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 serpentine belt drive system for an automotive vehicle in which the sequence of driven assemblies includes an alternator assembly comprising a housing and an armature assembly mounted in the housing for rotation about an armature axis. A hub structure is carried by the armature assembly outwardly of the housing for rotation therewith about the armature axis.

Abstract: A serpentine belt drive system for an automotive vehicle in which the sequence of driven assemblies includes an alternator assembly comprising a housing and an armature assembly mounted in the housing for rotation about an armature axis. A hub structure is carried by the armature assembly outwardly of the housing for rotation therewith about the armature axis. A coil spring is disposed in operative relation between the alternator pulley and the hub structure for transmitting the driven rotational movements of the alternator pulley by the serpentine belt to the hub structure such that the armature assembly is rotated in the same direction as the alternator pulley while being capable of instantaneous relative resilient rotational movements in opposite directions with respect to the alternator pulley during the driven rotational movement thereof.

Abstract: A pulley for engaging an endless belt or the like suitable for automotive vehicular use comprising an annular body of plastic material including an annular inner hub portion defining a central axis, an annular outer peripheral portion and an intermediate portion integrally interconnecting the annular outer peripheral portion in concentric relation with the inner hub portion, and a temperature compensating-wear resistant rim structure formed of metal. The rim structure is formed with a series of wear resistant arcuate sections spaed apart with a temperature compensating connecting section extending between adjacent ends of adjacent arcuate sections.

Abstract: A belt tensioner suitable for use with an automotive serpentine belt system comprising a fixed structure adapted to be mounted on an automotive engine, a pivoted structure mounted on the fixed structure for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis between an installation position and a maximum extension position, a torsional metal spring operatively connected between the fixed structure and the pivoted structure for resiliently biasing the pivoted structure toward the maximum extension position, and a belt engaging pulley rotatably mounted on the pivoted structure for rotational movement about a rotational axis spaced from the pivotal axis. The torsional metal spring is in the form of a helical coil having opposite end portions connection with the fixed and pivoted structures respectively with a major portion of the helical coil formation between the opposite end portions being disposed in spaced relation with the fixed and pivoted structures.

Abstract: A belt tensioner having a sleeve bearing pivotally mounting a pivoted structure on a fixed structure for spring pressed movement between first and second positions. The sleeve bearing is larger than and surrounds a ball bearing assembly rotatably mounting a pulley on the pivoted structure. The pulley has a cantilevered rim which axially overlaps and annularly surrounds the sleeve bearing. One of the structures and the sleeve bearing have slidably interengaging surfaces which are compressed together by the belt load force in the pivoted structure and the reactionary force acting in the fixed structure so as to provide a damping torque resistance to the pivotal movement of the pivoted structure which prevents movements resulting from dynamic changes in the belt load force within a range. The arrangement is such that independent vibrational forces instantaneously release the damping torque resistance to permit instantanteous movements otherwise prevented.

Abstract: A belt tensioner comprising a pivoted structure carrying a pulley for rotation about a rotational axis and mounted on a fixed structure for pivotal movement between an increased range of angular movement. The pulley is operatively positioned with respect to its rotational axis and the pivotal axis of the pivoted structure such that the lever arm to the pivotal axis through which the generally constant belt load force acts on the pivoted structure increases at a decreasing rate and then decreases at an increasing rate throughout the range of movement of the pulley between its first and second positions in a direction toward the second position. The spring assembly is operatively associated with the pivoted structure so as to apply a spring torque to the pivoted structure which increases at a decreasing rate and then decreases at an increasing rate throughout the range of movement of the pulley between its first and second positions in a direction toward said second position.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device having an improved damping mechanism for damping movements of the pivoted structure rotatably carrying the pulley with respect to the fixed structure. The damping mechanism includes a strap and a ring mounted on their respective fixed and pivoted structures and with respect to one another such that the strap engages the ring with a gripping action sufficient to provide (1) a relatively high resistance to frictional sliding movement between the strap and ring in one direction correspond to the direction of untensioning of the belt with the pulley and (2) a relatively low resistance to frictional sliding movement between the strap and ring in an opposite direction corresponding to the direction of belt tensioning.

Abstract: A belt tensioner in which the bearing for mounting the pulley carrying pivoted structure on the fixed structure comprises a frustoconical sleeve bearing having a frustoconical exterior surface and a frustoconical interior surface engaged between annular portions of the two structures. The frustoconical surface of one of the annular portions is (1) formed on the exterior periphery thereof and (2) disposed in engagement with the interior bearing frustoconical surface. The one annular portion has a load center point disposed on the pivotal axis of the pivoted structure. The other annular portion has a load center point disposed on a line disposed within a plane passing through the pivotal axis of the pivoted structure and the rotational axis of the pulley corresponding to the one line of the two lines of intersection of the bearing frustoconical surface with the plane through which the radially inward force component transmitted by the pivoted structure is applied to the sleeve bearing.

Abstract: In a belt tensioning device comprising 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 rotational axis parallel with the pivotal axis, a 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 so as to tension a belt engaged by the pulley, and a damping mechanism for damping the pivotal movements of the pivoted structure about the pivotal axis. The damping mechanism includes a stack of damping elements having interengaging pairs of surfaces disposed transversely with respect to the pivotal axis so as to be slidable with respect to one another in spaced planes of revolution about the pivotal axis.

Abstract: A timing belt tensioning device comprising a fixed structure having a spring pressed pivoted structure mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a first axis between first and second limiting positions. The pivoted structure carries a timing belt engaging pulley for rotational movement about a second axis parallel with the first axis. A one-way clutch mechanism is provided for permitting pivotal movement of the pivoted structure in a direction toward a second limiting position and for limiting the pivotal movement of the pivoted structure in an opposite direction toward the first limiting position beyond a predetermined distance measured from the nearest position of the pivoted structure to the second limiting position.

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.

Abstract: A belt tensioner having a sleeve bearing pivotally mounting a pivoted structure on a fixed structure for spring pressed movement between first and second positions. The sleeve bearing is larger than and surrounds a ball bearing assembly rotatably mounting a pulley on the pivoted structure. The pulley has a cantilevered rim which axially overlaps and annularly surrounds the sleeve bearing. One of the structures and the sleeve bearing have slidably interengaging surfaces which are compressed together by the belt load force in the pivoted structure and the reactionary force acting in the fixed structure so as to provide a damping torque resistance to the pivotal movement of the pivoted structure which prevents movements resulting from dynamic changes in the belt load force within a range. The arrangement is such that independent vibrational forces instantaneously release the damping torque resistance to permit instantaneous movements otherwise prevented.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device having an improved damping mechanism for damping movements of the pivoted structure rotatably carrying the pulley with respect to the fixed structure. The damping mechanism includes a strap and a ring mounted on their respective fixed and pivoted structures and with respect to one another such that the strap engages the ring with a gripping action sufficient to provide (1) a relatively high resistance to frictional sliding movement between the strap and ring in one direction correspond to the direction of untensioning of the belt with the pulley and (2) a relatively low resistance to frictional sliding movement between the strap and ring in an opposite direction corresponding to the direction of belt tensioning.