Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner having a piston sliding around an outside surface of a pin or rod, so that the high pressure chamber for chain control is created by the area between the piston internal diameter and the rod outside diameter. A spring around the outside of the rod presses against the bottom of the piston, biasing the piston outward during low oil pressure conditions. Preferably, the piston is steel and the rod is aluminum, the reverse of prior art designs, which means that as temperature increases, the piston to bore clearance reduces. This can offset the oil viscosity reduction and maintain the same performance over operating temperatures.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner having a piston sliding around an outside surface of a pin or rod, so that the high pressure chamber for chain control is created by the area between the piston internal diameter and the rod outside diameter. A spring around the outside of the rod presses against the bottom of the piston, biasing the piston outward during low oil pressure conditions. Preferably, the piston is steel and the rod is aluminum, the reverse of prior art designs, which means that as temperature increases, the piston to bore clearance reduces. This can offset the oil viscosity reduction and maintain the same performance over operating temperatures.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for an internal combustion engine for tensioning a span of a chain or a belt has a piston with an internal reservoir connected to a high pressure chamber through a check valve assembly. The check valve assembly has a disk seat formed by an internal bulge within the piston; a check valve retainer within the piston, and a moveable disk that is received between the disk seat formed by the internal bulge and the check valve retainer and is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a check valve spring that is received between the check valve disk and the check valve retainer.

Abstract: A camshaft chain tensioner, comprising: a piston having an exterior circumferential surface that includes at least one groove; an expandable clip, positioned around the exterior circumferential surface, that includes a first end and a second end, the expandable clip being expandable from a resting diameter to an expanded diameter, wherein the expandable clip existing in the resting diameter engages one of the grooves and prevents axial movement of the piston and wherein the expandable clip existing in the expanded diameter permits axial movement of the piston in response to an axial force exerted on the piston; and a clip retention device that releasably engages the expandable clip and inhibits radially outward expansion of the expandable clip to the expanded diameter of the expandable clip.

Abstract: A clip lock for securing an expandable clip of a chain tensioner includes an elongated member having a first surface configured to engage an exterior surface of the chain tensioner and a second surface, spaced apart from the first surface, that is configured to engage the expandable clip and maintain the expandable clip in contact with an annular groove of a chain tensioner component preventing radially-outward expansion and axial movement of the expandable clip with respect to the chain tensioner component while the first surface engages that exterior surface of the hydraulic tensioner and the second surface engages the expandable clip.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of manufacture can include a housing (12), a piston (16) moveable from a retracted position toward an extended position with respect to the housing (12) in response to fluid pressure, and a tensioner spring (36) biasing the piston (16) toward the extended position. The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a modular sleeve (14) supported by the housing (12) and defining an aperture (15) for slidably receiving the piston (16) and defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The housing (12) can provide a fluid passage (39) for fluid communication between the expandable fluid chamber (18) and a source of pressurized fluid. The housing (12) can have a seat (25) in fluid communication with the aperture (15). An end (38) of the modular sleeve (14) can be seated with respect to a seat (25) of the housing (12) to seal the fluid passage (39).

Abstract: A tensioner moves the flow restriction controlling the tensioner tuning to the nose of the piston through a hole ranging in cross sectional area from 0.01 mm2 to 1.1 mm2. It also eliminates a component from the design of the tensioner. The piston hole geometry is one or a plurality of holes.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for an internal combustion engine for tensioning a span of a chain or a belt has a piston with an internal reservoir connected to a high pressure chamber through a check valve assembly. The check valve assembly has a disk seat formed by an internal bulge within the piston; a check valve retainer within the piston, and a moveable disk that is received between the disk seat formed by the internal bulge and the check valve retainer and is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a check valve spring that is received between the check valve disk and the check valve retainer.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner includes a housing defining a cavity configured to receive a fluid from a pressurized fluid source. The hydraulic tensioner also includes a piston disposed within the cavity and configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position based on a pressure of the fluid. Additionally, the hydraulic tensioner includes a sleeve disposed within the cavity and having an inner surface and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface, the inner surface defining an interior aperture for receiving the piston. Moreover, the sleeve has a thickness of 2 mm or less between the inner surface and the outer surface.

