Power transmission belt

• US 8,293,357 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cretin, Jean-Loup, Rognon, Julie, Varin, Hervé, Tricoche, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Catherine A
• Application Number:
  US12/354,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 428/156, 428/172, 428/167, 428/295.1, 428/297.4, 428/299.7, 474/260, 474/263, 474/264, 474/266, 474/267, 474/268, 474/271, 156/138, 156/140
• US Class Current: 428/172
• 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 of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a polymer matrix which is a combination of a thermoplastic matrix and an elastomeric matrix, 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, wherein the outer covering is included over 25% to 75% of the thickness of the barrier layer.

2. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric matrix comprises an ethylene alpha olefin.

3. A belt according to claim 2, wherein said ethylene alpha olefin is EPDM.

4. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic matrix is made of a thermoplastic olefin.

5. A belt according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic olefin is a low-density polyethylene.

6. A belt according to claim 5, wherein the barrier layer includes at least 30% of said low density polyethylene.

7. A belt according to claim 6, wherein said low density polyethylene has a molecular mass lying in the range 50,000 g/mole to 200,000 g/mole.

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

m to 500 μ

m.

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

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

11. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering presents a weight lying in the range 20 g/m² to 120 g/m².

12. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering presents a weight lying in the range 30 g/m2 to 90 g/m².

13. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering is included 50% of the thickness of the barrier layer.

14. A belt according to claim 1, wherein the outer covering is included 30% of the thickness of the barrier layer.

15. 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.

16. A method according to claim 15, 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.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the barrier layer and the outer covering are initially assembled together before molding, in particular by calendering and rolling.

18. 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 of a thermoplastic elastomer material having a polymer matrix which is a combination of a thermoplastic matrix and an elastomeric matrix, 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, and 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.