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US 4,921,472 AGranted
Chain tensioner
AssigneeBorg-Warner Automotive Transmission & Engine Components Corporation
InventorJames D. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain tensioner particularly for use in confined spaces having a blade ing mechanically interlocked with a plastic shoe. The plastic shoe engages the chain to be tensioned and the shoe may be made of a rigid heat stabilized nylon.
Claims20
A chain tensioner comprising:
- a blade spring;
- and,
- a shoe adapted to contact said chain to be tensioned, said shoe being of a synthetic plastic material that will creep under load and elevated temperature, said shoe having a first end and a second end, said first end defining a chamber for receiving one end of said blade spring, said second end of shoe defining a passageway for receiving an end of said blade spring, said passageway having a means for engaging said end of said blade spring, said engagement means acting to limit movement of said blade spring, said engagement means being disposed to maintain said end of said blade spring in engagement with said chamber and said passageway to mechanically interlock said blade spring to said shoe by the geometric configuration of said blade spring and said shoe so as to place said shoe under stress and maintain tension on said chain.
A chain tensioner comprising:
- a blade spring, said blade spring having a longitudinally extending slot positioned at each end of the blade spring, said slots extending from each each of said blade spring towards said center of said spring;
- and,
- a shoe adapted to contact said chain to be tensioned. said shoe being of a synthetic plastic material that will creep under load and elevated temperature, said shoe having a first end and a second end, said first end defining a chamber for receiving one end of said blade spring, said chamber having a wall for engaging said slot on one end of said blade spring, said second end of shoe defining a passageway for receiving an end of said blade spring, said passageway having a projection for engaging said slot on said end of said blade spring, said passageway having a shoulder for engaging said end of said blade spring positioned in said passageway, said shoulder being disposed to maintain said end of said blade spring in engagement with said chamber and said wall at said first end of said shoe to mechanically interlock said blade spring to said shoe so as to place said shoe under stress and maintain tension on said chain.
A method for mechanically interlocking an arcuate blade spring of a chain tensioner to the shoe of the chain tensioner comprising:
- positioning one end of said blade spring in a passageway at one end of said shoe;
- displacing said blade spring to align said blade spring with a chamber located on the end of said shoe opposite to said passageway;
- advancing said blade spring into said chamber;
- aligning said end of said blade spring in said passageway with a means for engaging said end of said blade spring, said engagement means acting to prevent said blade spring from being removed from said chamber and said passageway to mechanically interlock said blade spring to said shoe.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.