Internal combustion engine

Internal combustion engine comprising:

• mechanical power generation means for generating mechanical power;
• first wheel device being connected to and receiving mechanical power from said mechanical power generation means;
• second wheel device positioned in spaced-apart relation to said first wheel device, said second wheel device being connected to and receiving at least a portion of said mechanical power from said first wheel device;
• belt means having a surface, said belt means being connected between said first wheel device and said second wheel device for transferring mechanical power from said first wheel device to said second wheel device;
• belt tension adjusting means being in contact with said surface of said belt means for adjusting the tension of said belt means by applying a controlled amount of force to said surface of said belt means, said belt tension adjusting means being movably supported by bracket means, said belt tension adjusting means comprising movable member means being in contact with said belt means, said movable member means comprising a surface, said movement of said movable member means relative to said bracket means altering the tension of said belt means;
• and
• belt tensioner damping device being mechanically connected to said belt tension adjusting means, said belt tension damping device comprising:
• resilient member means having an at least partially solid interior and defining an axis and positioned in compression between said bracket means and said movable member means applying an axial force along said axis to said bracket means and said movable member means, said resilient member receiving a torsional force and applying a torsional counter-force between said bracket means and said movable member means when said movable member means is moved relative to said bracket means;
• and
• friction means having a surface, said surface of said friction means being placed in direct contact with said surface of said movable member means, said surface of said friction means and said surface of said movable member means having a mutual coefficient of friction which provides a preselected level of frictional force between said friction means and said movable member means when said movable member means is moved relative to said bracket means and when a preselected force is applied between said friction means and said movable member means;
• said resilient member means being configured for generating said axial force and applying said preselected force between said friction means and said movable member means thereby substantially damping tension variations in said belt means;
• and
• said internal combustion engine further including intermediate armature means positioned at least partially within said interior of said resilient member means for increasing said axial force applied by said resilient member means along said axis.