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:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 26, 1995
Katsumi Hirabayashi, Anjo, JP;
Yukimori Kobayashi, Gamagori, JP;
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi-pref., JP;
Abstract
An auto-tensioner including a body having a cylindrical bore defined therein; a shaft having first and second ends, the first end of the shaft being slidably and rotatably engaged with the cylindrical bore of the body, the body including a mechanism for sealing the shaft in the cylindrical bore so as to be fluid-tight; a support arm having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the support arm being fixedly connected to the second end of the shaft; a pulley rotatably connected to the upper end of the support arm, the pulley being operatively engaged with a belt under tension; a mechanism for rotatively urging the shaft and the support arm whereby the support arm maintains a tension engagement between the pulley and the belt, the urging mechanism being operatively connected between the body and the shaft; and a mechanism for converting rotational movement of the shaft into axial movement thereof along the cylindrical bore, the converting mechanism operatively connected between the shaft and the body, wherein the cylindrical bore includes an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of the cylindrical bore being formed so as to define a pressure chamber and a fluid chamber between the inner end of the cylindrical bore and the first end of the shaft, the pressure and fluid chambers are further formed so as to define a narrow fluid passage therebetween, the pressure and fluid chambers are filled with a viscous fluid, the body has a reservoir chamber defined therein and formed so as to be located above the pressure and fluid chambers, the reservoir chamber is filled with viscous fluid and gas, a first main fluid passage is defined in the body to communicatively connect the pressure chamber with the reservoir chamber, and a second main fluid passage is defined in the body to communicatively connect the fluid chamber with the reservoir chamber; and a valve mechanism located in the first fluid passage for selectively controlling fluid communication of the pressure and fluid chambers with each other and with the reservoir chamber.