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.

Abstract: A self-contained tensioning device for a belt or similar structure and which includes a plunger slidably mounted in a body member, a free piston slidably mounted in the plunger and having a head portion extending from a shoulder of the body member and which contacts with an idler pulley so as to apply a tensioning face to the belt, a projection provided on the shoulder and projecting axially so as to minimize the distance between a portion of the idler pulley contacting the head portion and the shoulder of the body member.

Abstract: A textile machine has a spinning frame whose working elements, such as spindles, for respective whorls tangentially driven by a common belt. In order to allow energy efficient start-up of the individual whorls while the remaining whorls continue to be driven by the belt and without effecting the remaining whorls, the individual working element or spindles and their whorls are provided with a pivot pressing roller carrier whose pressing roller can hold the belt with normal pressing pressure at operating speed, can relieve the pressing pressure for braking of the individual whorl, and can press the belt with increased force against the individual whorl by manual operation of a lever individual to each mechanism for start-up.

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 tension-adjusting device for a driving belt comprising a tension roller and having an engagement arrangement provided between a support of the tension roller and a machine frame for enabling stepwise swiveling movement about a partially disengaged mounting bolt. The axis of swivel is radially displaced from the rolling axis of the tension roller. The engagement arrangement comprises a projection formed on the support radially displaced from the axis of swivel and a plurality of depressions formed in the machine frame and arranged at regular intervals along an arc defined by the path of travel of the projection during swiveling, whereby the projection is engageable with each depression, thereby defining a corresponding step in a range of adjustment of the tension of the driving belt.

Abstract: A belt stretching mechanism to adjust the tension in a belt wound around pulleys by turning an adjust bolt and moving a slider which is fastened together with a stay to an adjust bar by means of a stay-fastening bolt, wherein the axis of the adjust bolt and the axis of the stay-fastening bolt are in the same plane, so that no bending moment acts on the adjust bolt and smooth tensioning of V-belt is ensured.

Abstract: A tensioner has rolling members disposed between a rotatable outer member and a fixed inner member. The inner member has a bottom wall at at least one end thereof. The bottom wall has therein an eccentric position aperture for position adjustment situated at a position deviated from the axis of the inner member. A fixing bolt extends through said aperture. A spring member having at least one end which can be restrained by the inner member and the other end which can be restrained by the restraining portion of a support member to which the tensioner is mounted is provided within the inner member. Thus, a desired tension may be imparted to a transmission strap contacting the outer member by the spring member.

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 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: A belt tensioner for use of a V-belt which is spanned between a driving member and a driven member. The belt tensioner has an adjust bolt to be rotated by a worker, a bracket which slidably supports a slider secured to the driven member. The adjust bolt comprises a head portion, a first shaft portion which has a threaded relation with a hole within the bracket, and a second shaft portion which has a thread relation with the slider. Further, a spring is provided between the head portion of the adjust bolt and the bracket to bias the adjust bolt in such a direction as the head portion of the adjust bolt is separate away from the bracket, thereby obtaining an optimum belt tension force.

Abstract: A clutching mechanism for a suspended belt driven mower assembly that automatically removes the mower drive belt from the pulley system when the mower assembly is raised. A brake contacts the endless drive belt when the mower is in the raised position to prevent movement of the belt. A belt retainer is positioned about one of the pulleys of the pulley system to retain the belt adjacent the pulleys when the belt tension is released. An electrical interlock system is provided to prevent the motor from being started in any position other than the mower assembly raised position.

Abstract: A drive mechanism especially useful in assemblage with a harmonic drive transmission for providing a desired rotational input to the wave generator of the harmonic drive transmission, and allows for a wide speed range selection while minimizing component wear, instability, and heat generation problems. Such a harmonic drive assembly is particularly useful in powering a controlled infeed or chill stand in a printing press and permits the precise adjustment of the tension of the continuous paper web moving through such a press. The drive mechanism supplies rotational movement from the input shaft of the harmonic drive transmission to the wave generator tuner shaft and includes pulley means operatively coupled to the input shaft, an arm assembly mounted for pivotal movement about the tuner shaft, and a positioning mechanism for precisely pivoting the arm assembly as desired.

