Patent ID: 8317645

Claim:
A silent chain transmission comprising a sprocket having a plurality of sprocket teeth and a chain in mesh with the sprocket, the chain comprising widthwise guide link rows and non-guide rows, wherein: each guide link row is composed of a pair of guide plates each having a pair of front and rear pin holes, and a plurality of inner link plates each having a pair of front and rear plate teeth having opposed inside surfaces facing each other, said inner link plates being arranged between said guide plates and each of said inner link plates having a pair of front and rear pin holes having centers spaced from each other by a distance; each non-guide link row is composed of a plurality of inner link plates, each having a pair of front and rear plate teeth having opposed inside surfaces facing each other and a pair of front and rear pin holes having centers spaced from each other by a distance; the plates of each guide link row are interleaved with the plates of two non-guide rows; connecting pins extend through the pin holes and connect the rows of link plates in their interleaved relationship whereby the link plates of each row are pivotable relative to the link plates of each adjacent row interleaved therewith; and the distance between the centers of the front and rear pin holes of each of said inner link plates is smaller than the length of the chord of an arc obtained by dividing, by the number of sprocket teeth, the circumference of a circle having a radius extending from the center of the sprocket to the center of a pin hole of a link plate of the chain when the last-mentioned link plate is fully engaged with the sprocket.