Patent ID: 8075433

Claim:
A tensioner for tensioning a belt, the tensioner comprising: a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity; a damping member at least partially disposed in the spring cavity, the damping member having a first damping portion pivotally connected to the support housing near a first end of the first damping portion and a second damping portion pivotally connected to the first damping portion at a hinged joint near a second end the first damping portion opposite the first end such that the first and second damping portions are capable of moving relative to each other; an arm pivotally attached to the support housing; and a spring located in the spring cavity and having a first end operatively connected to the arm and a second end operatively connected to the second damping portion of the damping member, the spring biasing the arm to pivot relative to the support housing and biasing the first and second damping portions of the damping member to pivot into frictional contact with the arm.