Variable flow check valve for hydraulic tensioner

Abstract

A variable flow check valve () and method of manufacture thereof can include a housing () defining an inlet passage () communicating with a plurality of valve seats () and a ball-guiding passage () adjacent each valve seat (). A plurality of balls () is provided; one ball () for each valve seat (). Each ball () engages within a ball-guiding passage () for reciprocal movement with respect to a corresponding valve seat () and is normally biased toward the corresponding valve seat (). At least two of the plurality of balls () have at least one different fluid flow characteristic selected from a group including a size of each ball, an allowable ball travel distance for each ball, and an amount of biasing force applied to each ball. The check valve () can be combined with a hydraulic tensioner () for an endless, flexible, power transmission member () for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.