Driving unit and tensioner

• US 6,695,730 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takao, Amano, Tanehira
• Primary Examiner(s): FENSTERMACHER, DAVID MORGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/912,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 474/101, 474/110, 474/109, 474/111, 474/112
• US Class Current: 474/101
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/081 Torsion springs
• 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

Abstract

A tensioner, in which a bearing of the drive shaft is not necessary and the initial load of the torsion spring is maintained when the tensioner is disassembled, two shaft members that compose a set and that are engaged by screw portions, and a spring that is inserted in the driving unit by fastening onto the shaft members the hooking portions that are located at each end of the spring. The spring is inserted in the set of the shaft members under an appropriate windup condition. One shaft member moves forward from the loaded strength by the spring. The tensioner also includes, beside the driving unit, a case into which the driving unit is inserted, and a system that prevents the driving unit from coming off the case.

Claims

1. A tensioner, comprising:

first and second shaft members that are threadedly engaged;

a spring having first and second hooking portions located at opposite ends of said spring and fastened to said first and second shaft members, respectively, said spring applying a rotational force to said first and second shaft members;

a case into which said shaft members and said spring are inserted, said case supporting said first shaft member; and

a cap that is slidably supported by the case, supports said second shaft member, and extends so as to cover the outsides of both said first and second shaft members, said cap having an outer surface that slides on an inner surface of the case so that the sliding movement of said cap is supported by the case;

wherein said shaft members, said spring, said case and said cap are coaxially aligned and arranged in the following order, from inside to outside;

said second shaft member, said first shaft member, said spring, said cap and said case.

2. The tensioner of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic system that applies a hydraulic pressure to a space defined by both said case and said cap.

3. A tensioner, comprising:

first and second shaft members that are threadedly engaged;

a spring having first and second hooking portions located at opposite ends of said spring and fastened to said first and second shaft members, respectively, said spring applying a rotational force to said first and second shaft members;

a case into which said shaft members and said spring are inserted, said second shaft member being supported by said case; and

a cap slidably supported by the case, said first shaft member being supported by said cap which extends so as to cover the outsides of both said first and second shaft members, said cap having an outer surface that slides on an inner surface of the case so that the sliding movement of said cap is supported by the case;

wherein said shaft members, said spring, said case and said cap are coaxially aligned and arranged in the following order, from inside to outside;

said second shaft member, said first shaft member, said spring, said cap and said case.

4. The tensioner of claim 3, further comprising a hydraulic system that applies a hydraulic pressure to a space defined by both said case and said cap.