphery of the pin 3 on the side surfaces on both ends is used, and the inner wall edge 2e of the through hole 4c of the link 2c arranged on both ends is used as the groove 3c of the pin 3. The difference is that the links 2c and 2d are locked by press-fitting. Even in such a mode, a gap larger than the misalignment amount existing between the pulleys is formed between the side surface of the pin 3 and the inner wall surface of the through hole 4d of the other link 2d excluding the links 2c on both ends. Since flexibility is given to each of the misalignment directions described above, it is possible to reliably allow misalignment and effectively suppress the occurrence of abnormal wear and abnormal slip on the pin end surface. Further, the chain of this embodiment does not form the protrusion 3b unlike the chain 1 (see FIG. 2) of the first embodiment, and the through hole 4c of the link 2c at both ends in the chain width direction is made small and the pin 3 Since the groove 3c is provided and the inner wall edge 2e of the through hole 4c of the link 2c on both ends in the chain width direction is press-fitted into the groove 3c to lock the links 2c and 2d, the links 2c and 2d are not dropped. It is effectively prevented. In the above description, the inner wall edge 2 of the through hole 4c is press-fitted into the groove 3c. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to form the groove 3c having a shape that can prevent the links 2c and 2d from falling off. .

  The power transmission chain of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and exists between the pin and the side surface of the strip and the through hole of the link between the pulleys where the power transmission chain is disposed. Any design change is possible as long as a gap that allows misalignment is provided.

  The power transmission chain of the present invention can be suitably used for a power transmission device such as a so-called chain type continuously variable transmission. Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a chain type continuously variable transmission, which is a typical usage mode of a power transmission chain, will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a main configuration of a so-called chain type continuously variable transmission (hereinafter also simply referred to as “continuously variable transmission”) according to an embodiment of the power transmission device of the present invention. The continuously variable transmission according to the present embodiment is mounted on, for example, an automobile, and is driven by a metal (structural steel, etc.) drive pulley 10 as a first pulley and a metal (structural steel, etc.) driven as a second pulley. A pulley 20 and an endless chain 1 spanned therebetween are provided. Note that the cross section of the chain 1 in FIG. 6 is partially shown for easy understanding.

  Referring also to FIG. 7, the drive pulley 10 is attached to an input shaft 11 connected to the engine side so as to be integrally rotatable, and has a fixed sheave 12 having a conical inclined surface 12 a and an inclined surface thereof. And a movable sheave 13 having a conical inclined surface 13a disposed opposite to 12a. A groove is formed by the inclined surfaces 12a and 13a of the sheave, and the chain 1 is sandwiched and held by the groove with a strong pressure. In addition, a hydraulic actuator (not shown) for changing the groove width is connected to the movable sheave 13, and at the time of shifting, the groove width is changed by moving the movable sheave 13 in the left-right direction in FIG. Thereby, the chain 1 is moved in the vertical direction of FIG. 7 so that the winding radius of the chain 1 with respect to the input shaft 11 can be changed.

  On the other hand, the driven pulley 20 is attached to an output shaft 21 connected to the drive wheel side so as to be integrally rotatable, and has an inclined surface for forming a groove for sandwiching the chain 1 with a strong pressure, like the drive pulley 10. A fixed sheave 22 and a movable sheave 23 are provided. Further, a hydraulic actuator (not shown) is connected to the movable sheave 23 of the pulley 20 in the same manner as the movable sheave 13 of the drive pulley 10, and the groove width is determined by moving the movable sheave 13 during shifting. Thus, the wrapping radius of the chain 1 with respect to the output shaft 21 can be changed by moving the chain 1.

  The chain 1 spanned between the drive pulley 10 and the driven pulley 20 is the chain according to the above-described first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 3). Since details are as described above, description thereof is omitted. Of course, the chains according to the second and third embodiments may be used.

  In the continuously variable transmission according to the present embodiment configured as described above, for example, a continuously variable transmission can be performed as follows. That is, when the rotation of the output shaft 21 is decelerated, the groove width on the drive pulley 10 side is enlarged by the movement of the movable sheave 13, and the pin end surfaces 3a and 3b of the chain 1 are directed inwardly of the conical surface of the sheave surfaces 12a and 13a. The input of the chain 1 while making sliding contact under the condition of boundary lubrication (a part of the contact surface is in direct contact with the microprotrusions and the remaining part is in contact with the lubricating oil film) toward (downward in FIG. 7) While the winding diameter on the shaft 11 is reduced, on the driven pulley 20 side, the groove width is reduced by the movement of the movable sheave 23 so that the pin end surfaces 3a and 3b of the chain 1 extend outward from the conical sheave surfaces 22a and 23a. The winding diameter of the chain 1 around the output shaft 21 is increased while making sliding contact under boundary lubrication conditions. By doing so, the rotation of the output shaft 21 can be decelerated. On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the output shaft 21 is increased, the groove width on the drive pulley 10 side is reduced by the movement of the movable sheave 13, and the pin end surfaces 3a and 3b of the chain 1 are outside the conical sheave surfaces 12a and 13a. While enlarging the diameter of the chain 1 around the input shaft 11 while making sliding contact under boundary lubrication conditions in the direction (upward in FIG. 7), the groove width is increased by moving the movable sheave 23 on the driven pulley 20 side. Then, the winding end diameter of the chain 1 around the output shaft 21 is reduced while the pin end surfaces 3a and 3b of the chain 1 are in sliding contact with each other toward the inside of the conical sheave surfaces 22a and 23a under boundary lubrication conditions. By doing so, the rotation of the output shaft 21 can be increased.

