Pulley Shiftable Into Engagement With Exterior Of Belt Surface Patents (Class 474/118)
  • Patent number: 11140831
    Abstract: Wrap material supply systems for delivering wrap material from a wrap material roll for application around crop bales include a baler housing containing a baling chamber, a drive roll rotatably mounted to the baler housing, and a pivoting frame coupled to the baler housing at a first pivot point. A feed roll is rotatably mounted to the pivoting frame and positioned to engage the wrap material roll. The wrap material supply system further includes a drive belt, which, when tensioned, transmits rotation from the drive roll to the feed roll. An actuator is controllable to rotate the pivoting frame about the first pivot point to move the feed roll relative to the drive roll, tension the drive belt, and initiate feeding of the wrap material from the wrap material roll into the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Jacob D. Kappelman
  • Patent number: 9359066
    Abstract: A cable support apparatus for an aircraft cable control system comprises at least one cable support unit. The cable support unit includes a pulley adapted to carry a cable of the aircraft cable control system, a support link with a first joint between the pulley and the support link and a second joint between the support link and the structure of the aircraft, and a compensation link connected with the structure of the aircraft. The thermal expansion of the compensation link causes a displacement of the support link. An aircraft and a method for maintaining a tension of a cable of a cable control system of an aircraft are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LEARJET INC.
    Inventor: Harris Butler
  • Publication number: 20150018148
    Abstract: A belt tensioning device for a belt drive which comprises a driving machine with a driving belt pulley drivable by a driveshaft around a driving axis, and a plurality of further belt pulleys and with an infinite belt which is wrapped around the driving belt pulley and the further belt pulleys wherein the belt tensioning device comprises a housing in which two tensioning arms are supported so as to be pivotable around a common pivot axis, in which tensioning arms there are supported tensioning rollers with axes of rotation extending parallel to the driving axis, wherein the tensioning arms are supported relative to one another by spring means, wherein, with the driving belt pulley mounted at the driving machine, the housing can be mounted in that, in an annular region surrounding the driveshaft of the driving belt pulley, the housing is contact-free relative to the driving machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Joachim Jud, Manfred Jung
  • Publication number: 20140357438
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a pressing mechanism that applies a tension to a belt that is wound around a drive section and an input section and configured to transmit a driving force from the drive section to the input section, the belt including an urging member, and a swing member that swings to press the belt when urged by the urging member, the swing member including a pivot portion that serves as a pivot point around which the swing member swings, a first end portion that is spaced apart in a first direction from the pivot portion and configured to contact the belt, and a second end portion that is spaced apart, in a second direction different from the first direction, from the pivot portion and configured to be urged by the urging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140155209
    Abstract: A chain guide includes a plurality of roller shafts provided on one side of a timing chain for torque transmission and spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of a guide base facing the timing chain. The respective roller shafts rotatably support chain guiding rollers in the form of needle roller bearings. The rollers are cylindrical members having the same diameter over the entire axial direction such that the rollers are movable in the axial direction relative to the timing chain. The rollers are supported so as to be movable in the axial direction. When the rollers and the timing chain move relative to each other in the axial direction and the rollers move relative to the roller shafts in the axial direction, contact portions between the rollers and the roller shafts are displaced in the axial direction, so that radial loads are not locally applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Shinji Oishi
  • Patent number: 8353795
    Abstract: Described herein is a tensioner for a belt of a drive of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two idle pulleys designed to co-operate with respective belt runs of the belt; two arms bearing the pulleys; and elastic means acting at least indirectly on the arms for tensioning the belt, in which the arms are constrained to one another, and at least one of the arms is hinged to a first mobile axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Andrea Montani, Alberto Ruffini