Abstract: A belt tensioning installation with a control device for the belt tension, which serves to monitor the tension of a belt, especially of a toothed belt, in order to prevent the relative position between driving and driven toothed belt pulley as a result of an excessive decrease of the belt tension. For that purpose an electric contact place is formed on a pressure element by way of which a tensioning roller is pressed against the toothed belt; the contact place is opened by spring force in case of a non-permissively reduced belt tension. An energizing circuit which includes the contact place is thereby interrupted and an optical or acoustic warning signal is triggered at an indicating apparatus by way of a relay.

Abstract: An automatic belt tensioner of the type including a pivoted arm and belt engaging pulley includes an improved tensioning means to maintain a constant tension on a drive belt. A cam having an eccentric portion is wrapped and stretched by an elastomer strap. As the strap stretches, the point of tangency of the wrapped strap varies continuously to vary the effective moment arm of the tensioned strap on the cam, which is rigid to the pivoted arm. The strap tension, and the effective moment arm given by the radius of the point of tangency, are matched at each point to give a constant torque and belt tension.

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: The present invention comprises a take-up apparatus for endless belts, chains, or the like surrounding spaced pulleys or sprockets. The take-up apparatus comprises a pivotable first extendable bearing member and a second sleeve member. The first extendable member rotatably carries the shaft of one of the pulleys and the second sleeve member includes a tension adjusting mechanism. The apparatus is pivoted about a boss located on the sleeve member. Accordingly, the pulley carried by the extendable member is directly pivoted in an arc having a radius defined between the pivot axis of the apparatus and the axis of rotation of the pulley shaft. At least a portion of the sleeve member is defined by telescoping portions so that the distance between the pivot axis of the arm and the pulley shaft axis is adjustable to vary the tension on the belt.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tightening device for cone belts and the like for use in cone belt transmissions, including at least one preferably driven cone belt pulley which is axially or substantially axially displaceable relative to at least one other, preferably driven cone belt pulley, and a cone belt interconnecting said cone belt pulleys, said tightening device engaging one run of the cone belt by means of a rotary member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tensioning arrangement with a damping device for a belt drive. The tensioning arrangement includes a combination of a pivotal roller lever which supports a tensioning roller, a tension spring engagable with the roller lever and a damping device attached to the roller lever.In order to facilitate a rapid installation and tensioning of the belt on the belt drive, the end of the tension spring opposite the roller lever is connected with a pivotable spring tensioning lever, which spring tensioning lever is selectively movable from a position where the belt is provided with no pretensioning to a pretensioning position where the spring exhibits a predetermined pretensioning force at the belt tensioning roller.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having transversely spaced wheel assemblies driven through a drive chain entrained around a tensioning idler is disclosed wherein the tensioning idler is mounted in a pair of arms movably positionable by an adjusting mechanism to control the tension in the drive chain. The adjusting mechanism is housed within a box welded to the chain case and includes a necked down portion extending through the box for external manipulation of a drive portion. An O-ring seal prevents the loss of fluid from the box during operation of the loader. A spring clip engagable with the drive portion of the adjusting mechanism prevents the movement thereof during operation of the loader.

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, 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 belt engaging unit relative to the support unit, the mechanical spr

