Weight and cost optimized carrier for modular hydraulic tensioner

A hydraulic tensioner (10) for an endless loop power transmission member comprising:

• a modular sleeve (14) having an aperture (15) extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a housing (12) for supporting the modular sleeve (14), the housing (12) having a seat (25) in fluid communication with the aperture (15) of the modular sleeve (14) and defining a fluid passage (39) allowing fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid, an end of the modular sleeve (14) seated with respect to the seat (25) of the housing (12) to seal the fluid passage (39);
• a tensioner spring (36) mounted within the modular sleeve (14);
• and a slideable piston (16) mounted within the modular sleeve (14) to be moveable along the longitudinal axis in the aperture (15), the piston (16) and the modular sleeve (14) defining an expandable fluid chamber (18) in fluid communication with the fluid passage (39), the piston (16) moveable between an extended position and a retracted position with respect to the modular sleeve (14) in response to fluid pressure within the fluid chamber (18), the piston (16) biased by the tensioner spring (36) toward the extended position.

A method of manufacturing for a hydraulic tensioner (10) having a piston (16) operable for movement in an expandable fluid chamber (18) in response to fluid pressure, the method comprising:

• forming a modular sleeve (14) defining an aperture for slidably receiving the piston (16), the piston (16) and the aperture defining the expandable fluid chamber (18);
• forming a housing (12) to support the modular sleeve (14);
• and
• fixedly engaging the housing (12) and the modular sleeve (14) with respect to one another to provide sealed fluid passage communication between the expandable fluid chamber (18) and a source of pressurized fluid.