Plural Guide Rolls Engaging Single Belt Patents (Class 474/137)
  • Patent number: 11261945
    Abstract: A coupling system can include an energy transfer device and a load mitigation system. The energy transfer device can include a shaft, gear, chain or piston-cylinder arrangement to transfer the energy from a power supply to an object to be moved. The load mitigation system can be used to limit or prevent the transfer of forces from the object to the drive unit as a result of external loads being applied to the object. The load mitigation system can be pre-loaded such that external loads on the object having an excessive impulsive or resonant cyclic force greater than the pre-load force on the load mitigation system are reduced and only partially transferred to the energy transfer device and power supply. The load mitigation system can dampen both resonant loads and impulsive impact loads occurring at the object thereby preventing damage and extending life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: James B. Blackmon, Frederick Gant
  • Patent number: 10982738
    Abstract: A coupling system can include an energy transfer device and a load mitigation system. The energy transfer device can include a shaft, gear, chain or piston-cylinder arrangement to transfer the energy from a power supply to an object to be moved. The load mitigation system can be used to limit or prevent the transfer of forces from the object to the drive unit as a result of external loads being applied to the object. The load mitigation system can be pre-loaded such that external loads on the object having an excessive impulsive or resonant cyclic force greater than the pre-load force on the load mitigation system are reduced and only partially transferred to the energy transfer device and power supply. The load mitigation system can dampen both resonant loads and impulsive impact loads occurring at the object thereby preventing damage and extending life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: James B. Blackmon, Frederick Gant
  • Patent number: 10124991
    Abstract: A car speed monitoring assembly for an elevator includes an elongated flexible member tensioned to extend in a hoistway of the elevator in a longitudinal direction of the hoistway and first and second rollers mounted rotatably on an elevator car and tensioned against a lateral side of the elongated flexible member. Each roller may roll along a surface of the lateral side of the elongated flexible member based on the elevator car moving relative to the elongated flexible member. The car speed monitoring assembly may detect respective rotation speeds of the first roller and the second roller, trigger one or more particular actions when one or both of these rotation speeds exceeds a limit speed, and trigger the one or more particular actions based on the respective rotation speeds deviating from each other. The one or more particular actions include causing movement of the elevator car to be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Petteri Valjus
  • Patent number: 10099746
    Abstract: The invention discloses a gear shift arrangement, which includes a sprocket cassette being adapted to be slidably mounted on a hub which is adapted to move on a horizontal axis of a spindle, the sprocket cassette further being adapted to operatively engage with a chain so that, in operation, the chain remains in one vertical plane; and movement means adapted to move the sprocket cassette along the hub transversely relative to the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Marthinus Briers
  • Patent number: 9909652
    Abstract: A chain transmission device for driving camshafts includes a chain including a loose side chain portion, and the chain is trained around the crank sprocket and the cam sprockets. A chain guide is mounted on the outer side of the loose side chain portion so as to be pivotable about one of the two end portions of the chain guide, and the chain guide has a plurality of rotatable rollers. An adjustment force is applied to the other of the two end portions of the chain guide by a chain tensioner such that the chain guide is biased toward the chain, so that the rollers of the chain guide can guide the chain by rolling. The winding angle of the portion of the chain located on the outer periphery of the roller located closest to the crank sprocket is set to be 170 degrees or greater so as to reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Takahiro Yamashita, Hisataka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9562593
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide superior in silence, which includes: a guide base extending in a traveling direction of a chain; a plurality of roller shafts attached to the guide base at an interval along the traveling direction of the chain; and rollers each rotatably supported by one of the roller shafts. The roller has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface for guiding the chain. The outer circumferential surface of the roller has a cylindricity not greater than 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Oishi, Akio Kato, Takahiro Yamashita, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 9464699
