Anti-ejection device for hydraulic tensioner

Abstract

A hydraulic tensioner includes a tensioner housing having a bore extending a length, with a slot along the length of the bore. A hollow piston is slidably received within the bore and has an outer circumference with a chamfer adjacent a formed edge. An expandable circlip is received by the outer circumference of the piston. The circlip includes a substantially clover shaped body with a plurality of lobes connected to a first leg and a second leg through connecting portions. The expandable circlip has a free state, in which the lobes of the circlip are engaged with at least the chamfer of the piston, and an expanded state, in which the first leg and the second leg are moved away from each other, disengaged from the chamfer. When the expandable circlip is in the free state, the piston is prevented from being ejected from the bore of the housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.