Patent ID: 7857722
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: F16G

Abstract:
1. A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system, said chain comprising: a plurality of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members, wherein the rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain and are positioned in openings in the link plates, the link plates having a pair of spaced openings for receiving respective pairs of rocker members, wherein the rocker members and the link plate openings each include respective curved-shaped contact surfaces along which the rocker members and link plates are in contact with each other to transmit power, the rocker members having curved-shaped rolling surfaces on sides opposite to the rocker member contact surfaces and along which the rocker members roll against each other to transmit power, wherein the rocker members are shaped asymmetrically in a height direction of the rocker members relative to a transverse plane that divides the rocker members into upper and lower contact surface regions each having respective contact surfaces that contact respective opposed contact surfaces of the link plate openings, wherein the transverse plane passes through center points of the link plate openings to divide the openings into upper and lower opening regions and is parallel to a plane extending in the longitudinal direction of the plate-link chain, wherein the contact surfaces of the rocker members and of the link plate openings are provided at respective upper and lower contact surface regions relative to the height direction of the rocker members and relative to the transverse plane, wherein the asymmetrically-shaped rocker members have a width at the rocker member upper contact surface region that is wider than a rocker member width at the rocker member lower contact surface region, wherein a concave relief cut is positioned between the upper and lower contact regions of each of the rocker members and below the transverse plane, and wherein each of the link plate openings having an outer side adjacent to a respective longitudinally outer edge of the link plate and an inner side longitudinally opposite to and facing the respective outer side, the link plate openings each having on the inner side of each of the respective openings at least one rocker member orientation region that is convexly curved and that extends in an inward direction of the opening and is completely below the transverse plane and opposite to a respective rocker member relief cut to prevent incorrect installation of an asymmetrically shaped rocker member within a link plate opening.