Abstract: A serpentine belt drive system for an automotive vehicle comprising a drive assembly including an internal combustion engine having an output shaft with a driving pulley thereon rotatable about a driving pulley axis. A sequence of driven assemblies each has a driven pulley rotatable about an axis parallel with the driving pulley axis and a serpentine belt mounted in cooperating relation with the driving pulley and with the driven pulleys in a sequence which corresponds with the sequence of the driven assemblies when related to the direction of movement of the belt to cause said driven pulleys to rotate in response to the rotation of the driving pulley. The sequence of driven assemblies includes an alternator assembly including an alternator shaft mounted for rotation about a shaft axis. A hub structure is fixedly carried by the alternator shaft for rotation therewith about the shaft axis. A spring and one-way clutch mechanism couples the alternator pulley with the hub structure.

Abstract: A crankshaft decoupler has a mounting hub, a pulley rotatably mounted on the mounting hub, an annular carrier mounted within said pulley, a biasing device mounted therebetween, and a one way clutch mounted between the annular carrier and the pulley. The biasing device cushions the belt drive from crankshaft impulses and lowers the angular resonant frequency of the belt system. The one way clutch prevents sudden reversal of the belt tension in the drive due to start/stop of the engine or sudden deceleration of the engine and prevents momentary reverse slip belt squeal as a result of the tensioners' inadequate output for the reverse mode. The one way clutch limits the maximum amount of torque which may be transmitted preventing belt slippage during momentary overload.

Abstract: A series type decoupler joint includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley and a flexible rubber core coupled therebetween. The driving pulley has an inner hub for mounting onto a shaft and an outer rim for engaging a driving belt. The driven pulley has an inner hub having a bearing assembly for rotatably mounting the inner hub onto the shaft and an outer rim for engaging a driven belt. The flexible rubber core is bonded between the driving pulley and the driven pulley.

Abstract: A spring bias tensioner of the eccentric type with a fixed cam ring and rotatable cam ring activated by a torsion spring wherein the cam rings generate an axially force to engage radial friction sliding surfaces to affect damping as a pivot arm of the tensioner is moved.

Abstract: A tensioner of the eccentric type with a pivot-pin and pivot bushing disposed within the confines of an inside diameter of a bearing member attached to a stub shaft, the shaft having an axially oriented groove that receives the pivot bushing. A tensioner where the pivot bushing has a wall thickness sized to receive a load from the pivot-pin and where such thickness is greater than a radial dimension between the pivot-pin and a circumference for the stub shaft.

Abstract: A tensioner with a pulley rotatably mounted to a pivot arm that is biased with a spring means, the pivot arm includes a leg extension for inhibiting movement of the arm with a damping means.

Abstract: A method for tensioning a synchronous toothed belt with the tensioner so as to substantially inhibit movements of the pivot arm as attributed to dynamic tension variations in a belt drive system while damping movements of the arm. A method for tensioning a synchronous belt drive with the tensioner by biasing a moveable pulley against the belt with a force sufficient to limit the amplitudes of resonance tension variations and damping the biasing of the pulley to prevent substantially most cyclic movements of the pivot arm while simultaneously accommodating thermal changes in drive length.

Abstract: A tensioner with a pulley rotatably mounted to a pivot arm that is biased with a spring, the pivot arm includes a leg extension for inhibiting movement of the arm with a damping member. A method for tensioning a synchronous toothed belt with the tensioner so as to substantially inhibit movements of the pivot arm as attributed to dynamic tension variations in a belt drive system while damping movements of the arm. A method for tensioning a synchronous belt drive with the tensioner by biasing a moveable pulley against the belt with a force sufficient to limit the amplitudes of resonance tension variations and damping the biasing of the pulley to prevent substantially most cyclic movements of the pivot arm while simultaneously accommodating thermal changes in drive length.

Abstract: A tensioner with a pulley rotatably mounted onto a pivot arm where movement of the pivot arm is biased with a compression spring and movement is inhibited with a damping device. The compression spring is articulately mounted in such a manner that the torque output measured at the pivot arm may be substantially constant if so desired.

Abstract: A tensioner with a pulley rotatably mounted to a pivot arm that is biased with a compression spring. The pulley is generally tube-pan shaped and defines an annular space where the compression spring is located. A belt drive system of the automotive camshaft type that includes the tensioner for maintaining operative belt tension.

