Granted Patent B2

US 7,204,773 · App. 11/125,766 · Granted Apr 17, 2007

Abstract

Claims (3)

1. A tensioning device for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, comprising a support member ( 1 ) and a tensioning rail ( 2 ), which is pivotally mounted thereupon and is axially snapped onto and retained on a bearing journal ( 4 ) of the support member ( 1 ) by a bearing lug ( 5 ), the support member ( 1 ) comprising a one-piece, deep-drawn sheet metal component with a generally flat base portion from which the bearing journal ( 4 ) projects in a continuous extension of the sheet metal from the base portion, and the bearing journal ( 4 ) has a cup-shaped hollow form, wherein the tensioning rail ( 2 ) is provided with a protruding snap ( 10 ), which, in an operational position, is located in an area of a stop ( 11 ) of the support member ( 1 ) and, when in contact with the stop ( 11 ), limits pivoting movement of the tensioning rail ( 2 ) in relation to the support member ( 1 ).

2. A tensioning device according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning rail ( 2 ) is impinged upon by a compression spring ( 3 ) provided to tension the chain drive in a pivotal direction, the spring being supported and held at the support member ( 1 ).

3. Tensioning device according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning rail ( 2 ) is provided with a wrap-around ( 12 ) for being axially held to the bearing journal ( 4 ), the wrap-around extending from one end of the tensioning rail ( 2 ) to both sides of the support member ( 1 ).

Assignments (8)