Linear tensioner
AssigneeThe Gates Corporation
InventorsAlexander Serkh, Ali Kanberoglu, Andrzej Dec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tensioner having a base. A spring connected to the base biases a plate, having a pulley, toward a belt. Frictional blocks are aligned on the base in a staggered fashion along a spring centerline. The plate slidingly moves in a linear path between the blocks. The blocks constrain the path of the plate allowing movement in only a single axis parallel to a spring axis. A hubload from a belt running on the pulley combined with the spring force acting on the plate creates a force couple acting on the plate through the frictional blocks. The engaging surfaces between the plate and the blocks have a predetermined coefficient of friction thereby creating a damping force as the pulley and plate move in a linear path on the blocks.
Claims12
A tensioner comprising:
- a base;
- a frictional member mounted to the base and having frictional member engaging surfaces;
- a plate having a plate engaging surface in sliding engagement with a corresponding frictional member engaging surface, such sliding engagement having a damping effect;
- a biasing member between the base and the plate for biasing the plate against a force;
- the biasing member having an axis;
- a frictional member engaginq surface and corresponding plate engaging surface on each side of the biasing member axis and substantially aligned with the biasing member axis, thereby allowing a linear movement of the plate;
- a pulley having a pulley center journaled to the plate;
- the pulley center is offset a distance (a) normal to the biasing member axis;
- and
- the distance (a) being greater than a distance of a frictional member engaging surface from the biasing member axis.
A tensioner comprising:
- a base;
- at least two frictional members mounted to the base and each having a frictional member engaging surface;
- a plate in sliding engagement with each frictional member engaging surface;
- a biasing member disposed between the base and the plate exerting a biasing member force on the plate thereby biasing the plate against a hubload force;
- such sliding engagement having a damping effect caused by the biasing member force and the hubload force acting on the plate such that a reaction force is generated on each frictional member engaging surface;
- a pulley journaled to the plate;
- a pulley center is offset a distance (a) normal to the biasing member axis;
- and
- the distance (a) being greater than a distance of a frictional member engaging surface from the biasing member axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.