Abstract:
An integrated valve for a hydraulic tensioner includes a pressure relief valve with an integrated band, which is preferably made of metal, placed around the outside of a pressure relief valve body. A hydraulic tensioner includes a housing with a bore and a hollow piston slidably received within the bore. A piston spring biases the piston in a direction toward a power transmission device. The tensioner also includes an integrated check valve in a body of the housing. The integrated check valve includes a pressure relief valve mechanism and a band check valve mechanism surrounding a circumference of the pressure relief valve mechanism. The pressure relief valve mechanism permits transfer of pressurized fluid from a piston chamber formed by the hollow piston to the source of pressurized fluid and the check valve mechanism permits transfer of pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the piston chamber.
Abstract:
A tensioner (10) for an endless loop power transmission member can include a piston (12) operably engageable with an endless loop power transmission member, and a cylinder (14) guiding the piston (12) for sliding coaxial movement in a direction of the endless loop power transmission member. The piston (12) and cylinder (14) defining an oil reservoir or pressure chamber (26) for receiving hydraulic fluid. A bearing (28) has bearing balls (30) located in a counter bore (32) coaxial with cylinder bore (34). The counter bore (32) has a steep taper (36) on which the bearing balls (30) ride. As the cylinder (14) moves in an extending direction, the bearing balls (30) move out of the counter bore (32) allowing free extending movement of the cylinder (14). As the cylinder (14) moves in a retracting direction, the bearing balls (30) are driven down into the steep taper (36) preventing the cylinder (14) from retracting.
Abstract:
A tensioner for tensioning a chain or belt span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain or belt tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain or belt control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain or belt conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
Abstract:
A tensioner with a base assembly, an arm member movably mounted to the base assembly, first and second pulleys mounted to the base assembly and the arm member, respectively, a tensioning spring and a damper. The base assembly has a base structure and a bearing that permit the base structure to pivot about a drive axis. The tensioning spring is disposed in a load path between the base assembly and the arm member and biases the second pulley toward the first pulley in a manner that is configured to tension a belt. The damper is coupled to the base assembly and the arm member and damps motion of the arm member when the arm member moves relative to the base assembly.
Abstract:
A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
Abstract:
A tensioner for tensioning a chain span which uses two pistons. The movement of the two pistons may be coupled together. The first piston provides damping to the chain span and a second piston provides variable, dominant and automatically adjusting spring force to the chain span. The tensioner automatically adjusts the mean tension force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency at new chain conditions and conditions with dynamic loads.
Abstract:
A valve operating system that includes a cam tube, a cam member, and a motion control ring. The cam tube is rotatable about an axis. The cam member is axially slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the cam tube and movable along the axis between a first cam position and a second cam position. The cam member has a plurality of distinct and different cam configurations. The cam tube defines a first recess. The cam member defines an internal, circumferentially extending groove into which the motion control ring is received. The motion control ring is received in the first recess and frictionally engages the cam tube to resist movement of the cam member along the cam tube.
Abstract:
A valve operating system that includes a plurality of cam assemblies that are coupled for rotation about a rotary axis. Each of the cam assemblies has a control link and a first cam member. Each of the control links has a link body, which forms a majority of the control link, and that extends parallel to the rotary axis. Each of the first cam members is coupled to one of the control links for axial movement therewith along the rotary axis between first and second positions to alternate between first and second cam profiles, respectively.
Abstract:
A press-fit check valve for a hydraulic tensioner includes a retainer, a seat, a ball, and a spring. The seat of the check valve is press-fit against the wall of the check valve counterbore of the hydraulic tensioner body. In some embodiments, the seat is cup-shaped to provide a predetermined level of press force retention of the press-fit check valve. In some embodiments, the seat includes a plurality of legs separated by leg openings. In some embodiments, a backflow path is provided past the press-fit check valve by a combination of the leg openings and at least one backflow slot through a flange of the retainer. In some embodiments, a lip at the outer end of the check valve counterbore prevents the seat from backing out of the check valve counterbore.
Abstract:
A tensioner (10) for an endless loop power transmission member can include the assembly of a plunger (12) operably engageable with an endless loop power transmission member, and a piston (14) guiding the plunger (12) for sliding coaxial movement in a direction of the endless loop power transmission member and defining an oil reservoir (26) for receiving hydraulic fluid. A bearing (28) can have bearing balls (30) located in a counter bore (32) coaxial with piston bore (34). The counter bore (32) can have a steep taper (36) on which the bearing balls (30) ride, such that as the plunger (12) moves in an extending direction, the bearing balls (30) move out of the counter bore (32) allowing free extending movement of the plunger (12), and as the plunger (12) moves in a retracting direction, the bearing balls (30) are driven down into the steep taper (36) preventing the plunger (12) from retracting.