Hydraulic asymmetric damped belt tensioner
AssigneeDayco Products, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Meckstroth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt tensioner for a power transmission belt may be provided that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control. The belt tensioner may have an arm with a belt engaging section and a drum section, a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, where the arm pivots on the support member, and a tension spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner also may have a fluid filled chamber inside a portion of the drum section of the arm and a value pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber.
Claims22
A tensioner for a power transmission belt that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control, the tensioner comprising:
- an arm comprising a belt engaging section and a drum section;
- a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, the arm pivoting on the support member;
- a spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt;
- a fluid containing chamber located inside a portion of the drum section of the arm;
- and
- a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber.
A tensioner for a power transmission belt that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control, the tensioner comprising:
- an arm comprising a belt engaging section and a drum section;
- a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, the arm pivoting on the support member;
- a spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt;
- a fluid containing chamber located inside a portion of the drum section of the arm;
- and
- a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber;
- wherein the valve is coupled to the drum section and moves with respect to the chamber, wherein when the valve moves in a first direction the valve opens and when the valve moves in a second direction the valve closes and locks against a portion of the tensioner such that a damping force is generated based on the fluid in the chamber pushing against the closed and locked valve.
A method of utilizing a tensioner for maintaining a predetermined tension on a power transmission belt to be operated on an endless path, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an arm comprising a belt engaging section and a drum section;
- providing a support member configured to be secured relative to the belt, the support member comprising a hub having a longitudinal axis and being fixed from movement relative to the belt engaging section, the hub moveably holding the arm;
- providing a spring operatively interconnected to the arm and the support member, the spring being configured to urge the belt engaging section relative to the support member and against the belt with a force to provide the predetermined tension on the belt;
- providing a fluid containing chamber located inside a portion of the drum section of the arm;
- and
- providing a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber.
A tensioner for a power transmission belt that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control, the tensioner comprising:
- an arm comprising a belt engaging section and a drum section;
- a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, the arm pivoting on the support member;
- a spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt;
- a fluid containing chamber located inside a portion of the drum section of the arm;
- and
- a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber;
- wherein the chamber is stationary when the arm pivots and the valve is mounted on a portion of the drum section which moves when the arm pivots such that the valve moves with respect to the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.