Patent ID: 8337344

Claim:
A tensioner for a belt drive, comprising: a base carrying a pin defining an axis; a tensioning arm rotatable about said pin; an idle pulley supported by said tensioning arm; a damping element constrained to a hinge point positioned eccentric with respect to said axis and carried by one between said base and said tensioning arm to co-operate with a first friction surface carried by the other between said base and said tensioning arm; a resilient element having a first end portion connected in a single point to said damping element via a hook, and a second end portion connected to the other between said base and said tensioning arm to cause a rotation of said damping element about said hinge point against said first friction surface; a second friction surface defined by the other between said base and said tensioning arm, and said second friction surface oriented transverse with respect to said first friction surface and cooperating with said damping element, wherein a turning over moment compresses the damping element against said second friction surface in a direction substantially parallel to said axis; and wherein said damping element houses said pin with radial play.