    Abstract: A chain guide includes a guide base (21) disposed to face one side of a timing chain (5) that transmits torque, the chain guide having an opposed pair of side plates (22) each formed with a plurality of shaft engaging portions (25) arranged along a circular arc. Roller shafts (31) have their ends supported by the respective shaft engaging portions (25). Rollers (41) for guiding the chain are rotatably supported by the respective roller shafts (31). Noncylidrical surface engaging portions are formed on the ends of the roller shafts (31) and on closed ends of the shaft engaging portions (50) to rotationally fix the roller shafts (31), thereby preventing the roller shafts (31) from rotating under drag torque applied from the rollers (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Shinji Oishi, Goro Nakao
  • Patent number: 9429216
    Abstract: A chain guide and a chain tensioner device using the chain guide. A roller, brought into contact with a chain, comprises a support shaft supported by an opposing guide base provided along the running direction of the chain, and roller bearings each having a steel outer ring on the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft so as to be brought into contact with the chain. The roller is also configured to be assembled by inserting opposite ends of the support shaft into support recesses on facing wall surfaces of the guide base. The roller has a vibration damping material between the support shaft and the support recess of each of the plate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Takahiro Yamashita, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 9285019
    Abstract: A timing chain is looped over a driving sprocket attached to a crankshaft and driven sprockets attached to camshafts. A pivotable chain guide having a plurality of rotatable rollers for guiding movements of a timing chain is provided on one side of a slack side of the timing chain. Adjustment force of a chain tensioner is applied to a remote end of the pivotable chain guide remote from a center of pivoting movement of the pivotable chain guide, thereby pressing the plurality of rotatable rollers against the timing chain. The ratio (D1/D2) between a pitch circle diameter D1 of the driving sprocket and an outer diameter D2 of the plurality of rotatable rollers is determined within a range of 5/3 to 5/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Shinji Oishi
  • Patent number: 8979696
    Abstract: A high-pressure homogenizer including: a fixed body (7) housing a rotating crankshaft (10); a motor (3) for driving the crankshaft (10); a reduction gear unit (4) interconnected between the crankshaft and transmission elements (5, 6), characterized in that the reduction gear unit (4) is an epicyclic reduction gear unit. Preferably there is provided a lubricant feed line (15) which passes through the fixed body and reaches the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4). Preferably the epicyclic reduction gear unit (4) is constructed integrally with the fixed body (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gea Mechnical Equipment Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Salvarani, Massimiliano Benassi, Michele Madureri
  • Publication number: 20140235389
    Abstract: A CVT 6 (FIG. 5) comprising of two substantially identical CVT 4's. Each CVT 4 comprises of two cones that are coupled by a transmission belt. The driving cones of the CVT 4's are mounted on a common shaft, and the driven cones of the CVT 4's are mounted on a common shaft. For each CVT 4, one of its cones is mounted on its shaft using an adjuster that can lock or release the rotational position of its cone relative to the shaft it is mounted. Each CVT 4 has a tense side tensioning/support pulley and a slack side tensioning/support pulley (FIG. 6) which can provide and remove slack as needed to compensate for “Transmission ratio change rotation”, to accommodate for the transmission diameter change of a cone, and to compensate for having cones of different diameters mounted on the same shaft during axial position changing of a cone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Armin Sebastian Tay
  • Patent number: 8715119
    Abstract: An adjustable chain drive system is adapted for uses such as moving product through a conveyor system, and can be configured using a chain, belt or similar structure. Two driven sprockets are movable on a slide, allowing the distance between them to be adjusted. In one example, such adjustment allows conveyor belts to be separated by a desired distance. A drive sprocket and endless chain is used in the drive system. In one configuration, the endless chain includes an adjustable chain segment separating the first and second driven sprockets. To compensate for movement of the first and/or second driven sprockets and change in length of the adjustable chain segment between them, lengths of first and/or second secondary adjustable chain segments adjacent to the adjustable chain segment are varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: R.A. Pearson Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Johnson, Richard A. McQuary, Jacob M. Culley, Casey L. McGourin
  • Publication number: 20130324339
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide which has low noise and low vibration even when being brought into contact with a chain running at high speed, and to provide a chain tensioner device using the chain guide. A chain guide base provided along the running direction of a chain is integrally attached to a tensioner plunger that presses the chain guide base against the chain side so as to increase the weight of the chain guide itself to reduce vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Takahiro Yamashita, Katsufumi Abe
