Patent ID: 7887445
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A tensioner for tensioning a belt, the tensioner comprising: a support housing that defines, at least in part, a spring cavity; an arm pivotably attached to the support housing; a torsion spring disposed in the spring cavity and operatively connected to the arm and support housing; wherein the torsion spring biases the arm to pivot relative to the support housing; and a deflectable armplate seated on the arm and deflected into engagement with the support housing; wherein engagement of the armplate and support housing provides an axial force that clamps the arm and the support housing together; wherein the torsion spring is a round wire coil spring having an unloaded axial height and wherein the spring cavity has a height greater than the unloaded axial height of the torsion spring such that the axial force applied by the armplate to clamp the arm and the support housing together is not transmitted to the torsion spring.