Abstract: A tension-adjusting assembly for driving belts, such as driving belts for controlling the timing shaft of internal combustion engines, includes a device for neutralizing the effects of the variations of the distance between the axes of the pulleys, as caused by thermal expansions of the supports for the pulley journals.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the tension of a drive belt such as the belt used to drive an alternator or other accessory in an automotive engine. The tensioning device includes one angle bracket secured to a slotted plate having an arcuate slot formed about a pivot axis on which the accessory is angularly adjustable. An adjustment bolt secures another angle bracket to the slotted plate and is extended through the arcuate slot and threaded into the accessory. A machine screw extends between the two angle brackets and is threaded through one of them. The screw drives the brackets toward and away from one another to adjust the belt tension when the screw is turned with the adjustment bolt loosened. When the adjustment bolt is tightened, it locks the accessory in place.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for a power transfer mechanism utilizing an endless flexible member having a normally slack run and a normally taut run is disclosed wherein the tensioning apparatus is operable to take up the slack in the endless member under both normal operating conditions and reverse power conditions during which the normally slack run becomes taut and vice-versa. The tensioning apparatus varies the amount of tensioning force applied to each run of the endless member in response to the amount of tension within the respective run. A constant biasing force is applied to a pair of tensioning idlers through an elongated rod which positionally changes relative to the tensioning idler pivots to vary the amount of tensioning force applied by the tensioning idlers.

Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining substantially constant tension in an inelastic timing belt driven by a rigid, swinging arm, including a driven, circular pulley, an eccentrically mounted, circular idler pulley, an inelastic timing belt mounted about the driven and idler pulleys to provide minimum tension at mid-motion and maximum tension at the start and end of motion, and a rigid swinging arm pivotably mounted equidistant from the centers of the driven and idler pulleys and secured at one end to the timing belt.

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 belt tensioner comprises a shaft which is eccentrically mounted on a stud bolt so as to be rotatable thereon when a lock nut is loosened. A pulley is concentrically mounted on the shaft by means of a bearing and rotatable thereon. The shaft is urged by a spring in the direction to cause the pulley to move toward a drive belt. The shaft is fixed to a stationary member when the lock nut is tightened.

Abstract: An idler mechanism for maintaining tension on a drive belt in a drive belt system comprising an idler arm, a pulley mounted on the arm for rotation about a rotational axis, a pivotally adjustable mounting plate, means pivotally mounting the arm to the mounting plate eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis of the plate, and resilient means operatively associated with the pivotal mounting means for resiliently biasing the pulley into tensioning engagement with the drive belt. Application of a predetermined input torque to the pivot axis of the adjustable plate imparts a substantially constant tension to the drive belt substantially independent of belt length within predetermined tolerances.

Abstract: A belt drive arrangement is provided which employs a variator to interconnect a powered drive belt and a belt driven to operate either a transaxle or a transmission of a ground-engaging vehicle. The variator is secured to a pivotally mounted support member. The support member is joined to a speed control shaft which is rotatable in response to the actuation of either a foot pedal or a handle. Rotation of the speed control shaft repositions the variator with respect to idler pulleys associated with the driven belt so as to alter the vehicle's speed. Means are provided to rotate the speed control shaft by actuation of the pedal independently of the position of said handle.

Abstract: Meshing radially serrated annular pads projecting from the meeting surfaces of two members of a belt drive tensioning device to provide locked incremental angular adjustment of the members are formed by depressing an annular indentation in each member in the side thereof opposite its meeting side so as to cold flow metal to the meeting side thereof and in coining a serrated annulus in the metal thus transferred.

Abstract: A belt tensioner has an elongated support bar formed with a transversely throughgoing aperture and an annular inwardly directed lip around the aperture. A hardened metallic inner bearing race is centered on and elongated along a bearing axis and has one end extending into the aperture and formed with a circumferential radially outwardly open groove in which the lip is snugly fitted. An outer race is mounted on and coaxial with the other end of the inner race and is supported thereon by means of roller-bearing elements. The nonmalleable one end of the inner race does not need to be deformed to secure it in the support bar; instead the support bar, which is normally made of malleable steel, is deformed to make the connection.