  • Patent number: 8460139
    Abstract: A belt installation guide is disclosed which accommodates the loading in a belt module of a new belt around drive rollers. The guide is placed opposite the end portions of the rollers, the belt is slipped over the guides and held by the guides until the belt is pushed over the rollers. The guides can be attached to the belt module or can be detachable therefrom. Once in place over the rollers, a tension is exerted on the belt to make it taut over all of the rollers. The guide is removed from near the rollers after the belt is in place over the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce J. Parks
  • Publication number: 20130095968
    Abstract: A tensioning assembly having a drive pulley, a tension pulley and a tension adjustment system is provided. The drive pulley has a first drive pulley channel and a second drive pulley channel. The tension pulley has a first tension pulley channel and a second tension pulley channel. The second tension pulley channel is aligned with the first drive pulley channel. The first drive pulley channel and the second drive pulley channel of the drive pulley and the first tension pulley channel and a second tension pulley channel of the tension pulley are configured and arranged to engage and route an endless looped member. The tension adjustment system is coupled to adjust the distance between the drive pulley and the tension pulley to adjust the tension in the endless looped member in relation to the drive pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: D B INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: D B Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8226510
    Abstract: A belt driving device and associated method are provided. The driving device includes a plurality of rollers including a driving roller. A belt is configured to be tensioned by the plurality of rollers, and to be driven by the driving roller. An outside roller is configured to contact an outer surface of the belt and to be driven by a driving source. A detection portion is configured to detect a driving load of one of the driving roller and the outside roller. A controller is configured to drive the other one of the driving roller and the outside roller based on the driving load detected by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kamiya Takuroh, Koide Hiroshi
  • Patent number: 8020468
    Abstract: A belt tension adjustment apparatus and a robot arm having the belt tension adjustment apparatus are disclosed. The belt tension adjustment apparatus includes a tension measurement part for measuring tension of a belt running on an endless track, a tension adjustment part for pressing the belt in a direction inclined with respect to a surface of the belt to apply a pressing force to the belt, and a controller for controlling the tension adjustment part depending on the measured tension. The belt tension adjustment apparatus prevents variation of a running speed of the belt and maintains tension of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kum-Souck Yang
  • Patent number: 8011410
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for a labeling machine includes a plurality of driving arm assemblies and a gear set. The driving arm assemblies and the gear set are independent and can rotate quickly and are less likely to be worn off, and can drive feeding wheels coupled on axles to rotate concurrently to draw and convey a roll of film. A dust guarding plate is provided to surround a base. The driving mechanism provides secure transmission and simple repair and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Fu-Chuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7988575
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for a labeling machine aims to drive a transmission assembly thereof from a power source through a linking member such as a belt. The transmission assembly concurrently drives rotation of an axle assembly so that a feeding wheel coupled on an axle can draw and convey a roll of film. A belt with teeth formed on two sides serves as a transmission member of the transmission assembly to transmit rotation to two axle wheels. The transmission assembly can transmit rotation accurately, rapidly and concurrently. The structure of the transmission assembly is simplified. Wearing can be reduced. Repair and maintenance also are easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Fu-Chuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7682272
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driving device of armature balance machine, in which a driving motor is formed on the same centerline of the armature, a hinge block pivot-connected by the hinge shaft is installed in the finger mounter of the bracket in such a manner that the hinge shaft is disposed on the same centerline of the driving motor and the variable roller is formed at one side of the hinge shaft, the finger provided with a complementary roller is symmetrically constructed about the centerline of the driving motor, and thereafter a belt is wound around each roller, so that the construction of the driving motor can be simplified and thus the length of the belt is minimized and the vibration of the belt is minimized, thereby enabling to keep the tension applied to the belt in an optimum state, due to the facts that the tension of the belt is symmetrical about the centerline of the belt and also the variable roller i.e. the tension adjusting means is not operated by the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: Kye Jung Park
