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:
Jul. 02, 1996
Filed:
May. 05, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard J Meckstroth, Northville, MI (US);
Gerard S Toth, Belleville, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16H / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
474110 ; 474136 ;
Abstract
An accessory drive system for an automotive engine includes a drive pulley attached to an output shaft of the engine and a flexible drivebelt for connecting the drive pulley with driven pulleys. A tensioner maintains the drivebelt in contact with each of the drive and driven pulleys. The tensioner includes an arm which is rotatably mounted to the engine which has a wheel for contacting the drivebelt. Motion of the arm is controllably damped by a spool valve which controls the flow of hydraulic fluid in a hydrostatically lockable hydraulic cylinder incorporated in the tensioner.