Patent ID: 6375588
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
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.