Mechanical friction tensioner
AssigneeBorg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
InventorRoger T. Simpson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical friction tensioner for power transmission chains, such as engine timing chains. The tensioner provides the advantages of a conventional hydraulic tensioner, but eliminates the hydraulic pressure system by use of spring loaded wedge-shaped blocks and friction damping. The mechanical tensioner has a wedge-shaped plunger positioned within a bore in the tensioner housing. The plunger is biased outward by two spring loaded wedge-shaped blocks and a return spring. As the plunger moves inward, the wedge-shaped blocks are pushed in towards the plunger by the springs to provide friction damping.
Claims12
A mechanical friction chain tensioner comprising:
- a housing having an outside surface and an inside surface;
- a first bore formed along a vertical centerline in said housing;
- a plunger slidably received within said first bore;
- at least one contacting member attached to said plunger;
- a plunger return spring positioned between one of said surfaces of said housing and said contacting member, said plunger return spring biasing said plunger in a first protruding direction from said first bore along said vertical centerline;
- a pair of wedge-shaped members contacting said plunger;
- and
- each of a pair of wedge springs positioned between said inside housing surface and each of said pair of wedge-shaded members, each of said pair of wedge springs biasing each of corresponding said wedge-shaped members in a horizontal direction against said plunger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.