Patent ID: 7448491

Claim:
A belt tensioning apparatus for a combine or harvester header comprising: two spaced apart longitudinal support members; at least one transverse member attached to each of said longitudinal support members; an end roller support bracket, said end roller support bracket having two bracket extensions, said bracket extensions extending longitudinally and being disposed to slidingly engage with bracket extension receivers, said bracket extension receivers each being attached to said longitudinal support members, respectively; a push rod, said push rod being longitudinally oriented and slidingly mounted on said transverse member, said sliding mount of said push rod on said transverse number being intermediate to said longitudinal support members and said push rod being attached to said end roller support bracket; said push rod being mounted to have a retracted position and an extended position; and an actuator, said actuator being attached to said longitudinal support members and said actuator exerting a substantially uniform force to said push rod along a range of travel of said push rod between said retracted position and said extended position and a substantially uniform force along the width of an end roller.