The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1982
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1979
Derald H Kraft, Canton, OH (US);
Dyneer Corporation, Canton, OH (US);
Abstract
A hydraulic tensioning arrangement for an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. The vehicle alternator is pivotally mounted on the engine and is driven by a pulley which is drivingly engaged with the drive belt. A hydraulically actuated piston is mounted in a generally fixed position on the engine closely adjacent to the alternator and is operatively connected to the alternator for pivotally moving it to a belt tensioning position. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the piston cylinder from the vehicle's power steering fluid supply. A ratchet bar is mounted on the piston cylinder and is slidably engaged in a guide bracket mounted on the alternator. A spring-biased pawl is mounted on the guide bracket and is engageable with a series of teeth formed on the extended end of the ratchet bar. The pawl-teeth engagement prevents movement of the alternator away from the belt tensioning position during a decrease in hydraulic fluid or pressure in the piston cylinder to mechanically maintain a constant predetermined belt tensioning force on the belt at all times without the use of springs.