  • Patent number: 7918758
    Abstract: In a drive assembly for driving a pulley of a water pump of a combustion engine, a movable supporting arm is fitted idly with a drive wheel, and is loaded by a torsion spring to bring the drive wheel into angular engagement with the pulley fitted to the shaft of the pump, and with a drive belt of the engine; an actuating device (being activatable to exert a force in opposition to that exerted by the torsion spring, and detach the drive wheel from the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Tommaso Di Giacomo, Heinz Lemberger
  • Patent number: 7901310
    Abstract: A belt tensioner for a belt drive is designed to connect an engine shaft of an internal-combustion engine to a reversible electric machine which has the function of starting motor and current generator; the belt tensioner comprises a fixed part and a pair of arms, hinged on a common pin carried by the fixed part and provided with respective idle pulleys, and a spring, which forces the two arms towards one another so as to load the pulleys elastically against respective branches of the belt. The two arms of the belt tensioner are provided with respective first arrest elements, which are designed to interact with the fixed portion to define respective positions of arrest of the arms themselves under the action of the spring, and respective second arrest elements, which are designed to interact with the fixed portion to define respective positions of end-of-travel of the arms under the action of the pull of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Sergio Lolli, Luca D'Amicantonio
  • Patent number: 7892125
    Abstract: A device for tensioning a flexible drive member includes a pair of opposing contact elements adapted to simultaneously engage upper and lower spans of the flexible drive member. The device further includes a connecting member to draw the contact elements together and position the contact elements at a selected distance from each other to provide a predetermined tension to the flexible drive member. The tensioning device may be implemented in a print substrate transport subsystem adapted to move media through a print system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron T. Nelson, Ng Boon Hang, Alan Boo Keng Aik, Brent R. Jones
  • Patent number: 7686721
    Abstract: A bicycle chainring is formed from a first member and an second member. The first member includes a center rotational axis, a crank attachment portion with a plurality of chainring attachment openings and an annular tooth portion with a plurality of chain engaging gear teeth. The second member disposed around the center rotational axis and is fixedly attached to overlie at least one of the crank attachment portion and the annular tooth portion to reinforce the first member without obstructing access to the chainring attachment openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koshi Tabe, Masahiro Yamanaka, Toshio Tetsuka, Shingo Shiraishi, Hideya Inoue, Yusuke Nishimoto, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 7563187
    Abstract: In a drive belt system, an idler pulley 6 is formed by an auto belt alignment pulley. For example, a pulley body 60 is rotatably carried on a hollow cylindrical shaft member 62, a support rod 63 is inserted in the shaft member 62, and the pulley body 60 and the shaft member 62 are connected to each other via a pin 64 (pivot axis C2) for angular movement about the pin 64. The pin 64 is inclined orthogonally to the shaft member 62 and forward in the direction of rotation of the pulley body 60 with respect to the direction of a radial shaft load L. With this configuration, when a flat belt 8 deviates to one side, the pulley body 60 inclines to create a level difference in the direction of the radial shaft load L and angularly moves orthogonally to the flat belt 8, thereby correcting the deviation of the flat belt 8. To fulfill the auto belt alignment function, belt span lengths Si and So between the idler pulley 6 and both the adjacent pulleys 3 and 4 are each set larger than the width of the flat belt 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Miyata
  • Patent number: 7419448
    Abstract: A hollow cylindrical pulley body 5 is carried rotatably by a hollow cylindrical shaft member 11. A support rod 8 is inserted in the shaft member 11 to support the shaft member 11 for rocking motion about a pivot axis C2 orthogonal to the shaft member 11. The pivot axis C2 is inclined backward in the direction of belt travel with respect to the direction of load on the shaft member 11. With this configuration, when the drive belt 3 deviates to one side, the pulley body 5 is immediately angularly moved so that it is inclined with a level difference with respect to the direction of load on the shaft member 11 and is positioned obliquely relative to the drive belt 3, thereby producing a force of returning the drive belt 3 to its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Miyata, Shinichiro Nishikawa, Masashi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7357741
