Belt construction, transverse belt element therefor and method of making the same

An endless power transmission belt construction and a method of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an endless flexible carrier and a plurality of transverse belt elements assembled on the carrier, each belt element having a peripheral face and a medial slot passing therethrough and receiving part of the carrier therein. Each belt element has a slit in the peripheral face thereof that leads to the slot thereof and a hinge spaced from the slit thereof that permits the belt element to have the slit thereof opened sufficiently to permit at least part of the carrier to be received therethrough for subsequent positioning in the slot thereof and thereafter be moved to a closed position to prevent at least that part of the carrier from escaping through the slit. Each belt element has two adjacent surfaces defining the slit thereof therebetween. Each belt element has a fastening member securing the adjacent surfaces thereof against each other so that the slit thereof is maintained in the closed position thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an improved endless power transmission belt 
construction and to a transverse belt element therefor as well as to a 
method of making the belt construction. 
2. Prior Art Statement 
It is known to provide an endless power transmission belt construction 
comprising an endless flexible carrier means and a plurality of transverse 
belt elements assembled on the carrier means, each belt element having a 
peripheral face means and a medial slot passing therethrough and receiving 
part of the carrier means therein. 
For example, see the U.S. patent to Vollers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,841 
wherein each transverse belt element has the medial slot thereof defined 
by a bottom surface of the belt element and a pair of upstanding side 
parts thereof interconnected together by a pin passing therethrough and 
spaced from the bottom surface to completely close the slot means on all 
four sides thereof and in which the carrier means is disposed. 
Other examples of transverse belt elements are provided in the U.S. patent 
to Doorne et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,113; the U.S. patent to Aberson, U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,299,586 and the U.S. patent to Lamers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,403 
wherein each transverse belt element has an opening leading to the medial 
slot means thereof and through which the carrier means can be readily 
removed and inserted. 
It is also known to provide an endless power transmission belt construction 
comprising an endless flexible carrier means, and a plurality of 
transverse belt elements assembled on the carrier means, each belt element 
having peripheral face means and a medial slot passing therethrough and 
receiving part of the carrier means therein. Each belt element has a slit 
means in the peripheral face means thereof that leads to the slot means 
thereof and a hinge means spaced from the slit means that permits the belt 
element to have the slit means thereof opened sufficiently to permit at 
least part of the carrier means to be received therethrough for subsequent 
positioning in the slot means thereof and thereafter be moved to a closed 
position to prevent at least that part of the carrier means from escaping 
through the slit means. Each belt element has two adjacent surfaces 
defining the slit means thereof therebetween. For example, see Swiss Pat. 
No. 256,918 wherein a slit means in the side of the belt element is 
illustrated in FIG. 11 thereof and a slit means in the top of the belt 
element is illustrated in FIG. 28 thereof. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is one feature of this invention to provide an improved endless power 
transmission belt construction which is particularly adapted to be 
utilized for continuous variable transmission purposes and the like. 
In particular, it was found according to the teachings of this invention 
that each transverse belt element for such an endless power transmission 
belt construction can have a slit means in the peripheral face means 
thereof and through which at least part of the carrier means can be 
received so as to be subsequently disposed in the medial slot means 
thereof, the belt element having a hinge means spaced from the slit means 
to permit the slit means thereof to be opened sufficiently to receive at 
least that part of the carrier means therethrough and thereafter be moved 
to a closed position to prevent at least that part of the carrier means 
from escaping through the slit means. 
For example, one embodiment of this invention provides an endless power 
transmission belt construction comprising an endless flexible carrier 
means and a plurality of transverse belt elements assembled on the carrier 
means, each belt element having a peripheral face means and a medial slot 
means passing therethrough and receiving part of the carrier means 
therein. Each belt element has a slit means in the peripheral face means 
thereof that leads to the slot means thereof and a hinge means spaced from 
the slit means thereof that permits the belt element to have the slit 
means thereof opened sufficiently to permit at least part of the carrier 
means to be received therethrough for subsequent positioning in the slot 
means thereof and thereafter to be moved to a closed position to prevent 
at least that part of the carrier means from escaping through the slit 
means. Each belt element has two adjacent surfaces defining the slit means 
thereof therebetween. Each belt element has fastening means securing the 
adjacent surfaces thereof against each other so that the slit means 
thereof is maintained in the closed position thereof. 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved power 
transmission belt construction having one or more of the novel features of 
this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of making 
such a power transmission belt construction, the method of this invention 
having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth 
above or hereinafter shown or described. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved transverse belt 
element for such a power transmission belt construction or the like, the 
transverse belt element of this invention having one or more of the novel 
features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or 
described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated 
and described as providing an endless power transmission construction 
particularly adapted to be utilized for continuous variable transmission 
purposes, it is to be understood that the various features of this 
invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide 
a belt construction for other uses as desired. 
Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments 
illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to 
illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional continuously variable transmission 
arrangement is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and 
comprises a pair of rotatable pulleys 21 and 22, one of which is to be 
driven by the other thereof by means of an endless power transmission belt 
construction of this invention that is generally indicated by the 
reference numeral 23 and which operates in a manner conventional in the 
art, the pulleys 21 and 22 having variable diameters in a manner well 
known in the art whereby a continuously variable transmission is provided 
by the arrangement 20 in a manner well known in the art and as set forth 
in the aforementioned four U.S. patents which four U.S. patents are being 
incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto. 
Since the operation of a continuously variable power transmission 
arrangement is well known in the art, a further description of the 
arrangement 20 need not be set forth as the features of this invention are 
directed to the endless power transmission belt 23 and will now be 
described. 
The endless belt construction 23 of this invention comprises an endless 
carrier means that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 24, 
FIGS. 2-7 and a plurality of transverse belt elements 25 carried by the 
carrier means 24 in a manner hereinafter set forth. 
Each transverse belt element 25 of this invention is substantially 
trapezoidal in the configuration when viewed in the manner illustrated in 
FIG. 5 and has a front face 26 and a rear face 27 as well as opposed side 
faces 28 and 29 with the side faces 28 and 29 being angled relative to 
each other to give a substantially "V" shape to each belt element 25. Each 
belt element 25 also has a top face or side 30 and a bottom face or side 
31 which are disposed substantially parallel to each other and are 
substantially flat as illustrated in FIG. 4 while the front face 26 is 
substantially arcuate in the lower portion 26' thereof while being 
substantially flat in the top portion 26" thereof and substantially 
parallel with the flat rear face 27. 
The side faces 28 and 29 and bottom and top faces 31 and 30 of each belt 
element 25 define an outer peripheral face means 32 of the respective belt 
element 25. 
The front face 26 of each belt element 25 is provided with a plurality of 
outwardly extended substantially rounded projections 34 in the top portion 
26" thereof which are adapted to be respectively received in a plurality 
of like-shaped recesses 35 formed in the rear surface 27 of the transverse 
belt element adjacent thereto in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 and as 
fully set forth in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,403 whereby the 
details of the projections 34 and recesses 35 and their operation need not 
be further described. 
Each belt element 25 has a medial slot means that is generally indicated by 
the reference numeral 36 in FIG. 5 passing transversely therethrough 
intermediate the opposed side faces 28 and 29 as well as intermediate the 
opposed top and bottom faces 30 and 31 as illustrated in FIG. 5, the slot 
means 36 defining a bottom surface 37 of the slot means 36 which is 
substantially bowed or arcuate in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 as well 
as transversely bowed or arcuate as illustrated in FIG. 2. The top surface 
38 of the belt element 25 that is defined by the slot 36 is substantially 
straight when viewed in FIG. 5 and is arcuate in transverse cross section 
as illustrated in FIG. 2 while the opposed ends 39 and 40 of the belt 
element 25 that are defined by the slot 36 are substantially straight and 
parallel to each other as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
The carrier means 24 is adapted to be received in the slot means 36 of each 
transverse belt element 25 in a manner hereinafter set forth so that the 
bottom surface means 41 of the carrier means 24 is disposed against the 
bottom surface 37 of each transverse belt element 25 as illustrated in 
FIG. 2 while the top surface 42 thereof can be spaced below the top 
surface 38 of each transverse belt element 25 or be disposed in contact 
therewith as desired. 
While the carrier means 24 for the belt construction 23 of this invention 
is illustrated as being a single flat metallic band 43, it is to be 
understood that the carrier means 24 could comprise a plurality of endless 
flat metallic bands as illustrated and described in the aforementioned 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,113 and as illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein another belt 
construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference 
numeral 23A and wherein parts thereof similar to the belt construction 23 
previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by 
the reference letter "A". 
As illustrated in FIG. 9, each transverse belt element 25A has the slot 
means 36A thereof formed substantially deeper than the slot means 36 
previously described so that the same can recieve a plurality of endless 
flat metallic bands 43A disposed in superimposed relation upon each other 
whereby the bottom flat band 43A engages the bottom surface 37A while the 
top flat band 43A engages or is spaced from the top surface 38A as 
illustrated in FIG. 9. 
Therefore, it can be seen that the carrier means 24 of this invention can 
comprise one or more endless flat bands 43 while each transverse belt 
element 25 of this invention is adapted to operate therewith in a manner 
hereinafter set forth. 
Each belt element 25 of this invention is provided with a slit means that 
is generally indicated by the reference numeral 44 with the slit means 44 
interrupting the side face 29 thereof and leading to the slot means 36 as 
illustrated in FIG. 5, the slit means 44 defining opposed substantially 
flat surfaces 45 and 46 of the belt element 25 which are adapted to be 
disposed against each other as illustrated in FIG. 5 to completely close 
the slit means 44. However, the slit means 44 is adapted to be opened in 
the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 in a manner hereinafter set forth to 
permit the carrier means 24 to be inserted through the opened slit means 
44 and be disposed in the slot means 36 by either causing transverse 
movement of the belt element 25 relative to the carrier means 24, 
transverse movement of the carrier means 24 relative to the belt element 
25, or transverse movement of both the belt element 25 and carrier means 
relative to each other. 
