Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner is designed for low cost and ease of manufacturing. A piston housing has a bore and a bore cup member received within the bore. A piston is slidably received within the bore cup member, forming a high pressure fluid chamber with the bore cup member. The piston housing can be constructed of inexpensive materials such as aluminum or plastic. The piston and bore cup member are constructed of drawn metal. A single channel connects the pressure chamber to an external source of fluid, and a single valve system regulates the flow of fluid into the pressure chamber. The inexpensive materials and simple design provide for a low cost hydraulic tensioner.

Abstract: A guide rail for power transmission chains consists of a plastic material and is formed by a carrier and a slideway lining body. The slideway lining body is manufactured by an extrusion molding process. The carrier and the slideway lining body having complementary profiles allowing the slide portion to be inserted and locked onto the carrier portion without additional locking mechanisms.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner having a porous vent formed of sintered powder metal adapted to permit air to readily escape from within the tensioner while inhibiting air ingestion during cycling and limiting oil leakage. The vent is located within an aperture of the plunger near the highest point of the tensioner or at the top of the spring within the interior space of the plunger. Alternatively, the air vent may be located at the oil supply inlet before the oil enters the tensioner's fluid chamber.

Abstract: A single component tensioner arm or chain guide for a power transmission chain formed by injection molding which integrally forms both a carrier portion and a slide portion. The one piece tensioner arm is constructed of a polymer material containing graphite or aramid fibers to increase structural rigidity.

Abstract: A hydraulic chain tensioner has a check valve vent. The tensioner includes a housing having a bore with a fluid filled chamber, a hollow piston slidably received within the bore and biased in a protruding direction by a spring, and a check valve assembly which permits fluid to flow from an external source through the valve and into the fluid filled chamber. The vent includes a disc positioned against the inlet from the external source of fluid. The disc has at least one channel formed on the surface of the disc facing the external source. The channel has a first end at the periphery of the disc and a second end at the center point of the disc.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner with a sealing element to provide fluid leakage from a fluid filled chamber. The tensioner includes a housing having a fluid filled chamber and a hollow piston slidably received within the chamber and biased in a protruding direction by a spring. A sealing element is positioned in a groove in the piston or is mounted in the inner wall of the chamber. The sealing element is discontinuous so as to permit the passage of fluid from the fluid filled chamber to outside of the hydraulic tensioner. Fluid leakage is limited and controlled by discontinuity size of the sealing element.

Abstract: A compact arrangement for a continuously variable transmission and power train system is provided to be used in rear wheel drive vehicles. In one arrangement, the input shaft is in-line with the output shaft. In this arrangement, the input shaft, having a hydraulic pump, is connected to an engine by a torque converter. A first transfer gear assembly transfers power from the input shaft to the adjustable input pulley of a continuously variable transmission assembly. The adjustable input pulley transfers power to an adjustable output pulley through a belt. A second transfer gear assembly transfers power from the adjustable output pulley to an output shaft in-line with the input shaft. A forward and reverse gear system having a compound planetary gear set and clutch on the output shaft provides forward, neutral, and reverse gears.

Abstract: A camshaft (326) has a vane (360) secured to an end thereof for a non-oscating rotation therewith. The camshaft also carries a timing belt driven pulley (332) which can rotate with the camshaft but which is oscillatable with respect to the camshaft. The vane has opposed lobes (360a, 360b) which are received in opposed recesses (332a, 332b), respectively, of the pulley. The recesses have greater circumferential extent than the lobes to permit the vane and sprocket to oscillate with respect to one another and thereby permit the camshaft to change in phase relative to a crankshaft whose phase relative to the sprocket is fixed by virtue of the timing belt (338) drive extending therebetween.

Abstract: A two speed engine accessory drive including a gear case 12 and an input shaft 26 rotatable about an axis that is concentric with the central gear case axis 54. The input shaft 26 carries a drive sun gear 38. A driven sun gear 78 is positioned adjacent to the drive sun gear and is attached to an accessory drive shaft 91 that is rotatable about an axis that is concentric with the central gear case axis 54. A compound planet gear 66 is supported by a planet gear carrier 52 that is rotatable about the central gear case axis 54. The compound planet gear 66 includes a rigid insert 70, a first plastic planet gear 76 secured to the insert and in mesh with the drive sun gear 38, and a second plastic planet gear 76 secured to the insert and in mesh with the driven sun gear 78. A brake band 98 is operable to allow or prevent rotation of the planet gear carrier 52.

Abstract: A camshaft (426) has a vane (460) secured to an end thereof for non-osciling rotation therewith. The camshaft also carries a sprocket (432) which can rotate with the camshaft but which is oscillatable with respect to the camshaft. The vane has opposed lobes (460a, 460b) which are received in opposed recesses (432a, 432b), respectively, of the sprocket. The recesses have greater circumferential extent than the lobes to permit the vane and sprocket to oscillate with respect to one another, and thereby permit the camshaft to change in phase relative to a crankshaft whose phase relative to the sprocket is fixed by virtue of a chain drive extending therebetween.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing arrangement for an internal combustion engine in hich a camshaft, for example, an intake valve operating camshaft in a dual camshaft engine, is advanced or retarded in its position relative to the crankshaft and to the exhaust valve operating camshaft in reaction to torque pulsations in such intake valve operating camshaft. In an engine having cam followers of the friction type, the unidirectionally acting torque on the camshaft which results from the friction between the camshaft and the followers can be offset by providing resilient means to act on one of the opposed cylinders to introduce a countertorque into the camshaft which is oppositely directed to the frictional torque.