Patent ID: 6960145

Claim:
A tensioner apparatus for a vehicle power steering assembly having a drive unit for rotating an input pulley rotatably connected to an output pulley via a flexible belt, said tensioner apparatus comprising: a housing; first and second arms movably attached relative to said housing, wherein each of the arms are pivotally mounted to said housing at respective pivot points locatedbetween first and second ends of said arms; a first contact device mounted on said second end of said first arm and adapted to be engaged with a first portion of the belt between the input and output pulleys; a second contact device mounted on said second end of said second arm and adapted to be engaged with a second portion of the belt different from the first portion of the belt; and a single common spring positioned between said first ends of said first and second arms such that said spring exerts a force against said first ends of said first and second arms biasing said first ends away from one another, thereby causing said arms to rotate in different rotational directions to move said first and second contact devices in a direction towards one another and against the respective first and second portions of the belt to provide tension on the belt.