BELT TENSIONER HAVING AN AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE TRAVEL STOP

摘要

A tensioner for generating tension in a power-transmitting belt (12, 12A, 112, 112A) is provided. The tensioner includes a base (22, 22A, 122, 122A), which may be secured to an engine (10, 10A, 110, 11 OA), and an arm (24, 24A, 124, 125, 124A, 125A) that is movably attached to the base. A pulley (26, 26A, 126, 127, 126A, 127A) is rotatably attached to the arm for engaging the belt. A spring (28, 28A, 128, 128A) is operatively connected to the arm (24, 24A, 124, 125, 124A, 125A) and the base (22, 22A, 122, 122A) for urging the arm to move relative to the base in a first direction. When the arm is moved in the first direction, the pulley (26, 26A, 126, 127, 126A, 127A) is moved into engagement with the belt (12, 12A, 112, 112A) with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner (114, 14A, 114, 114A) further includes a stop (30, 30A, 130, 131, 130A, 131A) that is adjustably positioned on the base (22, 22A, 122, 122A) to limit the movement of the arm (24, 24A, 124, 125, 124A, 125) in a second direction. The position of the stop (30, 30A, 130, 131, 130A, 131A) on the base may be automatically adjusted by the spring (28, 28A, 128, 128A) during installation of the tensioner.