Belt tensioning apparatus for drive mechanisms
AssigneeSpringland Manufacturing
InventorsHenry Lepp, Roy Alvarenga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A belt tensioning apparatus for use in tensioning a belt driven drive system having a motor and belt driven member. The arrangement provides a mounting member with a belt tensioning member operatively connected thereto for applying adjustable tension to a belt when positioned about the motor and belt driven member. An actuator connected to the belt tensioning member allows for movement of the belt tensioning member. A tension operating zone member operable with the actuator is used to alert a user when belt tension is optimal, requires adjustment or is prohibitive.
Claims20
A belt tensioning apparatus for use in tensioning a belt driven drive system having a motor and belt driven member, comprising:
- a mounting member for mounting adjacent said motor and said belt driven member;
- a belt having an inside surface and an outside surface;
- a belt tensioning member in biased connection with said mounting member outside of said belt and moveable for applying adjustable tension to said outside surface of said belt when said inside surface of said belt is positioned about said motor and said belt driven member;
- an actuator linkage assembly having:
- a first linkage operatively connected to said belt tensioning member:
- an intermediate linkage;
- an actuator linkage;
- said intermediate linkage operatively connected between said first linkage and said actuator linkage for effecting movement of said belt tensioning member into or out of contact with said outside surface of said belt by corresponding movement of said intermediate linkage;
- and
- a tension operating zone member cooperative with movement of said actuator linkage to alert a user when belt tension is optimal, requires adjustment or is prohibitive.
A belt tensioning apparatus for use in tensioning a belt on a belt driven drive system having a motor and belt driven member, comprising:
- a mounting member for mounting adjacent said motor and said belt driven member;
- a biased tensioning member operatively connected to said mounting member moveable thereon for selectively applying tension to an outside surface of said belt when an inside surface of said belt is positioned about said motor and said belt driven member;
- an actuator linkage assembly having:
- a first linkage operatively connected to said tensioning member;
- an intermediate linkage;
- an actuator linkage,
- said intermediate linkage operatively connected between said first linkage and said actuator linkage, said actuator linkage operable for effecting movement of said tensioning member by corresponding movement of said intermediate linkage;
- a tension operating zone member cooperative with movement of said actuator linkage to alert a user when belt tension is optimal, requires adjustment or is prohibitive;
- and
- a belt driven system connected therewith.
A method for adjusting belt tension on a belt on a belt driven system having a motor and belt driven member, comprising:
- providing a mounting member for mounting adjacent said motor and said belt driven member;
- providing a belt tensioning member in biased connection on said mounting member;
- providing an actuator linkage assembly on said mounting member for linked connection to said belt tensioning member for applying adjustable tension to an outside surface of said belt when positioned about said motor and said belt driven member said assembly including a first tensioning member linkage, an actuator linkage and an intermediate linkage operatively connected to said first tensioning member linkage and said actuator linkage
- utilizing an actuator operatively connected to said actuator linkage to effect movement of said belt tensioning member;
- and
- providing at least one of visual and audible information to a user when belt tension is optimal, requires adjustment or is prohibitive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.