Patent ID: 6849015

Claim:
A tensioning system for power transmission systems comprising: a) a pivot arm comprising: i) a plurality of ratchet teeth on a first end of the pivot arm; and ii) a biasing element attached to a second end of the pivot arm away from the ratchet teeth; wherein the pivot arm is pivotally mounted on a pivot inside a loop of a chain, with at least the first end of the pivot arm outside the loop; b) a tensioner arm pivotally mounted to the pivot arm, comprising a shoe, extended outside the loop of the chain and positioned to contact an outside portion of the chain; c) a pawl pivotally mounted adjacent to the ratchet teeth; and d) a pawl spring connected to the pawl, urging the pawl to engage the ratchet teeth; wherein rotation of the pivot arm by the biasing element causes the tensioner arm and the shoe to draw inwards, imparting tension to a strand of the chain, and movement in an opposite direction is limited by interaction of the ratchet teeth and the pawl.