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US 6,582,332 B2Granted
Damping mechanism for a tensioner
AssigneeThe Gates Corporation
InventorAlexander Serkh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A damping mechanism used in a tensioner for tensioning a power transmission belt including a damping plate having a friction surface, at least one ramp surface and first and second contact points for operatively connecting a spring whereby the spring torque applied to damping mechanism in combination with a reactive force at the pivot surface generates a normal force.
Claims22
A damping mechanism used in a tensioner for tensioning a power transmission belt;
- a spring having first and second ends and having a spring torque;
- a damping plate having a friction surface and at least one ramp surf ace for engaging a pivot surface and wherein the improvement comprises;
- the damping plate includes a channel having a plate base, an inner wall and an outer wall;
- and
- the damping plate includes first and second spring contact points for operatively connecting the first end of the spring whereby the spring torque applied to the damping plate in combination with a reactive force at the pivot surface generates a normal force.
2 more elements
A belt tensioner for tensioning an endless member comprising:
- a housing having a shaft;
- a pivot arm pivotally mounted on the shaft;
- a pulley journaled to the pivot arm to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to and set apart from the shaft;
- a spring having first and second ends and having a spring torque;
- a damping plate having a friction surface and at least one ramp surface for engaging a pivot surface;
- the damping plate includes first and second spring contact points for operatively connecting the first end of the spring whereby the spring torque applied to the damping plate in combination with a reactive force at the pivot surface generates a normal force;
- the damping plate substantially attenuating all pivot arm motion by a first damping force acting on a movement of said pivot arm in a first direction away from an endless member and a second damping force acting on a movement of said pivot arm in a second direction toward an endless member, the first damping force greater than the second damping force.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.