Engine endless drive belt tensioner and tensioner position indicator
View Patent ↗Engine accessory drive belt tension is maintained by a spring loaded roller positioned to impinge against the belt. Belt deflection is reflected by changes in position of the roller, and measured by a deflection sensor. Changes in deflection may indicate changes in belt elasticity, indicating the possible need to change the belt.
1. A drive belt tensioner and deflection sensor for a vehicle engine comprising:
a tensioner anchor mounted with respect to the engine;
a flexing element mounted on the tensioner anchor;
a tensioner pulley depending from the flexing element and biased by the flexing element into contact with a drive belt; and
a position sensor positioned with respect to the flexing element to indicate changes in extension of the flexing element reflecting changes in deflection of the drive belt;
the position sensor engaged to a vehicle onboard computer;
a fixed point on the flexing element associated with a sliding contact on a resister, the resister being connected in parallel with a constant voltage source, a voltage between the sliding contact and a terminal of the constant voltage source being measured by a voltmeter and reflecting changes in extension in the flexing element; and
programming in the vehicle onboard computer for equating changes in extension with condition of the drive belt.
2. A drive belt tensioner and deflection sensor for a vehicle engine as set forth in claim 1 , the flexing element further comprises a spring.
3. A drive belt tensioner for a vehicle engine as set forth in claim 2 , the spring providing for linear translation of the tensioner pulley.
4. A drive belt tensioner and deflection sensor for a vehicle engine comprising:
a tensioner anchor mounted with respect to the engine;
a flexing element mounted on the tensioner anchor;
a tensioner pulley depending from the flexing element and biased by the flexing element into contact with a drive belt;
a position sensor positioned with respect to the flexing element to indicate changes in extension of the flexing element reflecting changes in deflection of the drive belt;
the flexing element comprising, a rotatable arm with the tensioner pulley mounted at a free swinging end of the arm and the other end being pivotally mounted to the tensioner anchor;
the position sensor comprising a plurality of sensor targets distributed around the outside of a perimeter ring, the sensor targets used to complete inductance circuits with an electro-magnetic sensor, that the sensor targets pass with changes in a position of the rotable arm.
5. A motor vehicle engine comprising:
a tensioner anchor mounted on the motor vehicle engine;
a plurality of accessories positioned with respect to the motor vehicle engine;
a crankshaft having an exposed end;
a drive pulley mounted on an exposed end of the crankshaft;
a driven pulley for powering each of the plurality of accessories;
an endless drive belt mounted on the drive and driven pulleys;
a flexing element mounted from the tensioner anchor;
a flexing element to drive belt connector depending from the flexing element and biased by the flexing element into contact with a drive belt; and
a deflection sensor positioned with respect to the flexing element to indicate changes in position of the flexing element reflecting changes in deflection of the drive belt;
the position sensor engaged to a vehicle onboard computer;
a fixed point on the flexing element associated with a sliding contact on a resister, the resister being connected in parallel with a constant voltage source, a voltage between the sliding contact and a terminal of the constant voltage source being measured by a voltmeter and reflecting changes in extension in the flexing element; and
programming in the vehicle onboard computer for equating changes in extension with condition of the drive belt.
6. A motor vehicle engine as set forth in claim 5 , the flexing element further comprises a spring.
7. A drive belt tensioner for a vehicle engine as set forth in claim 6 , the spring providing for linear translation of the tensioner pulley.
8. A motor vehicle engine comprising:
a tensioner anchor mounted on the motor vehicle engine;
a plurality of accessories positioned with respect to the motor vehicle engine;
a crankshaft having an exposed end;
a drive pulley mounted on an exposed end of the crankshaft;
a driven pulley for powering each of the plurality of accessories;
an endless drive belt mounted on the drive and driven pulleys;
a flexing element mounted from the tensioner anchor;
a flexing element to drive belt connector depending from the flexing element and biased by the flexing element into contact with a drive belt;
a deflection sensor positioned with respect to the flexing element to indicate changes in position of the flexing element reflecting changes in deflection of the drive belt;
the flexing element comprising a rotatable arm with the tensioner pulley mounted at a free swinging end of the arm and the other end being pivotally mounted to the tensioner anchor;
the position sensor comprising a plurality of sensor targets distributed around the outside of a perimeter ring, the sensor targets used to complete inductance circuits with an electro-magnetic sensor, that the sensor targets pass with changes in a position of the rotable arm.
9. A motor vehicle engine comprising:
a tensioner anchor mounted on the motor vehicle engine;
a plurality of accessories positioned with respect to the motor vehicle engine;
a crankshaft having an exposed end;
a drive pulley mounted on an exposed end of the crankshaft;
a driven pulley for powering each of the plurality of accessories;
an endless drive belt mounted on the drive and driven pulleys;
a flexing element mounted from the tensioner anchor;
a flexing element to drive belt connector depending from the flexing element and biased by the flexing element into contact with a drive belt; and
a deflection sensor positioned with respect to the flexing element to indicate changes in position of the flexing element reflecting changes in deflection of the drive belt;
the position sensor engaged to a vehicle onboard computer; and
the position sensor comprising a two position switch moving with changes of extension of the flexing element responding to changes in deflection of the drive belt and occurring with the belt's changes in elasticity.