Belt tensioning apparatus for belt driven systems
AssigneeSpringland Manufacturing
InventorsHENRY LEPP, ROY ALVARENGA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable tensioning assembly suitable for use with bulk granular product transport devices. The assembly utilizes a movable drive for a driven pulley wheel in a belt drive having an idler pulley wheel surrounded by the belt. A mechanical cam releasable lock which is adjustably biassed with a biasing arrangement assists movement of the driven pulley into and out of engagement with the belt. Proper tension in the belt is adjustable with at least the biasing arrangement to prevent improper operation and premature wear of the belt drive and related components. An indicator arrangement is provided to alert a user to proper tension of the belt.
Claims32
-13. (canceled)
A belt tensioning apparatus for a belt driven system having an idler pulley and a driven pulley operable with a belt, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a drive member having a drive pulley wheel, said drive member movably mounted on said support structure;
- an over center tensioning assembly connected between said support structure and said drive member movable to releasably lock said drive pulley wheel into engagement with said belt from movement of said drive member;
- and
- an adjustable biasing member operatively connected to said over center tensioning assembly for adjusting belt tension.
-22. (canceled)
A method for tensioning a belt on a belt driven apparatus for conveying bulk granular products, comprising:
- providing a movable drive member having a drivable pulley, said drivable pulley being movable into and out of engagement with a belt positioned about said drivable pulley and an idler pulley when said movable drive member is moved;
- coupling a releasably lockable cam member between said movable drive member and a fixed point on said apparatus;
- biasing said lockable cam member to selectively lock said movable drive member into a position where said drivable pulley tensions said belt;
- and
- selectively adjusting the bias of said lockable cam member for proper tensioning of said belt during use or for disengagement.
A belt tensioning apparatus for a belt-driven system having a belt extending about an idler pulley and a driven pulley, comprising:
- a support structure;
- a drive member carrying said driven pulley, said drive member being mounted to said support structure for guided movement along a defined path relative thereto to vary tension in said belt;
- a locking assembly operatively coupled between said drive member and a fixed portion of said support structure, said locking assembly including:
- a cam member mounted for rotation about an axis, and
- a seating structure having a defined engagement surface;
- a biasing member operatively coupled with said cam member;
- wherein:
- said cam member is movable into a seated position in which a portion of said cam member is received against said engagement surface of said seating structure;
- said seated position defines a discrete mechanical engagement state corresponding to a predetermined belt tension, said predetermined belt tension being established by the geometry of interaction between said cam member and said seating structure;
- said biasing member urges said cam member toward said seated position and maintains said cam member in said discrete mechanical engagement state during operation;
- and
- said biasing member further provides a restoring force that assists displacement of said cam member out of said seated position upon actuation, thereby permitting movement of said drive member to reduce belt tension.
A tensioning apparatus for a bulk granular product conveyor, comprising:
- a pulley driven belt extending about an idler pulley and a driven pulley;
- a movable drive member supporting said driven pulley and mounted for guided movement relative to a frame of said conveyor;
- a locking mechanism disposed between said movable drive member and a fixed portion of said frame, said locking mechanism including:
- a cam member movable about an axis, and
- a seating structure having a defined engagement surface configured to receive a portion of said cam member;
- a biasing member operatively coupled with said cam member;
- wherein:
- said cam member is movable into a seated position in which said cam member engages said engagement surface of said seating structure;
- said seated position defines a discrete mechanical engagement state corresponding to a predetermined belt tension, said predetermined belt tension being established by relative geometry between said cam member and said seating structure;
- said biasing member urges said cam member into said seated position and maintains said cam member in said discrete mechanical engagement state during operation;
- and
- said biasing member further assists movement of said cam member out of said seated position upon actuation to permit release of belt tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.