Variable force tensioner arm with cap disk spring

A tensioner arm comprising:

• a body having a first surface for contacting a chain or belt and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface defining a cavity;
• a cap received within the body, the cap having a first end and a second end, the first end being opposite the second end, wherein the first end of the cap is present within the cavity of the body of tensioner arm;
• and
• a plurality of spring sets stacked within the cavity between the first end of the cap and the body of the tensioner arm for biasing the cap away from the body of the tensioner arm, each spring set comprising a first spring and a second spring, wherein the first spring of each spring set is oriented in a first orientation and a second spring of each spring set is oriented in a second orientation, opposite the first orientation.

A tensioning system for tensioning a belt or a chain comprising:

• a tensioner arm comprising:
• a body having a first surface for contacting the chain or the belt and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface defining a cavity;
• a cap received within the cavity of the body, the cap having a first end and a second end, the first end being opposite the second end, wherein the first end of the cap is present within the cavity of the body of the tensioner arm;
• and
• at least two spring sets, each spring set being oriented within the cavity between the first end of the cap and the body of the tensioner arm, wherein at least one of the at least two spring sets is oriented in a first direction between the first end of the cap and the cavity and a second spring set of the at least two spring sets is oriented in a second direction, opposite the first direction and the at least two spring sets bias the cap away from the body of the tensioner arm,
• a tensioner comprising:
• a housing having a first axially extending bore with a first fluid input and a second axially extending bore with a second fluid input;
• a first piston slidably received by the first axially extending bore, forming a first pressure chamber, which is in fluid communication with the first fluid input, between the first piston and the first axially extending bore, the first piston comprising a first piston body having a first end and a second end;
• a first piston spring received within the first pressure chamber between the first piston and the first axially extending bore for biasing the first piston away from the housing;
• a second piston slidably received within the second axially extending bore, the second piston comprising a second piston body having:
• an open end;
• a closed end;
• a bottom surface at the open end;
• a top surface at the closed end;
• an outer circumference;
• and
• a hollow interior having an inner diameter;
• the second axially extending bore forming a second pressure chamber, that is defined between the inner diameter of the second piston body and the second axially extending bore, in fluid communication with the second fluid input through a check valve;
• a second piston spring in the second pressure chamber, the second piston spring having a first end in contact with the second piston and a second end in contact with a bottom of the second axially extending bore, biasing the second piston away from the housing;
• wherein the closed end of the second piston contacts the cap in the tensioner arm.