Patent ID: 6120402
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A hydraulic tensioner comprising:a housing having a bore;a hollow piston slidably received within the bore, said piston forming a fluid chamber with said bore and having a plurality of grooves formed along the outside of the piston;an external rack member positioned radially outward from said piston in a groove in said housing, said external rack member having an upper end and a lower end and a side piece therebetween, said external rack member having an extending member located at said rack member upper end, said extending member constructed and arranged to contact said grooves along the outside of said piston to limit the piston travel in the axial direction, said external rack member having an end piece located at said lower end, said end piece being slidable within said groove in said housing,a spring member surrounding said side piece of said external rack member, said extending member being normally biased toward said piston by said spring member to contact said piston grooves;a piston spring biasing said piston in an outward direction from said bore; anda check valve provided between the chamber and a source of pressurized fluid to permit fluid flow into the chamber while blocking flow in the reverse direction.