In order to permit the opening and closing of the slit means 44 in the 
manner previously set forth, the opposed side faces 28 in the region of 
the reference numeral 45' can provide a hinge means for such opening and 
closing action. Of course, the actual bending or flexing of the belt 
element 25 to effect the opening and closing of the slit means 44 can take 
place anywhere along the arm 46' which is defined by the part of the belt 
element 25 intermediate the top surface 38 of the slit means 36 in the top 
surface 30 of the element 25 so that the hinge means 45' can be in the arm 
46' rather than in the side face 28. Such location of the hinge means 45' 
therefor depends upon the thickness of the material between the side face 
28 and the adjacent side 39 of the slot 36 in relation to the thickness of 
the arm 46' between the surfaces 30 and 38, etc. 
In any event, it can be seen that the hinge means 45' is spaced from the 
slit means 44 and that the natural resiliency of the belt element 25 is 
such that the same permits the arm 46' to be raised upwardly at the right 
hand end thereof to open the slit means 44 with the belt element 25 having 
a sufficient natural resiliency at the hinge means 45' thereof to tend to 
close the slit means 44 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 when 
the arm 46' is released. 
For example, the belt element 25 can be formed from a suitable polymeric 
material, metallic material, or be a composite of materials that have 
sufficient elasticity to permit opening and closing of the slit means 
thereof and still be formed as a one-piece member. However, it is to be 
understood that the hinge means for opening and closing the slit means 44 
could be a separate part if desired. 
In any event, it can be seen that the slit means 44 of the belt element 25 
can be opened sufficiently in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 to permit 
at least one band 43 of the carrier means 24 to be inserted therein, the 
belt element 25A of FIG. 9 permitting at least one belt element 43A to be 
inserted therein so that a plurality of belt elements 43A can be disposed 
in sequence in the slot means 36A as illustrated in FIG. 9. 
After the carrier means 24 has been inserted through the opened slit means 
44 in the manner previously described, the arm 46' is released and the 
natural resilience of the belt element 25 permits the belt element 25 to 
close the slit means 44 and thereby capture the carrier means 24 
completely within the slot means 36 thereof as the surfaces 45 and 46 of 
the belt element 25 are held against each other by the natural resilience 
of the belt element 25. 
However, it is to be understood that auxiliary securing means can be 
utilized to securely secure the surfaces 45 and 46 of each slit means 44 
in their closed position once the carrier means 24 has been received in 
the slot means 36 thereof. 
For example, such auxiliary securing means could comprise adhesive means, 
welding means, etc. for securing the surfaces 45 and 46 together. 
In particular, reference is made to FIG. 8 wherein another belt element of 
this invention is indicated by the reference numeral 25B and parts thereof 
similar to the belt element 25 previously described are indicated by like 
reference numerals followed by the reference letter "B". 
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the belt element 25B has a transverse bore 47 
interrupting the top face or side 30B thereof and passing through the 
adjacent surfaces 45B and 46B with at least the lower portion 48 of the 
bore 47 being threaded so that a threaded fastening member 49 can be 
disposed in the bore 47 and have its enlarged head 50 received in a recess 
51 formed in the top surface 30B when the fastening member 49 is fully 
threaded into the bore 47 to hold the two surfaces 45B and 46B securely 
together once the carrier band 43 has been disposed in the slot means 36B 
thereof in the manner previously described. 
If desired, suitable friction material can be disposed on the opposed faces 
28 and 29 of each belt element 25 of this invention. 
For example, reference is now made to FIG. 10 wherein another belt 
construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference 
numeral 23C and parts thereof similar to the belt elements 25, 25A and 25B 
previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by 
the reference letter "C". 
As illustrated in FIG. 10, friction material 52 that is conventional in the 
art is secured to the opposed side faces 28C and 29C of the belt element 
25C. 
If desired, the friction material 52 that is secured to the side face 29C 
of the belt element 25C could be split, such as at the reference numeral 
53, to permit the slit means 44C to be opened and closed in the manner 
previously set forth or the friction material 52 can be secured to the 
side face 29C after the belt element 25C has been assembled on the carrier 
means 24C so that the friction material 52 on the side 29C would perform 
the function of holding the slit means 44C in its closed position. 
Therefore, it can be seen that each belt element of this invention is 
adapted to be assembled to an endless carrier means for forming therewith 
an endless power transmission belt construction by having a slit means 
formed in the peripheral face means thereof and be opened sufficiently to 
permit at least part of that carrier means to be inserted therethrough 
into a medial slot means of the belt element with the slit means 
subsequently being closed to hold at least that part of the carrier means 
in the medial slot means of the belt element, such opening and closing of 
the slit means being provided by a hinge means of the belt element that is 
disposed spaced from the slit means thereof. 
Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an 
improved endless power transmission belt construction and method of making 
the same, but also this invention provides an improved transverse belt 
element therefor or the like. 
While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have been 
illustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to be 
understood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and still 
fall within the scope of the appended claims.