Transmission guide

• US 8,888,628 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Original Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Inventors: Konno, Masahiko, Mori, Kaori, Kurematsu, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US13/558,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 474/111, 474/140
• US Class Current: 474/140
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0872 Sliding members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/18 Means for guiding or supporting belts, ropes, or chains construction of pulleys F16H55/36

Abstract

The synthetic resin guide in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated synthetic resin shoe having a front surface for sliding contact with the transmission medium and a back surface opposite from the front surface and a plurality of engaging members disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship to one another. The guide also comprises an elongated synthetic resin base in contact with the back surface of the shoe and supporting the shoe, the base having a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaged portions each of which engages with one of the engaging members. One engaging member is fixed to the engaged portion with which it is engaged. The other engaging members are longitudinally movable relative to the engaged portions with which they are engaged. Thus, the guide allows longitudinal thermal expansion and contraction of the shoe relative to the base.

Claims

1. A guide for an endless, flexible, traveling transmission medium, the guide comprising:

an elongated synthetic resin shoe having a front surface for sliding contact with the transmission medium, a back surface opposite from said front surface, and a plurality of engaging members disposed in longitudinally spaced relationship to one another, said shoe having a chain entry end and a chain exit end; and

an elongated synthetic resin base in contact with the back surface of the shoe and supporting the shoe, said base having a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaged portions, each of the engaged portions being engaged by one of the engaging members;

wherein one of said engaging members is immovable relative to the engaged portion with which it is engaged, and the others of said engaging members are longitudinally movable relative to the engaged portions with which they are engaged;

whereby the guide allows longitudinal thermal expansion and contraction of the shoe relative to the base.

2. The guide of claim 1, wherein a first one of said plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging members is the one of said engaging members that is nearest said chain entry end of the shoe, and a second one of said engaging members is the one of said engaging members that is nearest the chain exit end of the shoe, and wherein one of said first and second engaging member is immovable relative to the engaged portion with which it is engaged.

3. The guide according to claim 1, wherein the fixed engaging member is the engaging member nearest said chain entry end of the shoe.

4. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein the engaging members and engaged portions are rectangular in shape.

5. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein the engaging members and engaged portions are trapezoidal in shape and tapered toward the chain entry end.

6. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein the engaged portions are trapezoidal in shape and tapered toward the chain entry end, and the engaging members are cylindrical pins.

7. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein the engaging members are L-shaped.

8. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein said guide has first and second sides spaced from each other in a lateral direction parallel to said front surface of the shoe, and wherein plural engaging members and engaged portions are disposed on said first side of the guide and plural engaging members and engaged portions are disposed on said second side of the guide.

9. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein the shoe has a hook on the chain entry end curving under and toward the chain exit end and engaging with the base.

10. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein said one of said engaging members is fused to the engaged portion with which said one of said engaged members is engaged.

11. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein said others of said engaging members are longitudinally movable, in both of two opposite longitudinal directions, relative to the engaged portions with which they are engaged.

12. The transmission guide according to claim 1, wherein said one of said engaging members is fused to the engaged portion with which said one of said engaged members is engaged, and wherein said others of said engaging members are longitudinally movable, in both of two opposite longitudinal directions, relative to the engaged portions with which they are engaged.