Free floating belt idler

A tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible drive element that includes two runs, the tensioning device comprising:

• a first stationary guide member having a surface defining a U-shaped guide channel, the guide channel forming sidewalls to assist in guiding the drive element;
• a second stationary guide member having a surface defining a U-shaped guide channel, the guide channel forming sidewalls to assist in guiding the drive element;
• each stationary guide member containing at least two contact rollers mounted in the guide channels for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the drive element;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between and connected to the first and second stationary guide members to adjustably secure the members a selected distance from one another such that the first and second guide channels are spaced apart from and facing one another to apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the drive element captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and
• wherein the contact rollers are mounted in the sidewalls of the U-shaped guide channels in the stationary guide members, and wherein the sidewalls of the U-shaped channels in the stationary guide members contain press-fit bearings that are adapted to rotatably secure the contact rollers.

A tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible drive element that includes two runs, the tensioning device comprising:

• a first stationary guide member having a surface defining a U-shaped guide channel, the guide channel forming sidewalls to assist in guiding the drive element;
• a second stationary guide member having a surface defining a U-shaped guide channel, the guide channel forming sidewalls to assist in guiding the drive element,
• each stationary guide member containing at least two contact rollers mounted in the guide channels for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the drive element;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between and connected to the first and second stationary guide members to adjustably secure the members a selected distance from one another such that the first and second guide channels are spaced apart from and facing one another to apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the drive element captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and
• wherein each stationary guide member contains a spring clip, the clips being configured to selectively secure the guide members to the at least one connecting side arm at a plurality of positions along the connecting side arm, thereby permitting adjustment of the spacing between the stationary guide member, wherein the spring clips are configured in substantially U-shaped channels to locate onto the stationary guide members opposite the guide.

A tensioning device for a drive system having;

• a flexible belt drive that includes two runs, the tensioning device comprising:
• a pair of stationary belt guides;
• each stationary belt guide containing at least two contact rollers for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the belt drive;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between the pair of stationary belt guides to adjustably secure the guides a selected distance from one another such that the contact rollers are spaced apart from and facing one another and apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the belt drive captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and
• each stationary belt guide containing a spring clip, the clips being configured to selectively secure the belt guides to the at least one connecting side arm at a plurality of positions along the connecting side arm, thereby permitting adjustment of the spacing between the stationary belt guides.

A tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible belt drive including two runs, the tensioning device comprising:

• a pair of stationary belt guides;
• each stationary belt guide containing at least two contact rollers for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the belt drive;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between and connected to the pair of stationary belt guides to adjustably secure the guides a selected distance from one another such that the contact rollers are spaced apart from and facing one another and apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the belt drive captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and
• each stationary belt guide containing a spring clip, the clips being configured to selectively secure the belt guides to the at least one connecting side arm at a plurality of positions along the connecting side arm, thereby permitting adjustment of the spacing between the stationary belt guides, wherein the contact rollers are mounted in sidewalls of the U-shaped guide channels in the stationary belt guides, and wherein the sidiewalls of the U-shaped channels in the stationary belt guides contain press-fit bearings that are adapted to rotatably secure the contact rollers.

A free floating tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible belt drive that includes two runs, said tensioning device being supportable solely by the drive belt, the tensioning device comprising:

• a pair of stationary belt guides;
• each stationary belt guide containing at least two contact rollers for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the belt drive;
• and
• two connecting side arms extending between and connected to the pair of stationary belt guides to adjustably secure the guides a selected distance from one another such that the contact rollers are spaced apart from and facing one another to thereby adjust the tensioning device, so as to apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the belt drive captured and drawn together therebetween.

A tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible belt drive that includes two runs, the tensioning device comprising:

• a pair of stationary belt guides;
• each stationary belt guide containing at least two contact rollers for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the belt drive;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between and connected to the pair of stationary belt guides to adjustably secure the guides a selected distance from one another such that the contact rollers are spaced apart from and facing one another and apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the belt drive captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and.
• each contact roller defining a drive element contact surface having a width measured along a longitudinal centerline of the contact roller, wherein the contact rollers are spaced apart such that the distance between the centerlines of the contact rollers is approximately 1.0 to 3.0 times the drive element contact surface width.

A tensioning device for a drive system having a flexible belt drive that includes two runs, the tensioning device comprising:

• a pair of stationary belt guides;
• each stationary belt guide containing at least two contact rollers for engaging with a corresponding one of the runs of the belt drive;
• at least one connecting side arm extending between and connected to the pair of stationary belt guides to adjustably secure the guides a selected distance from one another such that the contact rollers are spaced apart from and facing one another and apply a predetermined tensioning force to the two runs of the belt drive captured and drawn together therebetween;
• and
• each contact roller defining a drive element contact surface having a diameter and having a width measured along a longitudinal centerline of the contact roller, and wherein the diameter of the contact surface of the rollers is less than the width of the contact surface of the rollers.