US 12,292,112 B2
High-offset belt tensioner with counterbalance torsion spring force
Anthony E. Lannutti, Fayetteville, AR (US)
Assigned to MUVIQ S.R.L., Ivrea (IT)
Filed by DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC, Roseville, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/680,541.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/153,982, filed on Feb. 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0275852 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F16H 7/12 (2006.01); F16H 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 7/1218 (2013.01) [F16H 7/0831 (2013.01); F16H 7/1209 (2013.01); F16H 7/1281 (2013.01); F16H 2007/081 (2013.01); F16H 2007/0865 (2013.01); F16H 2007/0893 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A high-offset belt tensioner comprising:
a support base having a pivot tube that defines a pivot axis;
an arm coupled to the support base for rotation about the pivot axis, the arm having a pivot tube-receiving first end having a lower surface facing the support base and an upper surface that in part defines a cup and having a second end offset axially from the first end, wherein the second end defines a pulley rotation axis;
a flat wire torsion spring having an inner spring hook attached to the pivot tube and an outer spring hook attached to the first end of the arm at a position that counterbalances a hub load force, wherein the flat wire torsion spring biases the arm in a belt engaging direction and applies a spring force acting on the arm; and
a damper bushing in operative engagement with the first end of the arm by a spring plate or an axially biasing member;
wherein a direction of the spring force acting on the arm stays in the same location with respect to the arm and moves with the arm throughout its entire sweep in the belt engaging direction;
wherein the spring plate and the axially biasing member each have a deflection height that is varied across a surface area thereof, and a greatest deflection height is positioned to be opposite the hub load;
wherein a plane of the hub load force is axially offset from a plane of the spring force.