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US 5,669,841 AGranted
Twisted belt tensioner
AssigneeShivvers, Inc.
InventorScott Schick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt tensioner for a twisted belt that tends to elongate during usage includes a tensioning pulley for operably engaging the twisted belt, a carrier for the pulley pivotally connected to a frame, a tensioning device for applying continuous force to the tensioning pulley carrier so as to tension the belt, and an unidirectional locking mechanism that allows the carrier to swing in only one direction and not in a reverse direction.
Claims16
A tensioning mechanism for a drive belt comprising:
- a) a tensioning pulley adapted for operably engaging the drive belt and applying tension thereto;
- b) a tensioning pulley carrier rotatably supporting the tensioning pulley and adapted to be connected to a frame such that an axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley is moveable along a path with respect to said frame;
- c) a tensioning device connected to said tensioning pulley and operably applying a force to said tensioning pulley to urge said pulley axis along said path so as to tension the drive belt;
- and
- d) a locking mechanism operably unidirectionally moveable along said path and connected to said tensioning device and operably allowing said tensioning pulley axis to move in only one direction along said path.
2 more elements
A motorized mechanism comprising:
- a) a structural frame;
- b) a motor mounted on said frame and driving a power take off pulley about an axis of rotation;
- c) a pair of drive pulleys each rotating about an axis of rotation and adapted to be connected to a respective wheel to drive the wheel;
- d) a tensioning pulley rotating about an axis of rotation;
- said drive pulleys axes of rotation being non parallel to the axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley;
- e) a twisted belt threaded about each of said pulleys;
- f) a tensioning device operably applying force to said tensioning pulley to urge the axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley along a path and apply tension to said belt;
- and
- g) a locking mechanism operably connected to said tensioning device;
- said locking mechanism allowing the axis of said tensioning pulley to move along said path in a first direction and preventing movement along said path in a reverse direction.
7 more elements
A tensioning mechanism for a drive belt comprising:
- a) a tensioning pulley adapted for operably engaging the drive belt and applying tension thereto;
- b) a tensioning pulley carrier rotatably supporting the tensioning pulley and adapted to be connected to a frame such that an axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley is moveable along a path with respect to said frame;
- c) a tensioning device connected to said tensioning pulley and operably applying a force to said tensioning pulley to urge said pulley axis along said path so as to tension the drive belt;
- d) a locking mechanism connected to said tensioning device and operably allowing said tensioning pulley axis to move in only one direction along said path;
- e) said locking mechanism comprises a body mounted on and slidable along a shaft;
- and
- f) said body operably engages said pulley carrier with said tensioning pulley being rotatably mounted on said pulley carrier.
4 more elements
The tensioning mechanism for a drive belt comprising:
- a) a tensioning pulley adapted for operably engaging the drive belt and applying tension thereto;
- b) a tensioning pulley carrier rotatably supporting the tensioning pulley and adapted to be connected to a frame such that an axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley is movable along a path with respect to said frame;
- c) a tensioning device connected to said tensioning pulley and operably applying a force to said tensioning pulley to urge said pulley axis along said path so as to tension the drive belt;
- d) said tensioning device includes a shaft adapted to be fixedly mounted to the frame and a biasing mechanism mounted on said shaft;
- e) a locking mechanism connected to said tensioning device and operably allowing said tensioning pulley axis to move in only one direction along said path;
- f) said locking mechanism being mounted along said shaft and being biased by said biasing mechanism to be unidirectionally slideably relative to said shaft;
- and
- g) said locking mechanism engaging said carrier;
- h) said carrier comprises an elongate arm adapted to be pivotally connected to the frame near a first end thereof and having a swingable end opposite said first end;
- said swingable end operably sliding along said shaft and being directly engaged by said locking mechanism.
7 more elements
A tensioning mechanism for a drive belt comprising:
- a) a tensioning pulley adapted for operably engaging the drive belt and applying tension thereto;
- b) a tensioning pulley carrier rotatably supporting the tensioning pulley and adapted to be connected to a frame such that an axis of rotation of said tensioning pulley is moveable along a path with respect to said frame;
- c) a tensioning device connected to said tensioning pulley and operably applying a force to said tensioning pulley to urge said pulley axis along said path so as to tension the drive belt;
- d) a locking mechanism operably unidirectionally moveable along said path and connected to said tensioning device and operably allowing said tensioning pulley axis to move in only one direction along said path;
- e) an elongate arm with said tensioning pulley being rotatably mounted onto said arm;
- f) said arm having a first end spaced from a connection with said tensioning pulley;
- said first end being adapted to be pivotally connected to the frame;
- g) said arm operably engaging said tensioning device at a location therealong spaced from said first end such that said tensioning device biases said arm to swing about said first end;
- h) said path follows a shaft and includes a body sleeved on and slidable along said shaft;
- and
- i) at least one locking cam plate operably positioned in said body so as to allow sliding of said body along said shaft in a forward direction and so as to lock and prevent sliding of said body along said shaft in a reverse direction.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.