  • Publication number: 20090149286
    Abstract: A tensioning device (10) is provided. The tensioning device (10) includes a housing (15) and a first pulley (16) removably coupled to the housing for selective positioning of the first pulley (16) relative to a second pulley (16) to adjust tension associated with a drive element (18) extending between the first and second pulleys (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MOXEE INNOVATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Howard F. Walker
  • Patent number: 7494434
    Abstract: An accessory drive for an engine has a belt driven starter generator adapted for driving and being driven by the engine. In an exemplary embodiment, the drive includes a first engine drive pulley and a second starter drive pulley. A drive belt engages the drive pulleys for driving either pulley from the other. A dual belt tensioner made as a preassembled unit has a carrier with a central pivot mounted to the engine and first and second carrier arms extending radially from the central pivot. A first tensioner mounted on the first arm carries a first tensioner pulley biased against a first belt run adjacent the second drive pulley that is slack during engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Mc Vicar, Cynthia A. Thurston
  • Patent number: 7491142
    Abstract: A belt driving device is provided and includes a plurality of rollers including a driving roller. A belt is configured to be tensioned by the plurality of rollers, and to be driven by the driving roller. The driving roller is arranged adjacent to where an outside body contacts an outer surface of the belt. A pair of fluctuation absorbing members may be configured to absorb tensional fluctuation of the belt at an upstream and a downstream of a cleaning member in a direction which the belt is driven. A detecting means may be utilized to detect a driving load of one of the driving roller and the outside roller and a controller is configured to drive another roller of the driving roller and the outside roller based on the driving load detected by the detecting means. An outside roller may be configured to contact an outer surface of the belt and to be driven by a second motor; a controller configured to control the second motor by a less loop gain than a loop gain to control the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kamiya Takuroh, Koide Hiroshi
  • Patent number: 6849012
    Abstract: A chain or belt tensioner comprises a plunger displaceable in a housing between retracted and extended positions. A stop ring between the plunger and housing frictionally contacts a smooth surface of the housing. A recess in the plunger has a tapered face for engagement with a bevelled surface of the stop ring. Inward movement of the plunger causes the tapered face to engage the stop ring and to force it to deform outwardly to a wedging position in which the stop ring is wedged between the tapered face and the surface thus preventing further inward movement of the plunger. The recess has a second face that engages the stop ring when the plunger moves out of the housing so as to slide it over the surface. The invention provides for a stop mechanism that enables retraction of the plunger to be prevented at an infinite number of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Renold, PLC
    Inventors: Christian Poiret, Alexandre Charton
  • Publication number: 20040053721
    Abstract: A serpentine accessory-belt, aggregate, drive arrangement wherein an intake side of an engine block is placed toward the frontal side of a vehicle, and engine accessories are mounted at the right side of the engine in a forward direction of the vehicle, enabling to minimize thermal damage to a serpentine belt and facilitate accessibility and maintenance of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Sung-Baek Joo
  • Publication number: 20030190987
    Abstract: The belt tension/drive for a pinch roller system of the present invention combines means for urging a plurality of pinch rollers toward a capstan roller with means for driving pinch rollers when a pinch roller is not in contact with the capstan roller. The capstan roller is surrounded by and aligned with a plurality of pinch rollers. A resilient belt disposed about the plurality of pinch rollers urges the pinch rollers toward the capstan roller and drives any pinch roller not in contact with the capstan roller, assuring that all pinch rollers maintain the same surface speed as the capstan roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Martin Yale Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Reed
  • Publication number: 20020086751
