Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Keming Liu · Alexander Serkh · Yahya Hodjat ·
Assignee(s)	None listed in document.  View assignee updates
Correspondent	Jeffrey Thurnau The Gates Corporation ·
Application Number	US10075828
Filing date	02/12/2002
Publication date	08/14/2003
Predicted expiration date	02/12/2022
U.S. Classifications	474/101  · 74/574  · 474/94  ·
International Classifications	F16D003/00  · F16F015/10  · F16H007/08  ·
Kind Code	A1

Patent Family

Abstract

The invention comprises a tensioning idler. An outer belt bearing ring is resiliently engaged to an inner ring. The belt bearing ring and inner ring each rotate about an axis of rotation. The belt bearing ring is connected to the inner ring with the resilient material whereby the belt bearing ring rotates about an axis of rotation that is eccentrically moveable in a plane with respect to an inner ring axis of rotation. The resilient material imparts a belt tension as the belt bearing ring rotates. The resilient material may comprise springs, compressible fluids, incompressible fluids, or elastomers or a combination of the foregoing. The tensioner is mounted on an engine, bracket, or other device.

Independent Claims | See all claims (13)

1. 1. A tensioning idler comprising: an outer member having an axis of rotation; an inner member having an axis of rotation, the outer member moveably engaged with the inner member; and the outer member axis of rotation moveable in a plane, the plane extending substantially normal to the inner member axis of rotation.
2. 11. A tensioner comprising: a rotatable bearing; a circular member engaged with the rotatable bearing; and the circular member eccentrically moveable with respect to the rotatable bearing.