Adaptive belt tensioner system for control of reversible torque load pulley

A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave, the tensioner comprising:

• a base;
• a resilient device;
• first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction;
• first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms;
• the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt;
• first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt;
• a securing device;
• and
• apertures in the first and second arm for receiving the securing device;
• wherein the securing device is present in the apertures while the tensioner is being mounted about the belt and the securing device is removed from the apertures thereafter.

A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave, the tensioner comprising:

• a base;
• a resilient device;
• first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction;
• first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms;
• the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt;
• first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt;
• and
• reaction pads carried on the first and second arms, the reaction pads being configured to interact with the first and second stops and to dampen the movement of the first and second arms.

A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave, the tensioner comprising:

• a base;
• a resilient device;
• first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction;
• first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms;
• the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt;
• and
• first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt;
• first and second reaction pads carried on the first and second arms;
• first and second bushings;
• and
• openings in the reaction pads for receiving the bushings, the bushing being positioned in the openings of the reaction pads between the reaction pads and the first and second stops;
• wherein the bushings dampen the first and second arms.

A method of assembling a tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a base;
• providing a resilient device;
• providing first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction;
• providing first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms;
• the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt;
• providing first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt;
• providing a securing device;
• providing apertures the first or the second arms for receiving the securing device;
• and
• providing first and second removable linkages;
• a section of the first and second arms receiving a first end of the linkages;
• and
• a section of the first and second stops receiving a second end of the linkages;
• wherein when the securing device is removed from the apertures, the resilient device positions the first and second arms in a desired position, sets a static tension in the belt, and the linkages position the first and second stops in a desired position at which the stops are secured to the base.

A method of assembling a tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a base;
• providing a resilient device;
• providing first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction;
• providing first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms;
• the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt;
• providing first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt;
• providing first and second reactions pads carried on the first and second arms;
• providing first and second bushings;
• and
• providing openings in the reactions pads for receiving the bushings, the bushings being positioned in the openings of the reaction pads between the reaction pads and the stops, wherein the bushings dampen the first and second arms.

A method for extending a duration of use of an endless power transmission belt in an endless power transmission belt tensioning system, the belt being driven about a sheave, a tensioner in the tensioning system comprising a base, a resilient device, a pair of arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and closed direction, a pair of pulleys rotatably coupled to the pair of arms, the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt, a pair of stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a predetermined condition of the belt;
• releasing the pair of stops from the base;
• moving the pair of stops so that they are coupled to the pair of arms;
• and
• fixedly coupling the pair of stops to the base.