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:
Apr. 20, 1999
Filed:
May. 29, 1997
Allen L Olson, Crosby, MN (US);
Gerald J Geisenhof, Ft. Ripley, MN (US);
Riverwood International Corporation, Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A tensioning system for an endless chain comprising a snail cam mounted on a second shaft parallel to a sprocket shaft which supports a sprocket and chain, a follower running against the snail cam and mounted on a mechanism supporting the sprocket shaft, a ratchet device which selectively limits the rotational direction of the second shaft so that the radius of the snail cam at the follower increases with rotation, a means of applying a controlled rotational force to the second shaft to advance the ratchet device if chain tension is below a predetermined level, but not advance it if chain tension is above a predetermined level.