US 7,611,431 B2Granted

Belt tensioner with installation pin

AssigneeLitens Automotive Partnership

InventorsFlaviu Dinca, Yinchu Tao, Rares I. Comsa

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Abstract

A belt tensioner for tensioning the belt of a belt drive system includes an eccentric adjusting member, a pivot structure eccentrically mounted on the adjusting member for pivoting around the adjusting member, a belt-tensioning pulley mounted to rotate on the pivot structure, a biasing member that resiliently biases the pivot structure in a belt-tightening direction, and a coupling structure. The coupling structure temporarily couples the pivot structure to the adjusting member to pivot with it during a belt installation procedure, and the configuration keeps the coupling structure unloaded except for a limited period of time during the installation procedure such that the coupling structure can be installed and removed easily. The tensioner is rendered operative after the pivot structure is uncoupled from the adjusting member, thus allowing the pivot structure to pivot with respect to the adjusting member.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of installing a belt tensioner in a motor vehicle belt drive system, said tensioner comprising an eccentric adjusting member, a pivot structure mounted on the eccentric adjusting member for eccentric pivoting movement, a belt-tensioning pulley mounted for rotation on the pivot structure, and a biasing member that biases the pivot structure in a first direction that is toward the belt drive system belt to force the pulley into tensioning engagement with the belt when the tensioner is installed on the motor vehicle engine, said method comprising:

initially mounting the tensioner on the motor vehicle engine by means of a bolt or stud around which the eccentric adjusting member pivots;
pivoting the eccentric adjusting member in a second direction opposite the first direction such that the eccentric adjusting member is coupled to the pivot structure for joint rotation about the bolt or stud in the second direction;
continuing to pivot the eccentric adjusting member in the second direction while the pivot structure is coupled for rotation with the eccentric adjusting member in the second direction so that the pivot structure is moved in the second direction, away from the first direction, against the biasing force of the biasing member;
mounting the belt on or around all components of the belt drive system;
pivoting the eccentric adjusting member back in the first direction so that the pivot structure is moved back in the first direction, toward the belt, and so that biasing force in the biasing member is relieved and the pivot structure is decoupled from the eccentric adjusting member so as not to directly rotate with the eccentric adjusting member;
further pivoting the eccentric adjusting member in the first direction so that the pulley is pressed into forcible engagement with the belt, thereby causing pivoting movement of the pivot structure against the biasing force of the biasing member;
and
tightening the bolt or stud do as to fix the eccentric adjusting member, and hence the tensioner, in place after the pivot structure has been pivoted into a predetermined tensioning position relative to the belt.

5 more elements

A method of installing a belt tensioner in a drive system that includes a mounting structure and an endless power transmitting element, said tensioner comprising an eccentric adjusting member, an eccentric pivot structure mounted on the eccentric adjusting member, a drive member mounted for rotation on the eccentric pivot structure, and a spring that biases the eccentric pivot structure in a first direction that is toward the endless power transmitting element to force the drive member into tensioning engagement with the endless power transmitting element when the tensioner is installed on the mounting structure, said method comprising:

mounting the tensioner to the mounting structure for rotation about a fixed axis;
pivoting the eccentric adjusting member about the fixed axis in a second direction opposite the first direction to eccentrically pivot the eccentric pivot structure and the drive member about the fixed axis until the eccentric pivot structure is torsionally coupled to the eccentric adjusting member;
further pivoting the eccentric adjusting member about the fixed axis in the second direction, the eccentric pivot structure pivoting about the fixed axis with the eccentric adjusting member to eccentrically move drive member about the fixed axis in a manner that is related to the eccentricity of the eccentric adjusting member and the eccentricity of the eccentric pivot structure;
mounting the endless power transmitting element on the drive member;
pivoting the eccentric adjusting member in the first direction to decouple eccentric pivot structure from the eccentric adjusting member such that pivoting of the eccentric adjusting member about the fixed axis does not cause corresponding movement of the eccentric pivot structure;
pivoting the eccentric adjusting member so that the drive member is engaged with the endless power transmitting element to position the pivot structure at a predetermined tensioning position;
and
fixedly coupling the eccentric adjusting member to the mounting structure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/901,087Filed 14 Sep 2007 · division
Priority: 31 Jul 2001
Published: US 2008/0026894 A131 Jan 2008
Granted: 3 Nov 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16H 7/1281
Without vibration damping means: where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path
F16H 7/24
Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members: equipment for mounting belts, ropes, or chains
F16H 2007/081
Actuators for final output members: torsion springs
F16H 2007/0846
Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains: comprising a mechanical stopper

Family

Application60/308,612Us provisional application · filed 31 Jul 2001
PCT/CA02/01201Parent of this division · filed 31 Jul 2002
US 2008/0026894 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Jan 2008
Application10/485,480Parent of this division
US 7,285,065 B2Parent of this division
US 2004/0180745 A1Published application
US 7,611,431 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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