Self adjusting timing belt tensioner
AssigneeINA Bearing Company, Inc.
InventorKelly D. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for applying an optimum tensioning force to an endless belt or the like, including a first pivot axis, a belt engaging pulley eccentrically supported for rotation about a second axis displaced from the first pivot axis, a torsional biasing spring for urging the belt-engaging pulley into belt-tensioning engagement with the belt and for automatically maintaining the tension force applied to belt. The torsion spring is disposed about the first axis within the eccentric pulley, which includes further springs for releaseably gripping the pivot to adjustably limit the applied tensioning force in a first direction and in a second direction, whereby the tension in the belt is optimally maintained throughout the engine operating temperature cycle.
Claims39
A belt tensioner for applying a tension force to an endless drive belt disposed along a path, comprising
- (a) a pivot shaft for mounting adjacent the belt path, defining a pivot axis;
- (b) a belt contacting tire;
- (c) a rotatable pulley having a central axis and an eccentric hub coaxial with an eccentric axis, said pulley hub being coaxial with said pivot axis and said eccentric axis, said pulley being capable of urging said belt contacting tire to tension said belt, said hub including a plurality of spring stop faces defining at least one arc radially disposed from said eccentric axis;
- (d) a torsional drive force means having a fixed first end radially disposed from said pivot axis and a second end fixed within said hub for biasing said pulley and said belt contacting tire into the belt path to tension said belt;
- and
- (e) a helical countertorsion force means having a first end moveably coupled to said hub within said arc to provide a step-displaced counterrotation torque, and a second end unidirectionally coupled around said pivot shaft, for permitting essentially unidirectional overrunning movement around said pivot shaft;
- whereby said torsional drive force means is adapted to apply a tension to said belt in a first direction and said countertorsion force means permits only increments of counterrotation defined by said arc.
A belt tensioner comprising:
- (a) an endless drive belt disposed along a path;
- (b) a pivot shaft having an axis and adapted for mounting adjacent the belt path;
- (c) a belt contacting tire;
- (d) a pulley mounted on the pivot shaft and rotatably supporting said tire, said pulley providing relative said endless belt a first rotational axis for said tire, said pulley also including an eccentric hub having an axis coaxial with said pivot axis;
- (e) torsional force means, circumjacent said pivot shaft, for urging said tire into contact with said belt;
- and
- (f) countertorsion force means, cooperating with said torsional force means and coaxial with said pivot axis, for permitting essentially unidirectional overrunning movement of said countertorsion force means around said pivot axis, said countertorsion force means being coupled to a point movable about said eccentric hub.
A belt tensioner vibration damper comprising:
- (a) an endless drive belt disposed along a path;
- (b) a pivot shaft providing a pivot axis adjacent the belt path;
- (c) a belt contacting tire;
- (d) a rotatable pulley having a first axis for rotatably supporting said tire, and an eccentric hub offset from said first axis for rotating said pulley about said pivot axis;
- (e) a cylindrical ring coaxial of said pivot axis and said hub;
- and
- (f) resilient damping means disposed intermediate said ring and said hub, wherein said resilient damping means are in sliding frictional contact with the eccentric hub.
A belt tensioner sound reducing vibration damper comprising:
- (a) a rotatable belt tensioning pulley having an eccentric hub for rotating said pulley;
- (b) a pivot shaft having an axis and supporting said pulley by said hub;
- (c) a cylindrical support ring coaxial with said pivot axis and with said hub;
- (d) a support surface supporting said pivot axis and said support ring;
- and
- (e) means disposed intermediate said support ring and said hub, in sliding frictional contact with said hub, for damping vibrations of the pulley.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.