High-offset belt tensioner with counterbalance torsion spring force
AssigneeMuviq S.R.L.
InventorAnthony E. Lannutti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
High-offset belt tensioners have a support base with a pivot tube and an arm coupled thereto rotation about a pivot axis. A flat wire torsion spring has an inner spring hook attached to the pivot tube and an outer spring hook attached to a first end of the arm at a position that counterbalances a hub load force. The torsion spring applies a spring force to the arm in a direction that moves with the arm throughout its entire sweep in a belt engaging direction. A first plane of the hub load force is axially offset from a second plane of the spring force, a fulcrum is defined between first and second ends of the arm, and a first lineal axial distance from the fulcrum to the first plane is greater than or equal to a second lineal axial distance from the fulcrum to the second plane.
Claims19
A high-offset belt tensioner comprising:
- a support base having a pivot tube that defines a pivot axis;
- an arm coupled to the support base for rotation about the pivot axis, the arm having a pivot tube-receiving first end having a lower surface facing the support base and an upper surface that in part defines a cup and having a second end offset axially from the first end, wherein the second end defines a pulley rotation axis;
- a flat wire torsion spring having an inner spring hook attached to the pivot tube and an outer spring hook attached to the first end of the arm at a position that counterbalances a hub load force, wherein the flat wire torsion spring biases the arm in a belt engaging direction and applies a spring force acting on the arm;
- and
- a damper bushing in operative engagement with the first end of the arm by a spring plate or an axially biasing member;
- wherein a direction of the spring force acting on the arm stays in the same location with respect to the arm and moves with the arm throughout its entire sweep in the belt engaging direction;
- wherein the spring plate and the axially biasing member each have a deflection height that is varied across a surface area thereof, and a greatest deflection height is positioned to be opposite the hub load;
- wherein a plane of the hub load force is axially offset from a plane of the spring force.
A high-offset belt tensioner comprising:
- a support base having a pivot tube that defines a pivot axis;
- an arm coupled to the support base for rotation about the pivot axis, the arm having a pivot tube-receiving first end defining a cup and having a second end offset axially from the first end, wherein the second end defines a pulley rotation axis;
- an end cap seated within the cup of the arm;
- a flat wire torsion spring having an inner spring hook operatively attached to the pivot tube and an outer spring hook operatively attached to the first end of the arm at a position that counterbalances a hub load force;
- and
- a damper bushing in operative engagement with the first end of the arm;
- a spring plate or an axially biasing member urging the damper bushing into engagement with the first end of the arm;
- and
- a pivot bushing having a radially outward extending flange seated with the radially outward extending flange between the arm and the end cap;
- and
- a ring seal member seated juxtaposed to an outermost surface of the radially outward extending flange of the pivot bushing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.