POWER TRANSMISSION BELT

• US 20100075793A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Varin, Herve, Tricoche, Denis, Rognon, Julie, Cretin, Jean-Loup
• Granted Patent: US 8,293,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/205
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 1/10 with textile reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 1/28 with a contact surface of special shape, e.g. toothed
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 5/08 with textile reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 5/20 with a contact surface of special shape, e.g. toothed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249933 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a natural or synthetic rubber matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix

Abstract

The invention relates to a power transmission belt presenting elastomer teeth based on ethylene alpha olefin elastomer provided with an outer woven or non-woven covering. According to the invention the teeth are covered in a barrier layer, in particular of a thermoplastic material, and said outer covering, at least on the flanks of the teeth, is partially included in a portion of the thickness of the barrier layer.

Claims

1. A power transmission belt presenting elastomer teeth based on ethylene alpha olefin elastomer provided with an outer woven or non-woven covering, wherein the teeth are covered in an intermediate barrier layer, in particular of a thermoplastic material, and wherein said outer covering, at least on the flanks of the teeth, is partially included in a portion of the thickness of the barrier layer.

2. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is made of a thermoplastic material.

3. A belt according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is made of thermoplastic elastomer.

4. A belt according to claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer presents an elastomeric portion made of ethylene alpha olefin, such as EPDM.

5. A belt according to claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer presents a thermoplastic matrix made of a thermoplastic olefin, in particular a low-density polyethylene.

6. A belt according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is made of a thermoplastic olefin material, in particular high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, or indeed polyolefin elastomer.

7. A belt according to claim 2, wherein the barrier layer is based on polyethylene and includes at least 30% polyethylene, in particular low density polyethylene, in particular having molecular mass lying in the range 50,000 g/mole to 200,000 g/mole.

8. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is made of a polyurethane varnish.

9. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is made of an adhesive, in particular a thermoplastic adhesive.

10. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the barrier layer lies in the range 50 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

11. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering is included over 25% to 75%, in particular 50%, and more particularly 30%, of the thickness of the barrier layer.

12. A belt according to claim 1, wherein said tooth elastomer based on ethylene alpha olefin is an EPDM or an EPM.

13. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering is based on polyethylene.

14. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering includes two-component yarns or fibers having an outside made of polyethylene and an inside made of a material having a melting point higher than the vulcanization temperature of the tooth elastomer.

15. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering presents weight lying in the range 20 g/m² to 120 g/m², and more particularly in the range 30 g/m² to 90 g/m².

16. A method of fabricating a belt according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

a) applying said barrier layer and said covering on a so-called active face of a non-vulcanized belt blank; and

b) vulcanizing the blank under pressure to form by molding a belt having its active face presenting teeth covered in succession by said barrier layer and said woven or non-woven covering.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the barrier layer is made of a material that, during step a), presents a 50% elongation modulus that is at least 5 times greater and more particularly lies in the range 5 times to 30 times greater than the modulus of the tooth elastomer in the raw state.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the barrier layer and the outer covering are initially assembled together before molding, in particular by calendering and rolling.