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Electronically controlled accessory drive system for the automotive engine

  • US 5,752,891 A
  • Filed: 03/20/1995
  • Issued: 05/19/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electronically controlled accessory drive system for an automotive engine, comprising:

  • a drive pulley attached to an output shaft of the engine;

    a flexible drive belt for connecting the drive pulley with a plurality of driven pulleys, with one driven pulley located upon each of a plurality of driven devices; and

    a tensioner for maintaining the drive belt in contact with each of said drive and driven pulleys, with said tensioner comprising an arm which is rotatably mounted to the engine and which has a wheel for contacting the drive belt, with the wheel being urged into contact with the drive belt by the arm, and with said tensioner further comprising a governor for controlling the rotational motion of the arm, with said governor comprising a hydraulic strut interposed between said tensioner arm and a mounting surface fixed to the engine adjacent the tensioner, such that linear motion of the strut accompanies rotational motion of the arm, with the strut comprising a piston reciprocably mounted within a cylinder upon a connecting rod, with the connecting rod having a free end attached to the tensioner arm such that the piston slides within the cylinder and displaces rheological fluid contained within the cylinder as the tensioner arm rotates, with the motion of the piston being controlled by the rheological fluid such that motion of the piston in the direction which allows the tensioner to rotate away from the drive belt is substantially inhibited by increasing the viscosity of the rheological fluid by imposing an electronic field about a selectively restrictive orifice through which the rheological fluid must flow as the piston moves.

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