IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,466,756
Granted Patent B2
US 11,466,756 · App. 16/923,575 · Granted Oct 11, 2022

System for a belt tensioner

Inventors: Allan Kaminski (Basildon, GB); Kevin Maile (Southend-on-Sea, GB)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
F16H7/129F15B15/12F16H7/0848F16H7/12F16H7/1236F16H2007/0806F16H2007/0812F16H2007/0859F16H2007/0865F16H2007/0893
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,466,756
App. No.
16/923,575
Granted
Oct 11, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems are provided for a belt tensioner. In one example, the belt tensioner comprises a fluid chamber divided into a first portion and a second portion via a dividing wall. An eccentric housing, which defines the fluid chamber, rotates relative to the dividing wall based on a spring force and a belt force.

Claims (36)

1. A belt tensioner for a belt of an engine, the belt tensioner, comprising:

a shaft;

an eccentric housing configured to rotate about the shaft;

a pulley arranged around the eccentric housing;

a dividing wall extending from the shaft;

a fluid chamber defined by the eccentric housing, wherein the dividing wall divides the fluid chamber into a first portion and a second portion, wherein fluid contained in the first portion and the second portion dampens movement of the eccentric housing relative to the shaft,

a resilient element coupled to the eccentric housing and the dividing wall, wherein the resilient element is configured to bias the pulley towards the belt; and

a first protrusion arranged within the resilient member and coupled to the dividing wall, and a second protrusion, which comprises a material more rigid than a material of the first protrusion, coupled to the eccentric housing, wherein an engagement between the first protrusion and the second protrusion reduces a speed at which the resilient member is compressed.

2. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the belt tensioner further comprises a first passage configured to allow fluid to flow between the first and second portions of the fluid chamber.

3. The belt tensioner of claim 2 , wherein the first passage is arranged in the dividing wall.

4. The belt tensioner of claim 3 , wherein the first passage is sized to adjust a dampening provided as the eccentric housing moves relative to the shaft.

5. The belt tensioner of claim 2 , wherein the belt tensioner further comprises a second passage configured to permit fluid to flow out of the second portion of the fluid chamber.

6. The belt tensioner of claim 5 , wherein the second passage comprises a cross-sectional flow through area sized to resist fluid outflow when the eccentric housing is moving relative to the shaft.

7. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is oil and the belt tensioner is fluidly coupled to a main oil gallery of the engine, wherein the first portion is fluidly coupled to the main oil gallery.

8. The belt tensioner of claim 7 , wherein a non-return valve is arranged between the first portion and the main oil gallery.

9. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the resilient element comprises a spring.

10. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is configured to limit and slow a portion of a compression of the resilient element.

11. The belt tensioner of claim 10 , wherein the first protrusion is arranged between the dividing wall and a wall of the fluid chamber.

12. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the belt tensioner further comprises a seal arranged between the dividing wall and the eccentric housing.

13. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber comprises an arcuate wall that is centered on a rotational axis of the shaft.

14. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the dividing wall is fixed with respect to the shaft.

15. The belt tensioner of claim 1 , wherein the resilient element is arranged in the first portion of the fluid chamber.

16. A system, comprising:

a belt tensioner engaged with a belt of an engine, the belt tensioner comprising an eccentric housing configured to rotate about a shaft;

a pulley arranged around the eccentric housing;

a dividing wall extending from the shaft into a fluid chamber, wherein the dividing wall divides the fluid chamber into a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first passage fluidly couples the first portion to the second portion, and wherein a second passage fluidly couples the second portion to an oil sump;

a spring coupled to each of the eccentric housing and the dividing wall;

a first protrusion arranged within the spring and coupled to the dividing wall, and;

a second protrusion, which comprises a material more rigid than a material of the first protrusion, coupled to the eccentric housing, wherein an engagement between the first protrusion and the second protrusion reduces a speed at which the spring is compressed.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a third passage fluidly coupling a main oil gallery to the first portion.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the belt applies a force in a first direction and the spring applies a spring force in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the first passage is sized to resist the force of the belt in the first direction and slows a fluid flow rate from the first portion to the second portion.

19. A system, comprising:

a belt tensioner engaged with a belt of an engine, the belt tensioner comprising an eccentric housing configured to rotate about a shaft;

a pulley arranged around the eccentric housing;

a dividing wall extending from the shaft into a fluid chamber, wherein the dividing wall divides the fluid chamber into a first portion and a second portion, wherein a first passage fluidly couples the first portion to the second portion, and wherein a second passage fluidly couples the second portion to an oil sump, and wherein the dividing wall is stationary and the eccentric housing moves relative to the dividing wall;

a spring coupled to each of the eccentric housing and the dividing wall; and a first protrusion is arranged within the spring and coupled to the dividing wall, and wherein a second protrusion, which comprises a material more rigid than a material of the first protrusion, is coupled to the eccentric housing, wherein an engagement between the first protrusion and the second protrusion reduces a speed at which the spring is compressed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2020
From: KAMINSKI, ALLAN; MAILE, KEVIN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 053226/0493 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1909870 · Jul 10, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210010571A1 · Jan 14, 2021