Patent ID: 7354364

Claim:
A device for detecting the speed of an endless torque-transmitting means of a continuously variable transmission that includes two conical pulley pairs rotatably carried on spaced parallel axes and around which the endless torque-transmitting means passes, wherein the axial spacing between respective conical disks defining the pulley pairs can be changed inversely so that the endless torque-transmitting means moves independently between each transmission ratio and is in frictional engagement with the conical surfaces of the conical disks, said device comprising: a sensor positioned opposite to and facing the endless torque-transmitting means for detecting the linear speed of the endless torque-transmitting means as it passes the sensor, wherein the endless torque-transmitting means is a plate-link chain that includes pins that interconnect adjacent chain links, and the sensor detects pins as they pass the sensor; wherein the sensor is located at a position relative to the path of movement of the endless torque-transmitting means that is independent of the rotational speed relationship of the conical pulley pairs and is connected to a control unit within which plate-link chain structural data are stored, and which determines the speed of the plate-link chain based upon the number of detected pins and time intervals between pin detections; and wherein the plate-link chain has different pin spacings wherein at least one of the different pin spacings and at least a number of successive pin spacings are stored in the control unit, and wherein the control unit determines the speed of the plate-link chain after receiving detected successive pin spacings.