    Abstract: A high output light source, such as a stage lighting luminaire, produces light along a path. The belt which drives a driven device is kept away from that path by passing it around the opposite side of the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Nigel Evans
  • Publication number: 20040077445
    Abstract: An engine accessory belt drive includes a self-aligning pulley assembly including a relatively stationary outer assembly and a universally pivotable inner assembly supported by the outer assembly and able to be locked in position by tightening of a fastener. During alignment of the self-aligning pulley with the belt, the fastener is maintained in the loose position, allowing limited universal pivoting of the rotational axis of the pulley as a result of belt tension forces which act to align the pulley. After the pulley is aligned, the fastener is tightened to fix the rotational axis of the pulley and the inner assembly in the aligned position of the pulley. Features of the inner and outer assemblies of the pulley assembly are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Prior, David Geza Kokochak, Eric C. Douse
  • Publication number: 20040053718
    Abstract: A bottle-rotating device has a rotation device and an auxiliary pressing device. The rotation device corresponds to an induction coil in an induction cap sealer. The rotation device has a bottom plate, a top plate, a belt, a drive train and a driver. The belt and the drive train are mounted between the bottom plate and the top plate, and the drive train has a straight section corresponding to the induction coil. The belt is mounted around the drive train is driven by the driver. The auxiliary pressing device corresponds to the rotation device. The auxiliary pressing device has a pressing strip securely held on pressing strip holders parallel to the straight section of the drive train. Accordingly, the bottles will be rotated and the foil on the bottle can be heated evenly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Hua-Chang Pang
  • Publication number: 20040053720
    Abstract: A high output light source, such as a stage lighting luminaire, produces light along a path. The belt which drives a driven device is kept away from that path by passing it around the opposite side of the pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Light and Sound Design, LTD
    Inventor: Nigel Evans
  • Patent number: 6699149
    Abstract: An idler pulley is provided with a plurality of attachment locations, or holes, extending through a hub portion of the pulley to allow the pulley to be attached to a stationary object in a plurality of alternative configurations in order to provide a way for adjusting or selecting the tension of a belt used in conjunction with the idler pulley. Threaded fasteners pass through selected attachment locations of the hub portion of the idler pulley and are threaded into anchor locations on a stationary object, such as an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. White, Vince E. Notareschi
  • 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: 20030139239
    Abstract: The invention comprises a belt installation tool. The tool comprises a pair of arms connected at a pivot. Each arm has an end for engaging a pulley axle. A handtool is engaged with an arm. By a torque applied with the handtool through a short arcuate motion to the arms, the pulleys are moved apart, thereby tensioning a belt. A locking member or linkage is available to fix the arms in a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Barry Fletcher, Mark Anthony Muscat, Joel Patrick Musyj, Christian Joseph Schmutz, John M. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6592481
    Abstract: A synchronous drive arrangement for a printer of the present invention includes a timing belt passed over drive pulleys each being mounted on a particular print drum. The timing belt is made up of two narrow belt parts produced by dividing a single belt. Assuming that the belt parts have n teeth each, one of the belt parts is shifted from the other belt part by one-half of the number of teeth n. The belt parts are so positioned as to cancel each other's eccentricity component during rotation. The arrangement reduces synchronization errors ascribable to the eccentricity of the timing belt while preserving the low-cost configuration of timing belt connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Sato, Keiichi Chiba
  • Patent number: 6592480
    Abstract: A high output light source, such as a stage lighting luminaire, produces light along a path. The belt which drives a driven device is kept away from that path by passing it around the opposite side of the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Light and Sound Design Ltd.
