Patent ID: 8678966

Claim:
A power transmission chain adapted to be wound on a first pulley having a relatively small effective radius and a second pulley having a relatively large effective radius so as to extend therebetween, the first pulley and the second pulley each having a pair of facing coned sheave surfaces, the power transmission chain comprising: a plurality of links which are aligned in a chain traveling direction; and a plurality of connecting members which extend in a chain widthwise direction which intersects the chain traveling direction at right angles for connecting together the plurality of links so as to flex relative to each other, wherein the connecting members include first power transmission members and second power transmission members, wherein the first and second power transmission members have facing portions which face each other, wherein the facing portions are brought into rolling and sliding contact with each other at a contact portion which is displaced in association with a change in a flexing angle between the links, wherein a first power transmission member of the first power transmission members includes end faces each having a projecting curved portion where a contact area is formed when the first power transmission member is brought into contact with the sheave surfaces, and wherein, in a direction which intersects both the chain traveling direction and the chain widthwise direction at right angles, a projecting center of the projecting curved portion is only disposed in a first position which aligns with a position of the contact portion when the first power transmission member bites into the first pulley so that the power transmission chain shifts from a straight-line area to a first flexing area in which the power transmission chain bites into the first pulley, a second position which aligns with a position of the contact portion when the first power transmission member bites into the second pulley so that the power transmission chain shifts from a straight-line area to a second flexing area in which the power transmission chain bites into the second pulley, or between the first position and the second position.