Patent ID: 8100793
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tensioner for a vehicle belt drive, comprising: an elongated housing defining a longitudinal cavity having an axis, wherein the elongated housing forms a cylindrical hub at a first end thereof; at least one arm fitted to said housing to rotate about said axis, wherein said at least one arm comprises a rigidly connected cap fitted to the hub, and wherein the cap is coupled to the hub through a bush to guide the rotation of the arm with respect to said axis and give radial support to the arm; an idle pulley fitted to said at least one arm and cooperating with a belt of said belt drive; a torsion bar elastic member housed at least partly in said cavity and having a first end portion rigidly connected to said cap, and a second end portion opposite the first and connected rigidly to a retaining portion rigidly connected to a second end portion of said housing to permit tensioning of said elastic member; and a damping device for damping oscillation of said at least one arm, and comprising a conical friction member cooperating axially and frictionally with a mating surface defined by the housing by virtue of rotation of said at least one arm, and loaded by axial elastic means, wherein said friction member is interposed between said at least one arm and said housing, and wherein said elastic member includes a number of beam elements having a polygonal cross section and having said first and said second end portion engaging shaped cavities carved on said cap and said retaining portion respectively to define a rigid connection with said cap and said retaining portion.