Modular tensioner system
AssigneeKit Masters
InventorsCraig Swanson, Dale Scherman, Daniel Huwe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tensioner system may be replaced by selecting replacement components. Components such as a housing, roller arm, pulley, and index plate locating pin may be selected from a group of housings, roller arms, pulleys, and index plate locating pins, respectively. The selection of the components allows a user to assemble multiple variations of tensioner that are commercially available. The location of the index plate locating pin on the index plate allows for proper orientation of the tensioner in the vehicle in order to apply the proper tension to a belt. The selection of the components may be based on current tensioner model, or based on dimensions measured from the current tensioner.
Claims18
A kit for replacing a plurality of differently configured tensioner systems, comprising:
- a plurality of pulleys, each pulley being adapted to serve as a substitute for at least one of the plurality of differently configured tensioner systems;
- a plurality of housings for a torsion shaft assembly including at least two different housing configurations, each housing of the plurality of housings being adapted to serve as a substitute for at least one of the plurality of differently configured tensioner systems;
- a plurality of roller arms, including at least two different roller arm configurations, each roller arm of the plurality of roller arms being adapted to serve as a substitute for at least one of the plurality of differently configured tensioner systems;
- a shoulder spacer configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a selected pulley of the plurality of pulleys and a selected roller arm of the plurality of roller arms;
- an index plate having a plurality of insertion holes that are aligned about a portion of a circumference of the index plate, wherein the index plate is adapted to serve as a substitute for at least a portion of the plurality of differently configured tensioner systems;
- and
- a plurality of index plate locating pins, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of index plate locating pins are configured to secure within at least one of the plurality of insertion holes of the at least one index plate;
- wherein, to assemble each tensioner system of the plurality of differently configured tensioner systems,
- a selected index plate of the at least one index plate is connected to a torsion shaft,
- a selected index plate locating pin of the plurality of index plate locating pins is inserted into a selected hole of the plurality of insertion holes of the selected index plate,
- a selected roller arm of the plurality of roller arms is connected to a selected housing of the plurality of housings, and
- a selected pulley of the plurality of pulleys is connected to the selected roller arm using the shoulder spacer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.