Patent ID: 6958025
Filing Date: 2005-10-25
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A belt tensioner for use with a torque converter to adjust the overall speed of a vehicle including a wheel and an output shaft coupled to the wheel, the belt tensioner comprising a motion transmitting fixed unit configured to be fixed to the output shaft for movement therewith, the fixed unit including a first flange, and a cam, and a belt tensioning movable unit configured to move relative to the fixed unit, the movable unit including a second flange, an axially extending mount, a cam follower, and a rotation limiter, the cam follower and the rotation limiter being coupled to the axially extending mount, wherein the first flange and the second flange cooperate to provide a space therebetween to receive a belt of the torque converter for transmission of motion between the belt and the output shaft, the cam follower is configured to follow the cam to provide relative rotation between the first flange and the second flange which allows tension on the belt upon relative axial movement between the first flange and the second flange away from one another, the rotation limiter is configured to engage the cam to limit relative rotation between the cam and the cam follower away from one another, and the cam extends between the cam follower and the rotation limiter.