MODULAR HYDRAULIC TENSIONER WITH RATCHET

• US 20100222167A1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Benedetti, Alessandro, Clayton, Philippe Alain, Irving, Jeffrey D., Thomas, Chris D., Chekansky, Jason W.
• Application Number:
  US12/669,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/110
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0806 Compression coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0812 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0817 with means for venting unwanted gas
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0853 Ratchets
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0855 comprising a clip member engaging with the rack teeth
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0859 Check valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0878 Disabling during transport
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/08 Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52 ; gearings with endless belts F16H7/02; tensioning for chains or belts specially adapted for cycles B62M9/16; belt or chain tensioning arrangements for endless conveyors B65G23/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/0836 of the fluid and restriction type, e.g. dashpot
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/0848 with means for impeding reverse motion

Abstract

A modular tensioner system for an engine including a modular tensioner and an application specific carrier (15). The modular tensioner includes an integral anti-rotation device (14, 24, 202), backlash adjustability, and damping element. The plunger (8, 58, 108, 158), sleeve (1, 70a, 70b, 101, 151, 270a, 270b), clip (9, 59, 109, 159), retainer (6, 106), spring (4, 54, 104, 154), and hydraulic vent device (7, 57, 107, 157, 307) may be packaged as a modular assembly with the ability to mate with various suitable carriers (15).

Claims

1. A tensioner system for an engine comprising:

a tensioner comprising;

a sleeve (1, 101, 151) having an open end and a closed end, the closed end of the sleeve having an integral anti-rotation device (14, 24);

a hollow plunger (8, 108, 158) slidable received by the sleeve (1, 101, 151) having circumferential teeth (8a, 108a, 158a) and forming a fluid chamber (17, 117, 167) with the sleeve (1, 101, 151);

a retainer (6, 106, 156) with a first end with an edge (6a, 106a, 156a), a second end, and a central hollow for receiving the plunger (8, 108, 158) and the sleeve (1, 101, 151);

wherein the retainer (6, 106, 156) is fastened to the sleeve (1, 101, 151) allowing axial adjustments and determining backlash of the tensioner;

a circlip (9, 109, 159) which engages the circumferential teeth (8a, 108a, 158a) of the plunger (8, 108, 158); and

a biasing element (4, 104, 154) received within the fluid chamber (7, 117, 167) for biasing the plunger (8, 108, 158) away from the closed end of the sleeve (1, 101, 151);

a carrier (15) for receiving the tensioner with a corresponding feature for receiving the integral anti-rotation device (14, 24) integral to the sleeve (1, 101, 151);

wherein the retainer (6, 106, 156) guides extension of the plunger (8, 108, 158) from the sleeve (1, 101, 151) and limits the axial movement of the circlip (9, 109, 159) away from the carrier (15) and the circlip (9, 109, 159) limits retraction of the plunger (8, 108, 158) from the sleeve (1, 101, 151);

wherein when the plunger (8, 108, 158) moves away from the closed end of the sleeve (1, 101, 151), and through the central hollow of the retainer (6, 106, 156), the circlip (9, 109, 159) ratchets from circumferential tooth to tooth (8a, 108a, 158a) when the circlip (9, 109, 159) contacts the edge (6a, 106a, 156a) of the first end of the retainer (6, 106, 156).

2. The tensioner system of claim 1, wherein the integral anti-rotation device is a key (14) and the corresponding feature in the carrier (15) is a slot.

3. The tensioner system of claim 1, wherein the integral anti-rotation device is a step (24) and the corresponding feature in the carrier (15) is a pocket.

4. A tensioner system for an engine comprising:

a tensioner comprising;

a one piece hollow sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b) having an open end and a closed end and including a cutout (71a, 271a), the closed end of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b) having an integral anti-rotation device (14, 24, 202), wherein a first part of the hollow sleeve has a notch (70c);

a hollow plunger (58) slidable received by the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b) having at least one set of circumferential teeth (58a, 58b) and forming a fluid chamber (67) with the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b);

a circlip (59) which engages the at least one set of circumferential teeth (58a) of the plunger (58); and

a biasing element (54) received within the fluid chamber (67) for biasing the plunger (58) away from the closed end of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b);

a carrier (15) for receiving the tensioner with a corresponding feature for receiving the integral anti-rotation device (14, 24, 202) integral to the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b);

wherein when the plunger (58) moves away from the closed end of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b), and through the central hollow of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b), the circlip (59) ratchets from circumferential tooth to tooth (58a).

5. The tensioner system of claim 4 wherein the at least one set of circumferential teeth are a first set of teeth (58a) and a second set of teeth (58b) separated by a smooth portion of the plunger (58).

6. The tensioner system of claim 5, wherein the circlip (59) engages the first set of circumferential teeth (58a).

7. The tensioner system of claim 4, further comprising a locking clip (69) engaging the second set of circumferential teeth (58b) and wherein to lock the plunger (58) relative to the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b), the plunger (58) is pushed towards the closed end of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b), collapsing the locking clip (69) into the notch (70c, 270c) of the open end of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b), such that the locking clip (69) engages both the notch (70c, 270c) and the second set of circumferential teeth (58b).

8. The tensioner system of claim 4, wherein the integral anti-rotation device is a key (14) and the corresponding feature in the carrier (15) is a slot.

9. The tensioner system of claim 4, wherein the integral anti-rotation device is a step (24) and the corresponding feature in the carrier (15) is a pocket.

10. The tensioner system of claim 4, further comprising a resilient damping element (18) between the carrier (15) and the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b).

11. The tensioner system of claim 4, wherein the circlip (59) is not received within the hollow of the sleeve (70a, 70b, 270a, 270b).

12. The tensioner system of claim 4, wherein the carrier (15) is application specific.

13. The tensioner system of claim 4, wherein the integral anti-rotation device is a milling (202) face on the sleeve (270a, 270b) and the corresponding feature in the carrier (15).

14. A tensioner system for an engine comprising:

a tensioner comprising;

a one piece hollow sleeve (301) having an open end and a closed end and including a cut groove (301b) and an integral anti-rotation device (301a) in between the open end and the closed end of the sleeve (301);

a hollow plunger (308) slidable received by the sleeve (301) having at least one set of circumferential teeth (308a) and forming a fluid chamber (317) with the sleeve (301);

a circlip (309) received within the cut groove (301b) of the sleeve (301) which engages the circumferential teeth (308a) of the plunger (308); and

a biasing element (304) received within the fluid chamber (317) for biasing the plunger (308) away from the closed end of the sleeve (301);

a carrier (15) for receiving the tensioner with a corresponding feature for receiving the integral anti-rotation device integral to the sleeve;

wherein when the plunger (308) moves away from the closed end of the sleeve (301), and through the central hollow of the sleeve (301), the circlip (309) ratchets from circumferential tooth to tooth (308a).

15. The tensioner system of claim 14, wherein the integral anti-rotation device comprises a broached groove (301a) on the sleeve (301) and a corresponding hole (15a) defined by the carrier (15) for receiving a pin (318), such that the pin (318) engages the sleeve (301) though the broached groove (301a), preventing rotation of the tensioner within the carrier (15).