Is the Accord CVT a steel belt or chain?
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The Accord CVT transmission adopts a steel belt design. Most vehicles with CVT structures use steel belts for power transmission. This method allows for changing the transmission ratio by adjusting the size of the pulleys. CVT transmissions have two types of power transmission methods: steel belts and chains. Steel belts are typically used for engines with lower torque, while chains are employed for high-torque engines. Therefore, performance-oriented CVT transmissions often use chains, such as the early Audi Multitronic CVT, Subaru Lineartronic CVT, and Nissan CVT8HT. The CVT steel belt consists of two embedded steel bands as the foundational support, with hundreds of steel plates attached to the metal belt. This push-plate structure transmits power through a "pushing" mechanism, where the hardness of the material between the plates generates thrust. The push plates exhibit minimal deformation under external forces. During power transmission, the driving pulley tightly presses against the entire side of the steel belt, creating static friction, which then drives the driven pulley to rotate. The CVT chain differs significantly in structure from the steel belt. The chain does not directly contact the pulleys but transmits torque by compressing the intermediate rocker pins. The chain structure comprises two sets of circular steel bands and tension plates, with each set consisting of 12 high-tension thin steel plates stacked together. Patent T702 high-strength steel inserts connect each set of plates via rocker pins, offering a tensile strength of up to 2000 MPa. This chain structure can only transmit power through a "pulling" mechanism, where the driving pulley compresses the chain's "rocker pins" to create static friction, thereby driving the chain to transmit torque.