Belt tensioning method
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsThomas BARIC, Mike BRIDGES, Adis HALIMIC
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage (16) having a lateral support surface (144, 152) for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space (164) adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.
Claims29
A belt driven actuator module including:
- a guide track;
- a carriage guided by the guide track for longitudinal movement along the guide track;
- and
- a belt having a portion thereof attached to the carriage,
- wherein the carriage has a first lateral support surface for supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in a first direction,
- wherein the belt has a second longitudinal section contiguous with the first longitudinal section, which second longitudinal section is longitudinally offset from the first lateral support surface and is laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface in the first direction to take up slack in the belt and/or tension the belt,
- wherein the carriage has a second lateral support surface longitudinally spaced apart from the first lateral support surface for supporting a third longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in the first direction, and the second longitudinal section of the belt is disposed between the first and third longitudinal sections,
- wherein the first longitudinal section, the second longitudinal section, and the third longitudinal section are contiguous,
- wherein the carriage includes first and second clamps for clamping the first and third longitudinal sections of the belt to the first and second lateral support surfaces, respectively, and
- wherein the belt is held within the carriage such that the second longitudinal section remains laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface.
4-7. (canceled)
9-10. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method of tensioning a belt in an actuator module including a guide track, a carriage guided by the guide track for longitudinal movement along the guide track, and a belt having a portion thereof attached to the carriage, the method including:
- laterally supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against a first lateral support surface in the carriage against lateral deflection in a first direction, while laterally deflecting in the first direction a second longitudinal section of the belt contiguous with the first longitudinal section laterally beyond the first lateral support surface to take up slack in the belt and/or tension the belt, wherein a deflection member is used to deflect second longitudinal section laterally;
- and
- holding the second longitudinal section laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface, wherein the holding step includes holding the belt with a first clamp against the first lateral support surface, and wherein the holding step includes holding the belt with a second clamp against a second lateral support surface longitudinally spaced apart from the first lateral support surface, with the second longitudinal section being located longitudinally between the first and second lateral support surfaces.
(canceled)
18-19. (canceled)
21-22. (canceled)
An actuator carriage including:
- a body extending in a longitudinal direction;
- a plurality of wheels mounted to the body for rotation around a respective axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
- a longitudinally extending through passage for a belt to extend longitudinally through;
- a first lateral support surface adjacent the through passage for supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in a first lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
- a clamp passage extending at least partially through the body in the first lateral direction;
- a clamp moveable in the first lateral direction for clamping the first longitudinal section of the belt to the first lateral support surface;
- a tension passage extending at least partially through the body in the first lateral direction for guiding a deflection member;
- and
- a recess facing a second direction opposite the first lateral direction and configured to laterally receive a belt engaging end face of the deflection member,
- wherein at least a portion of the recess is opposite the tension passage relative to the first lateral support surface.
(canceled)
26-28. (canceled)
32-39. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.