Method of tuning a belt drive system
AssigneeThe Gates Corporation
InventorKeming Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention comprises a method of using tensioners to tune a belt drive system. A tensioner having a damping rate is used on an accessory belt slack side and a tensioner having a having a damping rate is used on an accessory belt tight side. Outside of a predetermined engine speed range, the tight side tensioner arm does not move because the dynamic tension in the span is less than the tight side tensioner friction damping. Within a predetermined engine speed range the tight side tensioner arm moves in order to damp a belt drive system vibration.
Claims8
A belt drive system comprising:
- a belt entrained between a driver pulley and driven pulley;
- a first tensioner for engaging a belt slack side relative the driven pulley, the first tensioner having a damping rate;
- and
- a second tensioner for engaging a belt tight side relative the driven pulley, the second tensioner having a damping rate.
A method of adjusting a vibration in a belt drive system comprising the steps of:
- engaging a first tensioner with a belt slack side relative a driven accessory;
- engaging a second tensioner with a belt tight side relative the driven accessory;
- adjusting the second tensioner whereby outside a predetermined engine speed range a belt dynamic tension is less than a second tensioner friction damping such that the second tensioner is substantially motionless;
- and
- adjusting the second tensioner whereby within the predetermined engine speed range a belt dynamic tension is greater than the second tensioner friction damping such that the second tensioner is moveable to substantially reduce a vibration of the belt drive system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.