Abstract: A clip lock for securing an expandable clip of a chain tensioner includes an elongated member having a first surface configured to engage an exterior surface of the chain tensioner and a second surface, spaced apart from the first surface, that is configured to engage the expandable clip and maintain the expandable clip in contact with an annular groove of a chain tensioner component preventing radially-outward expansion and axial movement of the expandable clip with respect to the chain tensioner component while the first surface engages that exterior surface of the hydraulic tensioner and the second surface engages the expandable clip.

Abstract: Hydraulic tensioner device including a tensioner arm and a hydraulic tensioner. The tensioner arm comprising: a body having a first end, a second end, a chain sliding surface and a surface opposite the chain sliding face; a pivot at the first end or the second end of the body; and a banjo bolt feed at the other of the first end or second end of the body. The hydraulic tensioner being pivotably attached to the pivot and the banjo bolt and adjacent the surface opposite the chain sliding face, wherein the hydraulic tensioner receives supply fluid from the banjo bolt, the hydraulic tensioner comprising: a housing with a bore; a hollow piston having a first end and a second end, slidably received within the bore; and a spring received within the bore of the housing and the hollow piston biasing the hollow piston outwards from the bore of the housing.

Abstract: A tensioner moves the flow restriction controlling the tensioner tuning to the nose of the piston through a hole ranging in cross sectional area from 0.01 mm2 to 1.1 mm2. It also eliminates a component from the design of the tensioner. The piston hole geometry is one or a plurality of holes.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of assembly can include a housing (12) having an aperture and a piston (16) received within the aperture for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A tensioner spring (36) positioned within the aperture for bias the piston (16) toward the extended position. The piston (16) and the aperture of the housing (12) defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a cantilever spring (20) having a first end (22) attachable to the housing (12) and a second end (24) releasably engageable with the piston (16) for retaining the piston (16) in the retracted position against urging of the tensioner spring (36) during storage, shipment, installation, and service. The second end (24) can be disengageable from the piston (16) allowing movement of the piston (16) outwardly toward the extended position during operation in a working environment.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of manufacture can include a housing (12), a piston (16) moveable from a retracted position toward an extended position with respect to the housing (12) in response to fluid pressure, and a tensioner spring (36) biasing the piston (16) toward the extended position. The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a modular sleeve (14) supported by the housing (12) and defining an aperture (15) for slidably receiving the piston (16) and defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The housing (12) can provide a fluid passage (39) for fluid communication between the expandable fluid chamber (18) and a source of pressurized fluid. The housing (12) can have a seat (25) in fluid communication with the aperture (15). An end (38) of the modular sleeve (14) can be seated with respect to a seat (25) of the housing (12) to seal the fluid passage (39).

Abstract: This invention introduces a new category of engineered surfaces and corresponding production processes for better wear resistance and lower friction loss. The structured surfaces can be applied on many automobile components with frictional surfaces. The composite structure settles the usual conflicts between surface functions and stresses. Two sets of multiple-step processes are introduced to achieve high production efficiency and low cost. Unlike traditional surface technologies that generate single and uniform layers on the whole part surface, the new technology processes the part surface selectively for more effective surfaces with versatile functions.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for machining a work-piece. The method includes the step of disposing a surface of a work-piece and an electrode a predetermined distance apart. The method also includes the step of directing a flow of electrolyte between the surface and the electrode. The method also includes the step of applying a voltage across the surface and the electrode to machine the work-piece to generate a current. The method also includes the step of adding a first predetermined material to the flow of electrolyte to bind to the surface of the work-piece and leave a protective layer.