Orbital tensioner
An orbital tensioner comprising an annular base, a ring journalled to the annular base on a ball bearing, said ring having a ring axis of rotation (A-A), a first pulley journalled to the ring, a first pulley axis of rotation (B-B) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A), a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the ring, a pivot arm pivot axis (C-C) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A), a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a torsion spring biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, the ball bearing having a first race and a second race, the ring fixed to the first race, the annular base fixed to the second race, and a damping mechanism frictionally disposed between the ring and the base.
1. An orbital tensioner comprising:
an annular base;
a ring journalled to the annular base on a ball bearing, said ring having a cylindrical portion and a ring axis of rotation (A-A);
a first pulley journalled to the ring, a first pulley axis of rotation (B-B) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A);
a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the ring, a pivot arm pivot axis (C-C) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A), a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm;
a torsion spring biasing the pivot arm in a first direction;
the ball bearing having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and an inner race and an outer race; wherein
the cylindrical portion of the ring has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the ball bearing so as to be fixed to the inner race; and wherein
the annular base has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ball bearing so as to fixed to the outer race; and
a damping mechanism frictionally disposed between the ring and the annular base.
2. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the ball bearing is staked to the ring.
3. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the ball bearing is staked to the annular base.
4. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the damping mechanism comprises a friction member and a spring.
5. The orbital tensioner as in claim 4 , wherein the spring comprises a wave spring.
6. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the ball bearing comprises a double row bearing.
7. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , wherein the ball bearing is a sealed bearing.
8. The orbital tensioner as in claim 1 , further comprising a removable pin engaged with the pivot arm and the base.
9. An orbital tensioner comprising:
an annular base;
a ring rotationally engaged with the annular base with a ball bearing, the ring having a cylindrical portion and a ring axis of rotation (A-A);
a first pulley journalled to the ring and having a first pulley axis of rotation (B-B) that is offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A);
a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the ring and having a pivot arm pivot axis (C-C) that is offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A);
a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm;
a torsion spring biasing the pivot arm in a first direction;
the ball bearing having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and an inner race and an outer race; wherein
the cylindrical portion of the ring has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the ball bearing so as to be fixed to the inner race; and wherein
the annular base has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ball bearing so as to fixed to the outer race; and
a damping mechanism frictionally disposed between the ring and the annular base.
10. The orbital tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein the ball bearing is a double row bearing.
11. The orbital tensioner as in claim 10 , wherein the damping mechanism comprises a wave spring and a friction element.
12. The orbital tensioner as in claim 9 , wherein the ball bearing is a single row bearing.
13. The orbital tensioner as in claim 12 , wherein the single row bearing is a deep groove single row bearing.
14. The orbital tensioner as in claim 9 , further comprising a removable pin engaged with the pivot arm and the base.