Anchored mechanical strap tensioner for multi-strand tensioning
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorGeorge L. Markley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tensioner for a closed loop power transmission system for an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft terminating in a sprocket and at least one camshaft, each terminating in a sprocket, with a single continuous chain wrapping around all of the sprockets. The tensioner contains a pair of elongated tensioning arms, each one in slidable contact with one of the two strands of chain that traverses between the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket(s). Each tensioning arm contains a wear face that remains in constant slidable contact with the strand of chain to which it is adjacent. An adjusting arm connects one of the ends of the tensioning arms. The adjusting arm has a ratchet means that adjusts for the backlash in the system and takes up any slack in the chain.
Claims7
A tensioner for imparting tension to a chain of a closed loop power transmission system of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a first elongated tensioning arm having a first end and a second end positioned in operative engagement with a first strand of the chain, the first elongated tensioning arm pivotally secured to a mounting means on the engine;
- a second elongated tensioning arm having a first end and a second end positioned in operative engagement with a second strand of the chain, the second elongated tensioning arm pivotally secured to the mounting means on the engine;
- and
- an adjusting arm having a first end and a second end and a ratcheting means located substantially equidistant between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the adjusting arm is pivotally attached to the second end of the first elongated tensioning arm and the second end of the adjusting arm is pivotally attached to the second end of the second elongated tensioning arm, the adjusting arm further comprising two pairs of elongated straps, each elongated strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first pair of straps form the first end of the adjusting arm and the first ends of the second pair of straps form the second end of the adjusting arm;
- and
- an anchoring base between two pairs of elongated straps;
- wherein the second ends of the first pair of straps and the anchoring base form a first seat to retain a first coil spring and the second ends of the second pair of straps and the anchoring base for a second seat to retain a second coil spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.