    Abstract: A drive belt of an internal combustion engine has a first pulley mounted on a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, and a second pulley mounted on a shaft of a starter generator of the internal combustion engine. A belt is looped about both pulleys. A tensioner includes two tensioning arms, each of which loading a belt run of the belt and operating either as load-carrying belt run or non-load carrying belt run. Both tensioning arms are disposed to pivot about a rotation axis, with tensioning rollers mounted onto the tensioning arms and spring-biased against the belt. The tensioning arm disposed respectively upon the load-carrying belt run is urged into a stop position by a force applied by the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Bogner, Rudolf Berger
  • Patent number: 6093123
    Abstract: An integrated chain drive, sprocket, and tensioning assembly includes sprockets, a drive chain, and a guiding and supporting structure for the sprockets. This structure includes a fixed shoe that is integral with the body of a fluid operated tensioning device, and a movable element with a tensioning shoe that is adjustable in position. The assembly can be fixed to a base or fixed structure and forms a single pre-assembled unit for transportation and mounting to an engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Morse Tec Europe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Baddaria, Enrico Zeccara, Michelino Bestetti
  • Patent number: 6086036
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an emergency bracket which is attachable to a support surface of choice and may be temporarily used to by-pass a defective auxiliary unit, such as an alternator, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Gary McCullough
  • Patent number: 5938551
    Abstract: The variable tension pulley system including a drive pulley, a slave pulley, a belt interconnecting the drive pulley and slave, a tensioner assembly positioned between the drive pulley and the slave pulley and in engagement with the belt. The tensioner assembly includes an elongated rack, a drive rod rotatably positioned on the rack, the drive rod having opposing ends and being selectively rotatable in a positive rotation or a negative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Schwinn Cycling & Fitness Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick A. Warner
  • Patent number: 5816969
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for a double carriage scanner drives the lamp carriage and the optical carriage in tandem. The driving apparatus is located at one side of the scanner housing for ease in assembly and maintenance. It consists of a pulley assembly and a closed-loop conveying device which engages the pulley assembly in a manner that the lamp carriage advances one unit distance while the optical carriage one half unit distance in synchronism and in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Muskek Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jenn Tsair Tsai
  • Patent number: 5720683
    Abstract: A mechanical tensioner having a piston biased by a spring in a protruding direction. A ratchet assembly includes a spring, a ratchet piston, and a pair of ratchets may also provide a no-return function. A plurality of belleville disc springs provides the force on the tensioner piston, the ratchet piston, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive,Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Patton
  • Patent number: 5261860
    Abstract: A drive apparatus, able to perform positioning of a driven object to be driven with a high degree of accuracy, sufficiently obtain the desired thrust even when using the low output of a driving source such as a motor, and allow the speed of movement of the driven object to be set as desired, is provided. This drive device, wherein a first belt-shaped member, to which driving force is applied with a driving source such as a motor, is engaged with a driven object to move said driven object, is equipped with a speed reduction function that functions by mounting a rotating body having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion onto said driven object, engaging this large diameter portion with a belt-shaped member, stretching another belt-shaped member parallel to said belt-shaped member, engaging this belt-shaped member with the above-mentioned small diameter portion, and setting the ratio of the diameters of the above-mentioned large diameter and small diameter portions as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Takei
  • Patent number: 5169367
    Abstract: A drive chain assembly for vehicles having two chains, an idler sprocket, and a thrust link or strut. The first chain extending from the vehicle motor to the idler sprocket. The second chain extending from the idler sprocket to a driven axle sprocket. The second chain extending downwardly at a substantial angle from the driven axle to the idler sprocket and the idler sprocket supported on a mounting member which pivots on the same axis as the driven axle itself. The thrust link is pivotally attached at one end to the chassis of the vehicle near the engine and at its other end to the mounting of the idler sprocket. This strut forms one of the long side of a parallelogram linkage. The first short side of the parallelogram linkage is the distance between the pivot point at the engine end on the chassis for the strut and the engine sprocket. The second long side of the parallelogram is the first drive chain itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: National Racing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Narkum, Rodney Eschenberg
