Belt tensioning system and belt tensioning method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsScott Willis, Kwan Jamal Barber, James Basile
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt tensioning system includes a stretch belt rotationally connected to a crankshaft pulley and an accessory pulley, and a tensioning device including a pivoting arm having a tensioning pulley coupled thereto and an arm stop positioned in a path of the pivoting arm to limit the rotation of the pivoting arm. Additionally, the tensioning device does not include a spring tensioner and is configurable in a tensioned configuration and an un-tensioned configuration.
Claims20
A belt tensioning system comprising:
- a stretch belt rotationally connected to a crankshaft pulley and an accessory pulley;
- and
- a tensioning device including a pivoting arm having a tensioning pulley coupled thereto and an arm stop positioned in a path of the pivoting arm to limit rotation of the pivoting arm;
- the tensioning device not including a spring tensioner and being configurable in both a tensioned and an un-tensioned configuration.
A method for installing a stretch belt, comprising:
- in a tensioned configuration of a tensioning device, exerting a tension on the stretch belt via a tensioning pulley coupled to a pivoting arm, where a rotational movement of a pivoting arm in the tensioning device is limited by an arm stop;
- and
- in an un-tensioned configuration of the tensioning device, allowing the stretch belt to extend between a crankshaft pulley and an accessory pulley without external tensioning via the tensioning pulley;
- where the tensioning device does not includes a spring tensioner.
A belt tensioning system in an engine, comprising:
- a stretch belt rotationally connected to a crankshaft pulley and an accessory pulley;
- and
- a tensioning device including a pivoting arm having a tensioning pulley coupled thereto and an arm stop positioned in a rotational path of the pivoting arm to limit the rotation of the pivoting arm;
- where the tensioning device does not include a spring tensioner;
- where when the pivoting arm is in an tensioned configuration the tensioning pulley is in rotational contact with the stretch belt and exerting tension thereon;
- and
- where when the pivoting arm is in an un-tensioned configuration the tensioning pulley is spaced away from the stretch belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.