Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with force to tension the belt, and a dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit, the dampening support unit comprising a shaft. The dampening unit and the spring unit are coaxially spaced apart and coaxially aligned on the shaft with the belt engaging unit having a portion thereof disposed between the dampening unit and the spring unit and being rotatably carried by the shaft.

Abstract: A method of making a tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path is provided and comprises the steps of providing a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, providing a belt engaging unit to be carried by the support unit and be movable relative thereto, operatively associating a mechanical spring unit with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, operatively associating a fluid dampening unit with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction thereof, forming the mechanical spring unit to comprise a pair of springs disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation, disposing at least a part of the fluid dampening unit between the springs and in substantially parallel relation therewith, and forming the fluid dampening unit to compris

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path, a part therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a rotary dampening unit.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a rotary dampening unit. The rotary dampening unit and the spring unit are coaxially aligned. The support unit has an opening passing therethrough for receiving a fastening member that will fasten the support unit to a vehicle bracket or the like.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the dampening unit comprising a piston unit and a cylinder unit having the piston unit therein and defining two chambers for fluid in the cylinder unit on opposite sides of the piston unit.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt or the like that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, the belt engaging unit including a lever arm having opposed ends, a polymeric spring unit being operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a coiled mechanical spring also being operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt whereby the polymeric spring unit and the mechanical spring combine to define the tensioning force for the belt while the polymeric spring unit additionally tends to dampen the movement of the b

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path is provided and comprises a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of the movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a piston and cylinder unit.

Abstract: A pulley construction and method of making the same are provided, the pulley construction having a pair of opposed flanges respectively provided with surfaces for engagement with a V-belt construction when the V-belt construction is disposed therebetween. The pulley construction has structure for moving one of the flanges axially relative to the other of the flanges either in a direction toward the other flange or in a direction away from the other flange and has a fluid dampening unit separate from the structure for moving and being operatively associated with the one flange to dampen the axial movement of that one flange in either of the directions relative to the other flange with a restrictive force, the dampening unit comprising a flexible bladder having one part thereof operatively interconnected to that one flange.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a movable cam unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for moving the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit, and a spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the cam unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, the support unit comprising a tubular member having an interconnecting part and the cam unit being disposed in the tubular member and having an interconnecting part operatively interconnected with the interconnecting part of the tubular member so that the cam unit is adapted to be axially movable relative to the tubular member while being non-rotatable relative to the

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmision belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a piston and cylinder unit. The mechanical spring unit comprises a pair of coiled compression springs with their longitudinal axes disposed in substantially parallel side-by-side spaced relation.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt which is adapted to be operated in an endless path and method of making same are provided and the tensioner comprises a rotatable idler pulley, a supporting assembly for rotatably supporting the pulley and urging same against the belt with a particular belt tensioning force with the assembly supported adjacent the belt, and a system for holding the assembly with the pulley urged against the belt, and wherein the holding system operates to lock the assembly at a fixed position immediately prior to moving the belt in its endless path and while the supporting assembly is applying the particular belt tensioning force to thereby determine a fixed center about which the pulley is rotated and the holding system operates to provide release of the assembly from the fixed position and hence the pulley from the fixed center only when the belt is stationary.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a piston and cylinder unit. The mechanical spring unit comprises a pair of coiled compression springs with their longitudinal axes disposed in substantially parallel side-by-side spaced relation.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path is provided and comprises a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction thereof. The mechanical spring unit comprises a pair of springs disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation with the fluid dampening unit having at least a part thereof disposed between the springs and in substantially parallel relation therewith, the fluid dampening unit comprising a rotary dampening unit.