    Inventor: Nigel Evans
  • Publication number: 20030100394
    Abstract: The drive train bearing assembly and actuator having a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and movable between an extended and a retracted position defines a bore extending therethrough. A spindle is positioned in the bore and coupled for rotation to the actuator shaft. A pulley is positioned over an end of the actuator shaft and spindle that has a bearing located therein. The bearing extends between the pulley and the actuator shaft and is coupled to the pulley so that the pulley and the spindle rotate together relative to the actuator shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Kuchta
  • Publication number: 20030050141
    Abstract: The present invention relates to such an engine as mentioned below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Aketa, Tetsuya Kosaka, Akira Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20030004023
    Abstract: In an auxiliary-driving system in an engine, a crank pulley, a first auxiliary pulley and an idler pulley having a tensioner function are disposed in a triangular configuration with the idler pulley located in an uppermost position; and a second auxiliary pulley is disposed in a space surrounded by these pulleys. An endless transmitting belt is reeved around the pulleys. An inner surface of the transmitting belt is reeved around the first auxiliary pulley; and an outer surface of the transmitting belt is reeved around the second auxiliary pulley. Thus, the adjustment of the tension of the transmitting belt and other maintenance are facilitated, the transmitting efficiency of the transmitting belt can be enhanced, and compactness of the auxiliary-driving system itself and improvement in mileage can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Naoki Hotta
  • Publication number: 20010046914
    Abstract: A high output light source, such as a stage lighting luminaire, produces light along a path. The belt which drives a driven device is kept away from that path by passing it around the opposite side of the pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Nigel Evans
  • Patent number: 6312352
    Abstract: A tensioning assembly is provided for a synchronous belt drive on a mower deck. A plurality of idlers are mounted for rotation on bracket. One end of the a bracket engages an abutment surface mounted on the deck which restricts its movement, whereas a second end of the bracket is acted upon by a tensioning member which acts in substantially the same direction as the abutment surface. The bracket includes an elongated slot disposed between one of the idlers and the abutment surface, and a member fixed to the deck is engageable with the slot for confining movement of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Holland, Christopher Scott Thorman
  • Patent number: 5725450
    Abstract: A device for preventing derailment of a bicycle chain of a bicycle. Upper and lower guide members are positioned strategic to a drive sprocket of the bicycle to guide and maintain the chain in engagement with the drive sprocket regardless of the tension of the chain. The upper and lower guides force the chain to be engaged a longer circumferential distance on the drive sprocket to prevent the chain from jumping off the drive sprocket. Circular guards are mounted on each side of the drive sprocket to protect the drive sprocket and the chain entrained thereon from impact. The spacing of the circular guards provides a channel for receiving the chain as it traverses the drive sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Joshua Paris
    Inventor: Theodore A. Huskey
  • Patent number: 5316523
    Abstract: A device, such as a printer or plotter for driving media, has sprocket wheels with sprockets engaging sprocket holes at the edges of the media. The sprocket wheels are driven via a drive belt. In order to adjust the relative angular position of one of the sprocket wheels, rollers are mounted on an adjustment lever to separately engage two courses of the drive belt. Pivoting of the lever effects the adjustment of the lengths of the two courses of the belt. During an adjustment procedure, one sprocket wheel is held fixed, and the lever is pivoted to effect the angular displacement of the other sprocket wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Summagraphics N.V.
    Inventor: Gerard J. Verdonck
  • Patent number: 5021032
    Abstract: A tensioning device is provided for a flexible belt wound around the pulleys of a drive mechanism. The tensioning device includes an elastic biasing element and a damping mechanism. The biasing element applies a force on the belt in a predetermined direction to oppose belt slackenings. The damping mechanism dampens movements of the belt. The biasing element and the damping mechanism constitute a single unit wherein both exert on the belt forces which act on the belt at the same time in a predetermined direction to maintain a predetermined tensioning. The biasing element acts independently of the damping mechanism in the presence of considerable slackenings of the belt and functions as part of the damping mechanism to dampen thrusts of the belt acting on the device in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. A connection unit connects the damping mechanism to the biasing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Pirelli Trasmissioni Industriali S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vincenzo Macchiarulo, Edoardo Robecchi, Alberto Ruffini
  • Patent number: 4842570
