Belt tensioner with wear compensation
US8562466B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2007/081
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A novel tensioner for use with flexible drives, such as serpentine accessory belts on automobiles includes a tensioner arm to spindle pivot design which employs a frustoconical bushing between an inner pivot surface of the tensioner arm and a spindle shaft. The frustoconical design of the bushing resists off axis movement of the tensioner arm and a wear take up mechanism biases the bushing into contact with the inner pivot surface to compensate for normal wear of the bushing and/or pivot surface. A thrust plate is mounted to the end of the spindle shaft and rides in a thrust washer, the thrust plate and thrust washer being held captive in the tensioner arm such that the tensioner arm can pivot about the bushing and the spindle and the thrust plate and thrust washer assist in inhibiting off-axis movement of the tensioner arm. In one embodiment, the biasing force which biases the bushing against the inner pivot surface of the tensioner arm can be varied to change the amount of dampening of the tensioner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.