Vehicle machine controlled belt tension system and method to control belt tension

A method of controlling motion of a machine, said method including:

• providing a machine with a belt system with a belt,
• providing a tensioner with a tensioner moving member which is movably supported relative to a tensioner stationary member;
• said tensioner including a belt engagement member which is supported on said tensioner moving member, said belt engagement member engaging said belt;
• providing a bias member, said bias member biasing said belt engagement member into engagement with said belt;
• providing a controllable electrical current supply;
• providing an electromagnetic brake lock, said electromagnetic brake lock including a brake lock electromagnetic coil and a brake lock magnetic target, said electromagnetic brake lock disposed between said tensioner moving member and said tensioner stationary member;
• supplying a controlled current from said controllable electrical current supply to said brake lock electromagnetic coil to inhibit said tensioner moving member from moving relative to said tensioner stationary member.

A method of making a belt tensioner for tensioning a belt with a controlled current from a controllable electrical current supply, said method including:

• providing a tensioner moving member, said tensioner including a belt engagement member which is supported on said tensioner moving member, said belt engagement member for engaging said belt;
• providing tensioner stationary member;
• movably supporting said tensioner moving member on said tensioner stationary member;
• providing an electromagnetic brake lock, said electromagnetic brake lock including a brake lock electromagnetic coil and a brake lock magnetic target, said electromagnetic brake lock disposed between said tensioner moving member and said tensioner stationary member;
• wherein a controlled current from a controllable electrical current supply to said brake lock electromagnetic coil inhibits said tensioner moving member from moving relative to said tensioner stationary member.

A machine, said machine including a belt system with a belt,

• said belt system including a tensioner with a tensioner moving member which is movably supported on a tensioner stationary member;
• a tensioner idler pulley which is rotatably supported on said tensioner moving member and which a portion of said belt is engaged;
• a bias member, said bias member biasing the tensioner moving member with the tensioner idler pulley pressing said belt to maintain a desired tension;
• a controllable electrical current supply;
• an electromagnetic means for locking said tensioner moving member with said tensioner stationary member wherein a controlled current supplied from said controllable electrical current supply to said electromagnetic means inhibits said tensioner moving member from moving relative to said tensioner stationary member and maintains said desired tension.