摘要 |
<p>A chain drive system (58) for use primarily in automotive timing drives, in particular V-type engines and horizontally opposed engines having a separate chain drive for each bank (60, 72) with coaxial crankshaft driving sprockets (66, 80), wherein the chain (70, 82) meshing for these driving sprockets is staggered from bank-to-bank (60, 70) to reduce the chain drive system noise level. This engagement phasing is accomplised by offsetting (93a, 93b) the taut strand guide (70a, 82a) of one bank (60, 72) some amount greater than the opposite bank, effectively increasing the chain wrap (94) and thereby compelling a delayed roller-sprocket engagement with respect to the opposite bank. The roller collision during meshing will therefore be phased from bank-to-bank, and the resulting noise levels generated therefrom will be reduced as a result of this phasing.</p> |