Abstract: A weight reduced pulley for "K" type poly-v belt systems includes a body having an outer cylindrical surface. A plurality of raised ribs extend from said surface and run circumferentially around said surface. A plurality of trough areas are positioned between the ribs. The ribs and troughs corresponding to the location of indented and raised areas, respectively, on a poly-v belt. The ribs have a cross sectional profile extending radially traverse of the axis of rotation of the pulley, each rib being bounded by a pair of planar side walls at relative angles of 40.degree.+0.5.degree.. The side walls terminate in a 140.degree. arc having a radius of 0.5 mm, the outermost point of said arc terminating 0.96 mm inward of the intersection of the upward projections of the planar side walls or apex. The planar side walls extend radially inward at least 3.44 mm from said apex. The trough areas are bounded by the outer cylindrical surface of said pulley, said surface being 3.57 mm from said apex.

Abstract: A self-aligning pivot bolt for mounting a belt tensioner idler pulley on a base member in which the bolt is formed with upper and lower cylindrical pilot sections separated by an intermediate threaded section. The base member has a bolt receiving opening formed with upper and lower inwardly tapered sections. The bolt and opening are dimensioned so that a lead thread of the threaded section engages an upper portion of the lower tapered section prior to the pilot sections engaging the respective tapered sections of the opening. After partial engagement of the threaded section the lower pilot section begins engagement with the lower tapered section to axially align the bolt within the hole followed by engagement of the upper pilot section with the upper tapered section. The softer metal of the base member flows into the root areas of the bolt threads to trap the bolt in the opening of the base member.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for engagement with the endless drive belt of a vehicle accessories drive system. A pivot support base is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has a lever arm assembly pivotally mounted thereon. An idler pulley is mounted on an extended end of the lever arm assembly and is biased into tensioning engagement with the drive belt by a torsional coil spring. An arcuate-shaped plastic bearing strip is located between arcuate surfaces of the pivot support base and an outer cylindrical housing portion of the lever arm assembly and has two distinct bearing surfaces. The lever housing slides on the bearing strip during movement of the lever arm towards and away from the drive belt which provides frictional damping for the lever to reduce undesirable movement of the idler pulley.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. A housing is adapted to be mounted on an engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has a lever arm pivotally mounted thereon. An idler pulley is rotatably mounted on the lever arm and is movable into belt tensioning engagement by a torsional coil spring telescopically mounted about the pivot for the lever arm. A brake band ring is mounted on the lever arm and has a friction surface which is biased by the torsional spring into engagement with the housing to provide a damping force when the lever arm attempts to move in either a belt tensioning or non tensioning direction. The damping force is proportional to the torsional spring force generally throughout the tensioning range of the belt tensioner since the same coil spring provides both forces. A pivot shoe is removably mounted on the brake band adjacent the friction surface and a straight end of the torsional spring is engaged with the pivot shoe.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. A bracket is adapted to be mounted on an engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has lever means pivotally mounted thereon. An idler pulley is rotatably mounted on the lever means and is movable into belt tensioning engagement by a torsional coil spring telescopically mounted about the pivot for the lever means. The pulley is mounted so that a radial center line through the peripheral belt receiving surface of the pulley also passes generally through the center of the lever means pivot to reduce the frictional force exerted on the pivot. A brake band ring is mounted between the bracket and lever means and is biased by the torsional spring into a camming engagement with the lever means to provide a damping force when the lever means attempts to move in either a belt tensioning or non tensioning direction.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a constant tension on an endless drive belt which supplies power to and drives the vehicle accessories. A mounting bracket is adapted to be mounted on an engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has an idler pulley rotatably mounted on an end of a lever. The lever is pivotally mounted on a shaft which extends outwardly from the mounting bracket. A torsional coil spring biases the idler pulley into tensioning engagement with the drive belt. The pulley is mounted on a stub shaft which extends parallel with the pivot shaft and is formed with an outer annular belt engaging surface. The pivot shaft is located within the periphery of the pulley belt engaging surface and the radial center line of said belt engaging surface intersects the bearing surface of the pivot shaft to provide a compact, low friction belt tensioner.

Abstract: In a belt tensioning device of the type including a fixed structure, a pivoted structure mounted with respect to the fixed structure for pivotal movement about a first axis between first and second limiting positions, a belt engaging pulley rotatably carried by the pivoted structure for rotational movement about a second axis parallel with the first axis and a torsional coil spring acting between the fixed and pivoted structures for resiliently biasing the pivoted structure to move in a direction away from the first limiting position toward the second limiting position with a spring force which decreases as the pivoted structure is moved in a direction away from the first position toward the second position.