    Abstract: For maintaining a desired level of belt tension upon a change in the spacing of belt rollers on which the belt is trained, which results from heating of the housing that supports at least one of the rollers of the belt, the tensioning roller for the belt is supported on a pivot plate or rocker arm. The plate has a pivot and the tensioning roller is mounted on the plate eccentric of the pivot of the plate. A connecting rod extends between the pivoting plate and a connection point. The connecting rod has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the housing on which the belt roller is supported, whereby as the heat caused expansion of the housing moves the belt rollers apart, the connecting rod pivots the plate for the tensioning roller in a direction and to an extent to maintain a desired, e.g. substantially constant tension level on the belt. Or, the connecting rod and tensioning roller may be positioned for altering the level of tension during heat-caused expansion, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schafer (KGaA)
    Inventor: Peter Niebling
  • Patent number: 4761155
    Abstract: A tensioner acting on and allowing an endless transmission belt, stretched between a driving wheel and driven wheels supported on the body of an internal combustion engine, to run under a constant tension, wherein an oscillating lever supports a tension pulley pressed against a loosening side of the transmission belt and has a base end pivoted on the engine body, and an automatic adjuster connected to a tip end of the lever is supported on a case for a hydraulic pump of the engine. A spacer is interposed between contact portions of the oscillating lever and the engine body, and an outlet of the pump and an oil port of the adjuster are directly communicated. An adjusting screw is provided on the tip end of the oscillating lever and is operatively connected to the upper end of a plunger of the automatic adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tanaka Machine Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kinoshita, Junichi Araki, Itsuo Iwai, Eiichi Ichihara, Michio Sato, Nobuo Anno
  • 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: 4674996
    Abstract: A tensioner device for applying a predetermined tension force to a transmission belt extended between a driving wheel and a driven wheel supported on the body of an internal combustion engine, including a hydraulic automatic adjuster which comprises a plunger case fitted in a cylinder bore through a seal member and a plunger slidably and axially movably fitted in the plunger case, open edges of the plunger case and plunger being sealed from outside by means of a flexible boot. An extra feed oil chamber formed within the plunger is in communication with a feed oil source by means of a closed oil path through a feed oil port and in communication with an oil reservoir by means of another closed oil path through an oil discharge port provided in a spaced relation from the feed oil port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tanaka Machine Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Anno, Itsuo Iwai, Takashi Kamezaki
  • Patent number: 4559775
    Abstract: A yarn false twisting apparatus is disclosed which comprises a pair of rotating circular discs having cooperating friction surfaces for engaging a running yarn at a twisting zone. A pressure applying member is positioned to apply a biasing force to the rear surface of one of the discs locally at the twisting zone, and the pressure applying member comprises a receptacle slideably mounting a piston which extends from the end of the receptacle to engage the disc. The receptacle is eccentrically mounted to permit selective positioning of the biasing force with respect to the yarn path of travel. The discs are mounted on pivotal rocking arms whereby the ratio of yarn twist to yarn speed may be adjusted, and an eccentrically mounted pin provides closely controlled adjustability for the arms and thus the twist ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik AG
    Inventor: Detlev Oberstrass
  • Patent number: 4557710
    Abstract: A drive unit preferably employed with a self-propelled lawn mower for driving at least one pair of wheels of the mower. An axle pulley is fixed on the axle of the drive wheels and a directional pulley is rotatably mounted above and in a spaced apart relation to the axle pulley. A drive belt is trained over an upper portion of the directional pulley and about a lower portion of the axle pulley and is then trained about an upper portion of a directional roller. The drive unit has a drive condition and an idle condition in which a portion of the drive belt, between the directional roller and the axle pulley, is in a generally vertical run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: C. Austin Greider
  • Patent number: 4457086
    Abstract: A snowblower is disclosed having an engine, a friction disc rotatably driven by the engine, the friction disc including a friction surface and being rotatable about a first axis, a driven disc rotatable about an axis transverse to said first axis, the driven disc including a peripheral edge engageable with the friction surface, and being drivingly connected to the snowblower wheels for driving the wheels when the driven disc is driven by the friction disc. The snowblower also includes controls for controlling driving connection of the engine and an auger and for controlling driving connection of the engine and the wheels, the controls causing engagement of the auger drive before engagement of the traction drive and disengagement of the traction drive before disengagement of the auger drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Gilson Brothers Company
