Belt tensioner
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorRyan Duffy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt tensioner for an engine accessory drive is installed over a pulley such that rollers extend toward the engine. Due the belt being between the tensioner and the engine, installation of the belt on the pulley is difficult. To simplify installation, a removable belt guide is included in the belt tensioner. Two methods of installing the belt and tensioner are envisioned. In a first method, the belt is first installed on the pulley and the belt guide holds the belt toward the pulley radially as the tensioner is installed over the pulley. In a second method, the belt is first installed to the tensioner and the guide holds the belt radially away from the pulley as the tensioner is installed over the pulley. In both methods, the belt guide is removed after the belt and tensioner are installed.
Claims13
A method of installing an accessory comprising:
- providing a belt tensioner having a first side and a second side, the tensioner including at least one roller on the first side and having a removable belt guide;
- installing a belt around a first pulley;
- positioning the belt tensioner over the first pulley such that the belt guide radially positions the belt relative to the first pulley;
- and
- after positioning the belt tensioner over the first pulley, removing the belt guide from the second side of the belt tensioner.
A belt tensioner comprising:
- a frame adapted for fixation to an engine over a pulley;
- at least one arm, each arm having a roller, the arm supported to move, in an installed state, relative to the frame, the roller extending in a first direction from the frame;
- at least one spring configured to, in the installed state, move the at least one arm such that the respective roller rolls against a belt wrapped around the pulley and apply tension to the belt;
- and
- a belt guide configured to position the belt radially with respect to the pulley, the belt guide being removable in a second direction opposite the first direction.
A belt tensioner comprising:
- a frame adapted for fixation to an engine over a pulley;
- a first arm having a first roller and a second arm having a second roller, the first and second rollers extending in a first direction from the frame;
- at least one spring configured to, in an installed state, move the first and second rollers toward one another to apply tension to a belt wrapped around the pulley;
- and
- a belt guide configured to position the belt radially with respect to the pulley, the belt guide being removable in a second direction opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.