Automatic chain tensioner

Details Automatic chain tensioner Automatic chain tensioner

1998-09-01

2001-02-27

Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)

Endless belt power transmission systems or components

Means for adjusting belt tension or for shifting belt,...

Load responsive tension adjuster or shifter

C474S101000, C474S117000, C474S111000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06193622

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to chain tensioners, of the kind used for taking up slack, due to wear, in a transmission-drive chain or belt.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
In a typical case such as a transmission drive chain, the degree of tension or slack in the chain is adjustable by a person un-clamping a slipper member, moving the slipper member to a new location where the chain is tighter, and then re-clamping the slipper member. This adjustment is not automatic, in that the chain gets progressively slacker until the person effects the adjustment.
In other known types of tensioner, a spring presses the slipper against the chain, whereby tension is maintained in the chain as the chain wears, due to the resilience of the spring.
In a case where the chain acts uni-directionally, i.e only in forward-drive, a spring-biassed slipper pressed against the slack-run of the chain can be adequate. But in the case where the chain acts sometimes in forward-drive, and sometimes in reverse-drive, a spring-biassed slipper pressed against the slack run of the chain is not enough, because the slack-run becomes the tight-run in reverse.
Providing two slippers, one to each run, and spring-biassing them together by means of a floating spring clamp, can serve in those cases. However, in that case it is hard to achieve the right compromise of spring forces over the required range of movement: particularly since sudden reversals of load can hurl the tensioner suddenly from side to side.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1777527 (1930-10-01), Morse
patent: 3802286 (1974-04-01), Winklhofer et al.
patent: 4395250 (1983-07-01), King
patent: 4925199 (1990-05-01), Hirmann
patent: 5730674 (1998-03-01), Ott
patent: 1 775 273 (1971-05-01), None
patent: 0 113 685 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 1 290 279 (1972-09-01), None

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