CHAIN TENSIONER AND CHAIN TRANSMISSION DEVICE

摘要

A chain guide is provided which reduces moving resistance of a camshaft-driving, torque-transmitting timing chain. The chain guide includes a guide base (21) provided on one side of the timing chain (5) to face the timing chain and having an opposed pair of side plates (22). The side plates support the respective ends of roller shafts (31) each rotatably supporting a chain-guiding needle roller bearing (41). Each needle roller bearing includes a retainer (43) guided by the needle roller elements (45). With this arrangement, the outer races (42) of the bearings, which guide the movement of the timing chain (5) while kept in rolling contact with the timing chain, encounter less rotational resistance. This in turn reduces moving resistance of the timing chain (5) and thus fuel consumption.

主权项

1. A chain guide configured to be arranged along a portion of an outer periphery of a timing chain, and comprising:
a guide base elongated in a moving direction of the timing chain and including side plates; a plurality of roller shafts spaced apart from each other in a length direction of the side plates and each having two ends supported by the respective side plates; and rollers rotatably mounted on the respective roller shafts and configured to guide the chain, wherein each of the rollers is a roller bearing comprising: an outer race formed with flanges inwardly extending from respective axial ends of the outer race; a retainer mounted in the outer race and formed with pockets spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the retainer; and roller elements received in the respective pockets and capable of rolling on a roller element rolling surface formed on an inner periphery of the outer race and on a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of a corresponding one of the roller shafts, wherein in each of the roller bearings, the retainer has a radially outer surface kept out of contact with the roller element rolling surface of the outer race, and a radially inner surface kept out of contact with the cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and wherein the roller elements are guided by the retainer.