Single-Ring Transmission Belt with Curved Pillars for Misalignment Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing transmission belts with a single-line ring are prone to contact between the pillar of an element and the side end of the ring due to misalignment, leading to stress and wear, especially when the gear ratio is at its maximum, which increases the load on the ring.
Innovation Solution
The transmission belt design features a single-line ring with pillar portions that have curved ends with varying curvature radii, reducing the likelihood of contact between the ring and the pillar portions, even during maximum misalignment, by making the inner surface smoother, thus minimizing stress and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-line ring is used to bind elements together, then the device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the reliability decreases due to increased misalignment and contact between the ring and pillar portions
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar portions are designed with curved surfaces having a predetermined curvature radius along the plane parallel to the single-line ring. This curvature prevents the sharp corners of the pillar portions from contacting the ring, eliminating stress concentration points and preventing wear while maintaining the simple single-line ring structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the number of rings is reduced from two to one, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the allowed misalignment amount decreases and contact between the ring and pillar portions increases
Solution Approach 1:
By forming the pillar portions with curved surfaces, the invention eliminates sharp corners that would otherwise contact the ring during misalignment. The curved surfaces allow the pillar portions to accommodate misalignment without creating contact points, thus preventing wear and stress concentration while maintaining cost-effective single-line ring construction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If misalignment occurs during belt travel, then the elements may enter the groove with inclination, but the curved pillar portions prevent contact with the ring while allowing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surfaces of the pillar portions allow the belt to accommodate misalignment between pulleys by providing a gradual transition surface. Instead of sharp corners creating contact and wear during inclined entry into the groove, the curved surfaces guide the elements smoothly, preventing harmful contact with the ring while maintaining adaptability to misalignment conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmission belt includes: a plurality of elements, each having a plate shape, arranged sequentially in a ring manner; and a single-line ring having a belt shape and binding the elements together in a ring. Further, each of the elements includes pillar portions so that the single-line ring is inserted and a locking edge, provided on one surface in a plate thickness direction of the element, indicating a boundary region from which a plate thickness of the element changes, the pillar portions have respective ends, the ends having portions in a curved shape each having a predetermined curvature radius along a plane parallel to the single-line ring, and the portions in the curved shape include a first portion being formed on a front side at one end of the inner space, and a second portion being formed on a rear side at another end of the inner space.