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US 5,803,850 AGranted
Tensioner for a power transmission belt and method of making the same
AssigneeDayco Products, Inc.
InventorsRichard Hong, Joseph W. Zamm
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDayco Products, Inc.
InventorsRichard Hong, Joseph W. Zamm
Estimating the term…
A tensioner for a power transmission belt and a method of making same are provided. The tensioner includes an arm that carries a belt engaging unit and is adapted to be pivotably mounted to a support unit. A mechanical first spring is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm for urging the arm, and hence the belt engaging unit, relative to the support unit and against the belt for tensioning same. A fluidic dampener is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm to dampen movement of the arm relative to the support unit. The dampener comprises a first plate fixed to the support unit, a second plate fixed to the arm for rotation therewith and relative to the first plate, a second spring urging the first and second plates against one another, friction material disposed between part of the facing surfaces of the first and second plates, and fluid disposed between the facing surfaces of the first and second plates.
In a tensioner for a power transmission belt that is carried by a support means including a housing having a chamber formed therein, said tensioner comprising an arm that carries belt engaging means and is adapted to be pivotably mounted to said support means, mechanical first spring means operatively associated with said support means and said arm for urging said arm, and hence said belt engaging means, relative to said support means and against said belt for tensioning same, and dampening means operatively associated with said support means and said arm to dampen movement of said arm relative to said support means, the improvement wherein said dampening means is a fluidic dampening means and comprises first and second plate means disposed in said chamber, said first plate means fixed to said support means, said second plate means fixed to said arm for rotation therewith and relative to said first plate means, second spring means urging said first and second plate means against one another, friction material disposed between part of facing surfaces of said first and second plate means, and fluid disposed between said facing surfaces of said first and second plate means.
In a method of making a tensioner for a power transmission belt that is carried by support means including a housing having a chamber formed therein, said tensioner comprising an arm that carries belt engaging means and is adapted to be pivotably mounted to said support means, mechanical first spring means operatively associated with said support means and said arm for urging said arm, and hence said belt engaging means, relative to said support means and against said belt for tensioning same, and dampening means operatively associated with said support means and said arm to dampen movement of said arm relative to said support means, the improvement wherein said dampening means is a fluidic dampening means disposed in said chamber and comprising the steps of fixing first plate means to said support means, fixing second plate means to said arm for rotation therewith and relative to said first plate means, providing second spring means urging said first and second plate means against one another, disposing friction material between part of facing surfaces of said first and second plate means, and disposing a film of fluid between at least part of facing surfaces of said first and second plate means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.