초록 ▼

A timing belt tensioner for a motor vehicle engine comprising a pivot that is fixed relative to the motor vehicle engine. A tensioner arm is mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot. The tensioner arm has a friction surface disposed in friction sliding relation with an adjacent surface during the p

A timing belt tensioner for a motor vehicle engine comprising a pivot that is fixed relative to the motor vehicle engine. A tensioner arm is mounted for pivotal movement on the pivot. The tensioner arm has a friction surface disposed in friction sliding relation with an adjacent surface during the pivotal movement. A belt engaging pulley is mounted for rotation on the tensioner arm. A spring coupled with the tensioner arm biases the arm in a direction tending to force the pulley into tensioning engagement with the belt when the tensioner is installed on the motor vehicle engine. The spring biasing the arm into a working position maintains a predetermined range of tension in the belt during dynamic operating equilibrium of the belt. An anti-kickback stop mechanism is coupled with the arm and stops instantaneous kickback movement of the arm against the belt tensioning direction beyond when the arm is instantaneously moved away from the working position against the belt-tensioning direction in response to instantaneous tightening of the belt. The anti-kickback mechanism adjusts a location of the stop position based upon the working position of the arm.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A timing belt tensioner for tensioning a belt on a motor vehicle engine, said tensioner comprising:a pivot constructed and arranged to be fixed relative to said motor vehicle engine; a tensioner arm mounted for pivotal movement on said pivot, said tensioner arm having a friction surface disposed

1. A timing belt tensioner for tensioning a belt on a motor vehicle engine, said tensioner comprising:a pivot constructed and arranged to be fixed relative to said motor vehicle engine; a tensioner arm mounted for pivotal movement on said pivot, said tensioner arm having a friction surface disposed in friction sliding relation with an adjacent surface during said pivotal movement; a belt-engaging pulley mounted for rotation on said tensioner arm; a spring coupled with said tensioner arm and constructed and arranged to bias said tensioner arm in a belt-tensioning direction tending to force the pulley into tensioning engagement with the belt when said tensioner is installed on the motor vehicle engine, said spring biasing said tensioner arm into a working position that maintains a predetermined range of tension in the belt during dynamic operating equilibrium of the belt; and an anti-kickback stop mechanism coupled with said tensioner arm and constructed and arranged 1) to stop instantaneous kickback movement of said tensioner arm away from said working position, in a kickback direction opposite to said belt-tensioning direction, beyond a limited initial amount; and 2) to permit the working position of the tensioner arm to adjust automatically under the influence of gradually and/or continuously applied belt tension loads.