COMPLIANT GUIDE DEVICE
A compliant guide device for a chain or a belt is provided. The compliant guide device includes a contact section and a mounting section. The contact section is configured to compliantly contact both a slack side and a tension side of the chain or belt. The mounting section is configured to be moveably mounted about a shaft utilized with the chain or belt.
1 . A compliant guide device for a belt or chain comprising:
a contact section configured to have compliant contact with both a slack side and a tension side of the chain or belt; and
a mounting section configured to be movably mountable about a shaft utilized with the chain or belt.
2 . The compliant guide device of claim 1 , wherein the contact section includes a portion more biased toward contact with one of the slack side or the tension side of the chain or belt.
3 . The compliant guide device of claim 1 , further comprising a leaf spring, the leaf spring having a tension side section and a slack side section, the tension side section biased toward contact with the tension side of the chain or belt, the slack side section biased toward contact with the slack side of the chain or belt.
4 . The compliant guide device of claim 3 , wherein one of the slack side section or the tension side section is more biased toward contact with the chain or belt than the other section.
5 . The compliant guide device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover joined to the mounting section.
6 . The compliant guide device of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the leaf spring is made of metal.
7 . The compliant guide device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the contact section is made of plastic.
8 . The compliant guide device of claim 1 , wherein the contact section and the mounting section are different portions of a single unitary structure.
9 . The compliant guide device of claim 8 , wherein the single unitary structure includes a plastic material.
10 . A compliant chain system for an engine, said system comprising:
a mounting section movably mounted about a shaft of the engine; and
a chain contacting section joined to the mounting section for contacting the chain.
11 . The compliant chain system of claim 10 , wherein the chain contacting section includes a portion more biased toward contact with one of a slack side or a tension side of the chain.
12 . The compliant chain system of claim 10 , further comprising a leaf spring, the leaf spring having a tension side section and a slack side section, the tension side section biased toward contact with a tension side of the chain, the slack side section biased toward contact with a slack side of the chain.
13 . The compliant chain system of claim 12 , wherein one of the slack side section or the tension side section is more biased toward contact with the chain than the other section.
14 . The compliant chain system of claim 10 , further comprising a cover joined to the mounting section.
15 . The compliant chain system of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the leaf spring is made of metal.
16 . The compliant chain system of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the chain contacting section is made of plastic.
17 . The compliant chain system of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the mounting section is made of plastic.