Adjustable Endless Belt of Unitary Construction

The endless belts used for moderate load power transmission application in automobiles, which are more commonly collectively termed fan belts, are constructed of a flexible, tear-resistant polymeric material and are manufactured in countless different sizes to accomodate the varying pulley sizes and spacings therebetween found in the vast number of different models of automobiles sold and driven in the United States and foreign countries. While these endless belts are quite durable, they nevertheless are subjected to a great deal of stress due to their high speed operation and consequently must be periodically replaced. Consequently for a garage to be able to meet the needs of its customers, it is necessary to stock a great deal of different sized belts. This presents a substantial inventory problem to the garage as these belts are of a fixed size and consequently a belt suitable for one make of automobile cannot generally be used in another unless the size requirements are the same. Unfortunately, this is not generally the case.

In addition to having to stock a large inventory of these belts, a garage mechanic must often expend a good deal of labor in securing the belt about the pulleys due to the limited flexibility inherent in such belts and the often encountered awkward positioning of the pulleys with respect to the automobile body presenting the mechanic with restricted access for mounting the belt on the pulleys.

The problems of fixed belt size and installation could be greatly relieved if the belt were either adjustable or of a construction whereby it could be readily assembled to the desired size about the pulleys. While several fastening means have been available for the purpose of connecting two free ends of belting together for form a continuous length, i.e., hose couplings, such means are impractical in such an installation due to their flanges, barbs, etc., which damage both the pulleys and the belting. Other means such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,971 employ the use of a separate insert to join the extended hollowed lengths of the belt together. The use of such an insert, however, leaves the constructed belt with hollow portions adjacent the ends of the insert which result in a discontinuity of belt construction, creating weak spots in the belt and a weight imbalance which could cause the belt to work itself off the pulleys and wear unevenly. Consequently such a design presents a poor solution. It would be highly desirable to provide such an endless belt which can be assembled about the pulleys and thereby obviate the need for a large inventory of differently sized belts, if one could be provided which is free of any protrusions caused by the coupling as well as one of continuously solid construction for maximum strength and durability. The endless belt described below is of such a construction.

Briefly, the invention comprises a length of flexible tear-resistant material, one end of which is of reduced diameter to define an extended male end and the other end thereof is provided with a longitudinal channel to define a female end adapted to the male end. Upon disposing the length of material about the particular pulleys and thereby determining the desired size of the belt, the excess material from the female end is severed therefrom as is an equal length from the male end such that upon disposing the male end within the female end, the extended end of the male end abuts the inner end of the longitudinal channel in the female end to define a continuous solid belt of the proper size for the pulley arrangement in question. The male end is secured within the female end by a suitable polymeric glue.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an endless belt for power transmission which is of unitary construction and size adjustable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an endless belt for power transmission which is free from any external protrusions in the area of the coupling.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable endless belt for power transmission which is continuously solid throughout the length thereof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable endless belt for power transmission which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an endless belt for power transmission which is readily adaptable for use in different automobiles having different sized requirements.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the belt prior to assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates the belt disposed about a pair of pulleys for sizing.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the belt disposed about the pulleys.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating a guide rib and guide channel.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the endless belt 10 is seemed to be comprised on a length 12 of flexible tear-resistant material, preferably of polymeric construction, having an elongated male end 14 which is of a reduced diameter and a female end 16. The female end has a longitudinal channel 18 therein terminating in an end wall 20 and being of equal in length to the male end 14. In defining the endless belt 10, the length of material 12 is disposed about the pulleys 20 and 22 about which the belt is to be mounted and the ends thereof are drawn together to the desired tension as illustrated in FIG. 2. The excess length 24 of the female end is then marked and severed therefrom. An equal length 26 of the male end is correspondingly severed from the length 12 and a suitable polymeric glue (not shown) is then placed over the remaining male end portion. The length 12 is again disposed about the pulleys and the male end is inserted into the female end until the extended end thereof abuts the end wall 20 of the female end 16 as shown in FIG. 3. At this point the flat contact surface 32 from which the elongated male end 14 extends abuts the extended 34 of the female end to define the continuous end belt 10 solid throughout its length and having a continuous external surface free from any irregularities.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the male and female end portions are of the same configuration as the belt itself. Although in a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 a clover configuration could be employed to provide an increased surface contact area therebetween. Additionally, the male end portions can be provided with a guide ridge 36 which is received in a corresponding groove 38 in the channel in the female end (see FIG. 5) to assure proper alignment of the belt during construction. Furthermore, narrow grooves 40 can be depressed in either the male or female end of the belt to accomodate the polymeric glue.

It is to be understood that while polymeric glues have been found to be highly suited for the above construction, other glues having similar holding properties could also be employed. Other changes and modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the appended claims they are to be considered as part of the invention.