Patent ID: 8460140
Filing Date: 2013-06-11
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A belt tensioner comprising: a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity; an arm pivotally attached to the support housing; a spring located in the spring cavity and operatively connected to the arm and the support housing to bias the arm about a pivot axis toward an unloaded position relative to the support housing; and a damping member comprising a hub and deflectable, force-applying elements that are connected to and spaced apart about a periphery of the hub, the force-applying elements being biased toward a contact surface of the arm to apply a frictional force between the contact surface and the force-applying elements to impede rotation of the arm relative to the support housing; wherein at least one of the force-applying elements is an elastically deflectable leaf spring that is self-biased against the contact surface of the arm.