Power steering belt tensioning apparatus and method

A method for tensioning a belt, comprising:

• performing a primary tensioning comprising the steps of;
• a) placing a vibration sensor adjacent the belt;
• b) activating a tensioning device, said tensioning device being operable to increase a tension on the belt;
• c) striking the belt plural times to cause said belt to vibrate;
• d) measuring the belt vibration with the vibration sensor;
• e) comparing a frequency of the measured vibration with a predetermined vibration frequency;
• and,
• if said measured vibration frequency is below the predetermined vibration frequency, repeating steps b) through e);
• if said measured vibration frequency is equal to or greater than the predetermined vibration frequency, deactivating said tensioning device;
• following deactivation of said tensioning device, performing a final belt tension check comprising the steps of:
• f) striking the belt at least one additional time to cause said belt to further vibrate;
• g) measuring the further vibrations with the vibration sensor;
• h) comparing a frequency of the further measured vibrations, which corresponds to a tension on said belt, with a predetermined range of acceptable vibration frequencies, said range of acceptable vibration frequencies corresponding with a range of acceptable belt tensions;
• and,
• i) indicating to an operator whether a tension of said belt is acceptable.

A belt tensioning system, comprising:

• a belt striker;
• a belt vibration sensor;
• a tension controller that is operable to activate the belt striker and to receive measured belt vibration signals from the vibration sensor, said tension controller comparing a frequency of the measured belt vibrations with a predetermined belt vibration frequency;
• and
• a belt tensioning device, said device being controlled by said tension controller in response to sensed vibration frequency such that, when said measured vibration frequency is below said predetermined belt vibration frequency, said tensioning device is activated to increase tension on said belt and, when said measured vibration frequency is equal to or greater than said predetermined vibration frequency, said tensioning device is deactivated.