  • Patent number: 5067581
    Abstract: An articulated drive system for an articulated motor vehicle having a motor and a steerable drive wheel on opposite sides of a pivot axis. The system comprises a drive belt connecting a drive pulley and a load pulley. Idler pulleys and a belt tensioning pulley are located within the circuit of the drive belt. The idler pulleys and belt tensioning device provide for self-centering of the steerable drive wheel when the pivoted vehicle is in a pivoted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Alexander N. Nicol
  • Patent number: 5034088
    Abstract: An improved mounting for spaced band wheels about which the sealing bands of a band sealer move is achieved by mounting at least one of the band wheels carrying each band from a double ended cylinder movable longitudinally with respect to the inter-band wheel distance to thereby allow adjustability in the distance between the drive and idler band wheels and, in turn, modulate the tension in the band and with the shortest wheel distance allow easy removal and replacement of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Doboy Packaging Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley D. Denker
  • Patent number: 5000724
    Abstract: A roller chain tensioning device includes a pair of low friction chain engaging blocks that are held selectively together by a flexible strap and fastener device. The blocks include formed surfaces for loosely receiving the side plates of the chain and for roller engagement by the chain rollers. The chain flights are received with the rollers in moving contact with the guide blocks while the chain side plates are loosley and freely received by opposed grooves, opposite to the roller engaging surfaces. The blocks are provided with opposed roller engaging surfaces of different size to facilitate operation with chains having rollers of different size. The strap and fastener enable selective adjustment of the blocks toward or away from one another thereby adjust tension along the engaged chain flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventor: Rod B. Reid
  • Patent number: 4693666
    Abstract: A SCARA type robotic manipulator apparatus including a base supporting first and second independently operable drive motors, toothed belts engaging toothed gears for rotating primary and secondary arms in response to the first and second drive motors respectively, and adjustable bidirectional belt tensioning assemblies associated with the belts to preload the belts to provide stable, repeatable operation of the robot arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John Garin
  • Patent number: 4655731
    Abstract: A diametrical slot is provided in the bottom of the cup-shaped support of a tensioning roller assembly, for receiving a clamping bolt. A leaf spring is mounted in the bore and has a bending zone engaging the bolt, the leaf spring extending from on both sides of the bending zone to roll sections adapted to roll on and off the bore surface of the support so that, as tension is increased by the displacement of the bolt in the slot, a greater portion of the leaf spring rolls off of the bore surface of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Olschewski
  • Patent number: 4424873
    Abstract: A wheelchair having left and right drive wheels (18, 26) each connected with a wheel pulley (16). Left and right electric drive motors (10) are connected with drive pulleys (12, 20). V-belts (14) extending between the drive and wheel pulleys. Left and right belt-pulley engagement improvement assemblies (40, 60) urge the belts further around the circumference of the drive pulleys to improve frictional engagement and reduce slippage. Each engagement improving assembly includes a first roller (84) and a second roller (94) disposed adjacent an associated drive pulley (20) for selectively urging a first portion (52) and a second portion (54) of the belt together. As the belt portions move toward each other, the belt wraps further around the drive pulley increasing the frictional engagement area reducing the amount of tension required for non-slipping engagement between the belt and the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel J. Terlaak
  • Patent number: 4416647
    Abstract: A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt is provided wherein such belt is employed in driving a sheave comprising at least one accessory which upon being driven creates a slack side and a tight side in the belt on opposite sides of the sheave and the tensioner comprises, a first support arm having pivot means, a first idler pulley rotatably carried by the arm, and a pivot pin extending through the pivot means and supporting the first arm adjacent the sheave with the first pulley engaging the slack side to enable tensioning thereof; and, the tensioner further comprises a second support arm supported by the pivot pin, a second idler pulley rotatably carried by the second arm and engaging the tight side of the belt, and means connecting the second arm to the first arm to thereby move the first arm and its pulley into belt tensioning and dampening engagement against the slack side once the tight side of the belt moves the second pulley and second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Dayco Corporation
    Inventor: Jack D. White, Jr.