Timing belt autotensioner with an anti-tooth skip mechanism

A timing belt autotensioner comprising a pulley contactable with a timing belt, said pulley rotatable about a first axis at the pulley center, an eccentric arm structure supporting the pulley about the first axis and rotatable about a second axis, said second axis being spaced from the first axis,

• one-way engagement means adapted to remain disengaged with rotation of the pulley in a preferred direction and to engage with rotation of the pulley in the other direction, said one-way engagement causing engagement of the pulley with the eccentric arm structure whereby the eccentric arm structure moves the first axis of rotation and pulley toward the timing belt, and
• torque limiting means adapted to cause the one-way engagement means to at least momentarily release the one-way engagement means upon attainment of a predetermined torque during movement of the pulley in the other direction.

In a timing belt autotensioner comprising a pulley rotatable about a first axis and adapted to contact a timing belt, and an eccentric arm structure rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis, said eccentric arm structure supporting the pulley about the first axis and adapted to urge the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt during a preferred rotation of the pulley,

• the improvement comprising a one-way clutch between the pulley and eccentric arm structure, said one-way clutch engageable in response to the other rotation of the pulley thereby rotating the eccentric arm structure to move the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt, and
• torque limiting means adapted to cause the one-way clutch to at least momentarily release upon attainment of a predetermined torque during other rotation of the pulley.

In a timing belt autotensioner comprising a pulley rotatable about a first axis and adapted to contact a timing belt, and an eccentric arm structure rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis, said eccentric arm structure supporting the pulley about the first axis, and adapted to urge the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt during a preferred rotation of the pulley,

• the improvement comprising a one-way clutch and gear train between the pulley and eccentric arm structure, said one-way clutch and gear train engageable in response to the other rotation of the pulley thereby causing the gear train to rotate the eccentric arm structure to move the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt, and
• torque limiting means adapted to cause the one-way clutch to at least momentarily release upon attainment of a predetermined torque during other rotation of the pulley.

In a timing belt autotensioner comprising a pulley rotatable about a first axis and adapted to contact a timing belt, and an eccentric arm structure rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis, said eccentric arm structure supporting the pulley about the first axis, and hydraulic means adapted to urge the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt during a preferred rotation of the pulley,

• the improvement comprising a one-way clutch between the pulley and eccentric arm structure, and said second axis being spaced beyond the periphery of the pulley, said one-way clutch engageable in response to the other rotation of the pulley thereby rotating the eccentric arm structure to move the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt and the eccentric arm structure away from the hydraulic means, and
• torque limiting means adapted to cause the one-way clutch to at least momentarily release upon attainment of a predetermined torque during other rotation of the pulley.

In a timing belt autotensioner comprising a pulley rotatable about a first axis and adapted to contact a timing belt, and an eccentric arm structure rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis, said eccentric arm structure supporting the pulley about the first axis and adapted to urge the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt during a preferred rotation of the pulley,

• the improvement comprising separate means adapted to contact the timing belt at a location spaced from the pulley contact with the timing belt, said separate means movable in response to the direction of movement of the timing belt, and in response to movement of the timing belt in a non-preferred direction, actuating movement of the eccentric arm structure to move the first axis and pulley toward the timing belt, and
• torque limiting means adapted to cause the separate means to at least momentarily release upon attainment of a predetermined torque during movement of the timing belt in a non-preferred direction.