A drive chain suitable for use in a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle, the transmission having two pairs of spaced drive members about which the chain passes to transfer torque from one drive member to the other. The chain includes a plurality of link elements that include spaced, side-by-side plate links. The plate links include openings in which pairs of parallel rocker members are disposed for relative rocking movement of at least one rocker member about its longitudinal axis. The rocker members extend outwardly beyond the plate links and are retained in position by retaining members that engage particular rocker members. A method for stretching the chain is also disclosed in which areas of some of the plate links are plastically deformed before the chain is put to use.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/689,484, filed Oct. 12, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,281, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Priority Data
Oct 13, 1999 [DE] 199 49 207 Nov 19, 1999 [DE] 199 55 956
A silent chain includes a plurality of inside links each having a pair of teeth and pin apertures and connected to each other by connecting pins inserted into the pin apertures. At least three adjacent connecting pins have a wire extending substantially along the length of a chain. The wire is engaged with the connecting pins in such a way that bending resistance due to elastic deformation of the wire is applied to the chain during articulation of the chain.
A belt type continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley having a fixed pulley half and a movable pulley half; a driven pulley having a fixed pulley half and a movable pulley half; and a metal belt. The metal belt includes a metal ring assembly having a plurality of endless metal rings laminated on one another and a plurality of metal elements supported on the metal ring assembly. The metal belt is wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The movable pulley half of the drive pulley has a flexural stiffness higher than that of the fixed pulley half of the drive pulley, wherein it is difficult for the edges of the metal ring assembly to contact the metal elements and a V-face of the drive pulley.
