ORBITAL TENSIONER
An orbital tensioner comprising a base, a carrier engaged with the base and revolvable about an axis A-A, a first pulley journalled to the carrier, a pivot arm mounted to the carrier, the pivot arm pivotable about an axis B-B, a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm, the axis B-B is orbitally movable about axis A-A, a spring engaged between the carrier and the pivot arm, and a damping mechanism frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base to damp a carrier movement.
1 . A tensioner comprising:
a base ( 101 );
a carrier ( 103 ) engaged with the base and revolvable about an axis A-A;
a first pulley ( 104 ) journalled to the carrier;
a pivot arm ( 105 ) mounted to the carrier, the pivot arm pivotable about an axis B-B;
a second pulley ( 106 ) journalled to the pivot arm;
the axis B-B is orbitally movable about axis A-A;
a spring ( 110 ) engaged between the carrier and the pivot arm; and
a damping mechanism ( 111 ) frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base to damp a carrier movement.
2 . The tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the damping mechanism is fixedly attached to the carrier.
3 . The tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring.
4 . The tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the carrier and the base each describe an annular hole which encircles axis A-A.
5 . The tensioner as in claim 1 further comprising a second spring engaged between the carrier and the pivot arm.
6 . A tensioner comprising:
a base;
a carrier engaged with the base and revolvable about a first axis A-A;
a first pulley journalled to the carrier;
a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the carrier about a second axis B-B;
a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm;
the second axis B-B orbitally about the first axis A-A, the second axis B-B parallel to the first axis A-A;
a spring engaged between the pivot arm and the carrier urging the first pulley toward the second pulley; and
a damping mechanism frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base to damp a first member movement.
7 . The tensioner as in claim 6 , wherein the damping mechanism is attached to the carrier and frictionally engaged with the base.
8 . The tensioner as in claim 6 , wherein the carrier and the base each describe a hole through which axis A-A projects normally to the plane of the base.
9 . A tensioner comprising:
a base;
a carrier engaged with the base, the carrier revolvable about an axis A-A, a first pulley journalled to the carrier;
a pivot arm mounted to the carrier, the pivot arm pivotable about an axis B-B, a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm;
the axis B-B orbitally movable about the axis A-A;
a damping mechanism frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base to damp a member oscillation; and
a spring engaged between the carrier and the pivot arm urging the first pulley toward the second pulley.
10 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein axis A-A is parallel to axis B-B.
11 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein a rotational axis of the second pulley is variable with respect to axis A-A.
12 . The tensioner as in claim 11 , wherein a rotational axis of the first pulley is disposed at a constant radius from axis A-A.
13 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein the base and carrier each encircle axis A-A.
14 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein the first pulley moves orbitally about axis A-A.
15 . The tensioner as in claim 9 further comprising a second spring engaged between the carrier and the pivot arm.
16 . The tensioner as in claim 15 , wherein the first spring comprises a torsion spring.
17 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein the damping mechanism comprises a frictional material fixed to an arcuate spring-loaded body.
18 . The tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein a rotational axis of the first pulley and a rotational axis of the second pulley are both disposed within an outside diameter of the base.
19 . A tensioner comprising:
a base;
a carrier engaged with the base, the carrier revolvable about an axis A-A;
an idler pulley journalled to the carrier;
a damping mechanism frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base;
a first tensioner pivotally mounted to the carrier about an axis B-B;
axis B-B is disposed a distance from axis A-A; and
a spring engaged between the carrier and the first tensioner.
20 . The tensioner as in claim 19 further comprising a second spring engaged between the carrier and the first tensioner.
21 . A tensioner comprising:
a base;
a carrier engaged with the base, the carrier revolvable about an axis A-A;
a damping mechanism frictionally engaged between the carrier and the base;
a first tensioner pivotally mounted to the carrier about an axis B-B;
a second tensioner pivotally mounted to the carrier about an axis C-C;
axis B-B is disposed a radial distance from axis A-A;
axis C-C is disposed a radial distance from axis A-A; and
a spring engaged between the first tensioner and the second tensioner.
22 . The tensioner as in claim 21 , wherein the spring comprises a compression spring.