    Inventor: Roger J. Bacon
  • Patent number: 4392840
    Abstract: A device which maintains a predetermined tensioning force on the endless drive belt for vehicle accessories by use of a one-way clutch which prevents return of the tensioning means from its forwardmost tensioning position. In the preferred embodiment, a cylindrical shaft is mounted in a fixed position adjacent the drive belt. A roller clutch assembly is mounted on the shaft and includes an outer clutch housing rotatably mounted on the shaft. An outwardly extending lever is attached to the clutch housing and has an idler pulley rotatably mounted on the extended end of the lever. The pulley is moved into tensioning engagement with the drive belt by a torsional spring which is telescopically mounted on the shaft and clutch housing. The spring moves the pulley in a belt tensioning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Dyneer Corporation
    Inventor: Mijo Radocaj
  • Patent number: 4336760
    Abstract: An earthworking implement comprising a frame on which are supported front wheels, rear wheels and a rearmost dolly wheel. An aerator member with blades is rotatably secured to the frame between the front and rear wheels. The dolly wheel is mounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis at a location rearwards of the rear wheels. The front wheels and the dolly wheel represent endmost wheels on the frame. One of the endmost wheels is vertically movable with respect to the frame between raised and lowered positions, such that in the raised position the front wheels and dolly wheel define a common tangential plane which is at a level above the blades of the aerator member and below the rear wheels thereby establishing an operative aerating position whereas in the lowered position the front wheels and dolly wheel define a common tangential plane which is at a level below the aerator member and the rear wheels thereby establishing a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Improved Lawn Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Sidney Cohen, Robert Schlemmer
  • Patent number: 4324552
    Abstract: A belt drive system comprising a drive sheave, a driven sheave, a belt providing driving engagement between said sheaves and a clutch for engaging and disengaging said driving engagement. The clutch is engaged and disengaged by moving an idler pulley assembly toward and away from the belt and by moving the driven sheave away from and toward the drive sheave. The clutch further includes an actuator member for providing simultaneous coordinated movement of the idler pulley assembly and driven sheave for engagement and disengagement of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Sidney J. Boushek, Jr., Travis B. Unterzuber
  • Patent number: 4312267
    Abstract: Idlers used in the main drive chain on rectangular balers resist the accumulation of slack in the chain. Sudden stops of the drive apparatus cause the chain to be highly tensioned resulting in possible damage to the idler and the chain. An idler apparatus is provided with a first resilient member having a first spring rate for limiting the accumulation of slack in the chain. A second resilient member has a second spring rate for resisting tensioning of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Shenberger
  • Patent number: 4300293
    Abstract: A belt tensioning assembling for use in a clothes dryer positions a drive belt in tensioned relation about a rotatable drum and a drive pulley mounted within the dryer housing. The belt tensioning assembly includes an idler pulley and a resilient mounting bar. The mounting bar is preferably pre-stressed to maintain the belt in aligned tensioned relation about the pulleys. The mounting bar includes a torsion arm member, a moment arm member, and a cantilevered positioning arm member onto which the idler pulley is rotatably mounted. The moment member joins one end of the positioning member to one end of the torsion member. The torsion member is secured in positioned load transfer relation with the housing. This locates the positioning member in predetermined spaced relation to the main axis of the drive pulley so that the idler pulley may be mounted thereon. Once mounted, the idler pulley may be moved to receive the belt thereover so as to provide tension thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Canadian Appliance Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventor: Victor Gladysz
  • Patent number: 4283181
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioning device for maintaining a predetermined amount of tensioning force on an endless drive belt for the vehicle accessories drive system. A hydraulic cylinder is adapted to be mounted in a fixed position with respect to the vehicle engine and is operatively connected to the hydraulic fluid system of the engine. A bellcrank mechanism is pivotally mounted on the cylinder and has a belt-engaging idler pulley rotatably mounted on an extended end of one of the levers. The other lever is operatively engaged by the cylinder piston which pivots the idler pulley into tensioning engagement with the drive belt. A check valve is provided in the incoming hydraulic fluid passage of the cylinder and keeps that portion of the cylinder chamber which is located behind the piston filled with hydraulic fluid to maintain a constant predetermined tensioning force on the belt whether the engine is running or stopped, and to provide a shock-absorbing damping action for the idler pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Dyneer Corporation
    Inventor: Nolte V. Sproul