Patent ID: 9151366
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: B60K,F16H

Abstract:
1. A tensioner for a vehicle engine accessory drive system having an endless drive member, at least one drive pulley disposed to drive the endless drive member, and at least one driven pulley disposed to be driven by the endless drive member and connected to drive an accessory, the tensioner comprising: a tensioner arm mounted to the engine for movement along a path delimited by a free arm position and a load stop position; a tensioner pulley rotatably mounted to the tensioner arm, the tensioner pulley engaging the endless drive member; a biasing member arranged to urge the tensioner arm in a first direction along the path towards the free arm position; and an adjustable load stop mechanism including a moveable load stop member, a drive mechanism for moving the load stop member and a controller connected to the drive mechanism; wherein the load stop member arrests movement of the tensioner arm along the path in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to thereby define the load stop position; wherein the load stop member is moveable between a first position correlated to the tensioner free arm position and a second position correlated to a tensioner arm position that is maximally displaced from the tensioner free arm position, and wherein, provided the load stop member is not in the first position, the tensioner arm is unconstrained by the load stop member to move in the first direction toward the free arm position; wherein the drive mechanism moves the load stop member to thereby vary the location of the tensioner arm load stop position; and wherein the controller directs the drive mechanism to move the load stop member towards the first position and in the process actively drive the tensioner arm towards the free arm position so as to increase tension on the endless drive member.