Temperature compensated self-tensioning idler pulley
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Corporation
InventorGlen D. Holtz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A belt tensioning device includes a resilient coupling which interconnects an idler pulley hub and a stationary mounting member. A ratchet and pawl mechanism interconnects the hub and the stationary mounting member to prevent the belt from overcoming the biasing force of the tensioning device during high belt loads. A resilient biasing element such as an elastomeric element is located between the ratchet and pawl mechanism and the stationary mounting member to allow limited movement of the idler pulley hub away from a belt in order to relieve belt tension such as caused during thermal expansion of an engine block.
Claims10
A belt tensioner, comprising
- mounting means for mounting said tensioner to a support surface;
- a hub operatively associated with said mounting means;
- means operatively associated with said hub for biasing said hub for eccentric movement about said mounting means;
- a pulley rotatably connected to said hub;
- coupling means for interconnecting said hub and said mounting means and for limiting said eccentric movement of said hub about said mounting means;
- and
- biasing means operatively associated with said coupling means for allowing limited movement of said coupling means and said hub about said mounting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.