Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Zamm

Joseph W. Zamm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7163478
    Abstract: A tensioner for generating tension in a power-transmitting belt is provided. The tensioner includes a base, which may be secured to an engine, and an arm that is movably attached to the base. A pulley is rotatably attached to the arm for engaging the belt. A spring is operatively connected to the arm and the base for urging the arm to move relative to the base in a first direction. When the arm is moved in the first direction, the pulley is moved into engagement with the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner further includes a stop that is adjustably positioned on the base to limit the movement of the arm in a second direction. The position of the stop on the base may be automatically adjusted by the spring during installation of the tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Dayco Products, LLC
    Inventors: Larry R. Oliver, Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 7118504
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a power transmission belt may be provided that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control. The belt tensioner may have an arm with a belt engaging section and a drum section, a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, where the arm pivots on the support member, and a tension spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner also may have a fluid filled chamber inside a portion of the drum section of the arm and a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Dayco Products, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 6689001
    Abstract: A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave. The tensioner may comprise a base, a resilient device, and first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction. The tensioner may also comprise first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms, the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt. The tensioner may also comprise first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Dayco Products, LLC
    Inventors: Larry R. Oliver, Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Publication number: 20030216205
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a power transmission belt may be provided that operates on an endless path and that utilizes asymmetric motion control. The belt tensioner may have an arm with a belt engaging section and a drum section, a support member for securing the tensioner relative to the belt, where the arm pivots on the support member, and a tension spring that urges the arm to pivot about the support member in a first direction and urges the belt engaging section against the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner also may have a fluid filled chamber inside a portion of the drum section of the arm and a valve pivotally attached to the tensioner so that the valve extends across the fluid containing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Publication number: 20030216203
    Abstract: A tensioner for generating tension in a power-transmitting belt is provided. The tensioner includes a base, which may be secured to an engine, and an arm that is movably attached to the base. A pulley is rotatably attached to the arm for engaging the belt. A spring is operatively connected to the arm and the base for urging the arm to move relative to the base in a first direction. When the arm is moved in the first direction, the pulley is moved into engagement with the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner further includes a stop that is adjustably positioned on the base to limit the movement of the arm in a second direction. The position of the stop on the base may be automatically adjusted by the spring during installation of the tensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Larry R. Oliver, Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Publication number: 20030109342
    Abstract: A tensioner for an endless power transmission belt, the belt being driven about a sheave. The tensioner may comprise a base, a resilient device, and first and second arms pivotally coupled for movement in an open and a closed direction. The tensioner may also comprise first and second pulleys rotatably coupled to the first and second arms, the resilient device biasing the arms in the closed direction in which the first and second pulleys apply tension to the belt. The tensioner may also comprise first and second stops positioned outside the arms on the base to limit the movement of the arms in the open direction in response to an increase in tension in the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Larry R. Oliver, Richard J. Meckstroth, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 5803850
    Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt and a method of making same are provided. The tensioner includes an arm that carries a belt engaging unit and is adapted to be pivotably mounted to a support unit. A mechanical first spring is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm for urging the arm, and hence the belt engaging unit, relative to the support unit and against the belt for tensioning same. A fluidic dampener is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm to dampen movement of the arm relative to the support unit. The dampener comprises a first plate fixed to the support unit, a second plate fixed to the arm for rotation therewith and relative to the first plate, a second spring urging the first and second plates against one another, friction material disposed between part of the facing surfaces of the first and second plates, and fluid disposed between the facing surfaces of the first and second plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hong, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 5718649
    Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt and a method of making same are provided. The tensioner includes an arm that carries a belt engaging unit and is adapted to be pivotably mounted to a support unit. A mechanical first spring is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm for urging the arm, and hence the belt engaging unit, relative to the support unit and against the belt for tensioning same. A fluidic dampener is operatively associated with the support unit and the arm to dampen movement of the arm relative to the support unit. The dampener comprises a first plate fixed to the support unit, a second plate fixed to the arm for rotation therewith and relative to the first plate, a second spring urging the first and second plates against one another, friction material disposed between part of the facing surfaces of the first and second plates, and fluid disposed between the facing surfaces of the first and second plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hong, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 5571061
    Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Michael Tsai, David E. Fletcher, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 5499950
    Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Michael Tsai, David E. Fletcher, Joseph W. Zamm
  • Patent number: 5391118
    Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end sumtrace thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Michael Tsai, David E. Fletcher, Joseph W. Zamm