  In the continuously variable transmission according to this embodiment configured as described above, even if there is a misalignment between the driven pulley 20 as the first pulley and the drive pulley 21 as the second pulley, Since the chain 1 having a gap set to be equal to or larger than the misalignment amount is used between at least one of the strips and the link, the chain 1 exhibits flexibility in the misalignment direction. Can do. For this reason, even if power transmission is performed over a long period of time, the occurrence of abnormal wear and abnormal slip can be effectively suppressed. For this reason, it becomes a continuously variable transmission which can transmit power stably over a long period of time.

  In the above description, the example of the continuously variable transmission using the power transmission chain according to the first embodiment has been described. However, the same applies to the case where the power transmission chain according to the second and third embodiments is used. Therefore, the occurrence of abnormal wear and slip is suppressed, and the continuously variable transmission is capable of stably transmitting power over a long period of time.

  The power transmission device of the present invention is not limited to a mode in which the groove widths of both the drive pulley and the driven pulley are changed, but only one of the groove widths is changed and the other is a fixed width that does not change. It may be an embodiment. Moreover, although the aspect in which the groove width fluctuates continuously (steplessly) has been described above, it may be applied to other power transmission devices such as stepped fluctuates and fixed (no gearshift). Good.

It is a perspective view showing typically the principal part composition of the chain for chain type continuously variable transmission concerning a 1st embodiment of the power transmission chain of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the axial direction of the pin which shows the link and pin which comprise the chain for chain type continuously variable transmissions shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view in the chain traveling direction showing links, pins, and strips constituting the chain type continuously variable transmission chain shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the chain for chain type continuously variable transmissions concerning 2nd Embodiment of the power transmission chain of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the chain for chain type continuously variable transmissions concerning 3rd Embodiment of the power transmission chain of this invention. It is a perspective view showing typically the principal part composition of the chain type continuously variable transmission concerning one embodiment of the power transmission device of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a drive pulley (driven pulley) and a chain of the chain type continuously variable transmission shown in FIG. 6. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating misalignment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Chain type continuously variable transmission chain (power transmission chain)
2 links 3 pins 5 strips d gap

Claims (5)

A plurality of links having a plurality of through holes, a plurality of pins that are inserted through the through holes and interconnecting the plurality of links, and a plurality of side surfaces that are inserted through the through holes and contact one side of the plurality of pins. A first pulley having a conical sheave surface and a second pulley having a conical sheave surface, and used between the end surface of the pin and the second pulley. A power transmission chain that transmits power by contacting the sheave surfaces of the first and second pulleys,
A first pulley and a second pulley are provided between at least one of the inner wall surface of the through hole of the link and the other side surface of the pin and the inner wall surface of the link and the other side surface of the strip. A power transmission chain having a gap allowing misalignment between them.   2. The power transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion for locking the link is provided on at least one of a side surface on both ends of the pin and a side surface on both ends of the strip. Of the plurality of links, the links arranged on both ends in the chain width direction are formed such that the through holes are smaller than the through holes of the other links,
2. The power transmission chain according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pin and the strip is press-fitted only into links arranged on both ends in the chain width direction of the plurality of links. Of the plurality of links, the links arranged on both ends in the chain width direction are formed such that the through holes are smaller than the through holes of the other links,
The groove portion into which the inner wall edge portion of the through-hole of the link disposed on both end sides in the chain width direction enters at least one of the side surfaces on both end sides of the pin and the side surfaces on both end sides of the strip. The described power transmission chain. A first pulley having a conical sheave surface;
A second pulley having a conical sheave surface;
A plurality of links spanning between the two and having through holes, a plurality of pins that pass through the through holes and interconnect the plurality of links, and one side of the plurality of pins that are inserted through the through holes A chain having a plurality of strips having one side in contact with the power transmission device,
The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the chain is a power transmission chain according to claim 1.

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