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Autotensioner

  • US 20050148420A1
  • Filed: 12/28/2004
  • Published: 07/07/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. An autotensioner used in a belt drive system for a multicylinder engine provided with a cylinder suspension controller which suspends the operation of some cylinders in the engine in operation, the autotensioner comprising:

  • a moving member which is movably supported on a stationary member;

    a tension pulley which is rotatably supported on the moving member and around which a belt is wrapped;

    a biasing means for biasing the moving member such that the tension pulley presses the belt;

    a vibration suppression mechanism which damps the vibration of the moving member by means of the viscous drag of a magnetorheological fluid; and

    a magnetic force application device which applies a magnetic force to the magnetorheological fluid in the vibration suppression mechanism, wherein the autotensioner is configured to automatically adjust the tension of the belt and, when variation in the belt tension is more significant than specified, to allow the magnetic force application device to apply the magnetic force to the magnetorheological fluid in the vibration suppression mechanism to increase the damping force of the vibration suppression mechanism due to the viscous drag on the moving member, and the autotensioner further comprises a magnetic force controller which controls the magnetic force application device such that the magnetic force is applied to the magnetorheological fluid in the vibration suppression mechanism in response to a signal from the cylinder suspension controller which is given when the operation of the cylinders is suspended or the operation of the suspended cylinders is restarted by the cylinder suspension controller.

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