FRICTIONAL DAMPING STRUT

摘要

The invention comprises a frictional damping strut. The strut comprises an inner cylinder (208) that slides within an outer casing (201). A spring biases (202) the inner cylinder away from the outer casing in an axial direction. A first wedge member (209) cooperatively engages a second wedge member (204). The first wedge member having a frictional engagement with the inner cylinder such that when the inner cylinder is pressed into the outer casing the first wedge member bears upon the second wedge member causing the first wedge member to radially expand, thereby increasing a frictional force between the first wedge member and the inner cylinder. A second spring (207) preloads the first wedge member against the second wedge member. A belt tensioner may incorporate the damping strut to preload a belt and damp belt oscillations.