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 tensioning device for maintaining a predetermined amount of tensioning force on an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. A shaft is mounted in a fixed position on the vehicle engine adjacent the drive belt. A housing is pivotally mounted on the shaft and is biased by a torsional coil spring in a belt tensioning direction. The spring is located within an annular space formed by spaced inner and outer housing walls and is telescopically mounted with respect to the shaft. A lever extends generally radially outwardly from the housing and an idler pulley is mounted on an end of the lever and is moved into tensioning engagement with the drive belt by the torsion spring. One end of the spring is attached to the housing and the other end is adapted to be fixed with respect to the shaft. The spring is placed in torsion and biases the lever and housing in the belt tensioning direction.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for maintaining tension on an endless drive member such as a belt or chain. A pulley or sprocket (10) is provided to impart a tensioning force to the drive member, the pulley being supported at one end of a torque arm (16) and the torque arm being pivotably mounted at its other end by a torque applying and oscillation damping assembly (18) comprising a lubricated elastomeric bushing assembly (26-34) and a coaxial, telescoped elastomeric spring assembly (36-48), whereby oscillations of the rubber spring, torque arm and pulley assembly are damped by the elastomeric bushing assembly. See FIGS. 1-3.

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 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.

Abstract: The casing of the electric generator of a motor vehicle is made of two cylindrical shells, one located eccentrically with respect to the other, connected together by struts to provide a light-weight rigid relation between the two belts. The casing is then mounted in a saddle-shaped support affixed on a mounting surface. Because of the eccentric position of the generator shaft within the outer cylindrical shell of the casing, loosening the tension band that holds the generator in place and rotating the casing of the generator makes possible tightening or loosening of the V-belt that drives the generator.

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.

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.

Abstract: A belt tensioner has a pair of pivotally mounted cam members which engage a stationary mounting strap. One cam is pivotally mounted on a block which is drivingly connected through a pivotal lever to a linear motor. The one cam is operative to engage a stationary strap when the motor is operated to urge the belt sheave bracket to pivot in a direction to increase the tension in the belt. When the one cam and block are moved by the return stroke of the motor, the other cam, which is mounted on the belt sheave bracket, engages the stationary strap to prevent movement of the belt sheave bracket relative to the strap.

Abstract: The machine forms bales of circular cross section by continuously rolling the bale upon a supporting surface within a formation chamber while additional material is supplied to the chamber. The chamber is partially defined by two separate, cooperating sets of flexible belts, one set having an upwardly moving stretch at the rear of the chamber and the other having a forwardly moving stretch defining the top of the chamber such that material entering the chamber at the beginning of the baling cycle is lifted upwardly by the rear stretch and rolled forwardly by the top stretch. The top and rear stretches converge to an upper rear corner of the chamber spaced above the supporting surface for the rolling bale, and such corner may be adjustably shifted vertically and/or horizontally in a fore-and-aft direction as may be necessary or desirable to facilitate bale starting under differing crop conditions. Alternative belt arrangements are disclosed for obtaining the desired adjustability of the chamber corner.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for an endless drive belt for vehicle accessories has a shaft which is mounted in a fixed position adjacent the belt. A lever is pivotally mounted on the shaft and has an idler pulley rotatably mounted on an extended end of the lever. The pulley is movable into tensioning engagement with the belt by rotation of the lever. A first cam plate is slidably mounted on the shaft and is engaged with a second cam plate which is attached to the lever for rotation with the lever. The cam plates each have a plurality of a series of camming surfaces which are mutually engageable with the opposite cam plate surfaces. A plurality of spring discs are telescopically mounted on the shaft and bias the first camming block into engagement with the second block applying a rotational force on the lever to move the pulley into tensioning engagement with the drive belt.

Abstract: A mechanical dead-man type control for the snow blower auger and wheels but without killing the engine.

Abstract: A "dead man" control mechanism for controlling the propel and tiller drive of a walk-behind rotary tiller includes a flexible control element which extends between and has opposite ends looped about respective Z-shaped crank portions of a control rod and of a belt drive idler pulley arm. When the control rod is operator-held in a drive-engage position, wherein a grip portion of the control rod is gripped together with a grip portion of a handle of the tiller, the control element is tensioned such as to hold an idler pulley, carried by the idler arm, in slack-removing engagement with a slack run of a belt trained about drive and driven pulleys. Upon the operator releasing the grip portion of the control rod, the latter gravitates to a drive-disengage position wherein the control element is slackened such as to permit the idler pulley to move to permit the slack run of the drive belt to slacken to the extent that torque is no longer transferred between the drive and driven pulleys.