TENSIONING SYSTEM FOR A BANDMILL

摘要

The tensioning system is used in a bandmill having a first and a second substantially coplanar wheels that are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis and around which an endless toothed saw blade is coupled. One of the wheels is selectively movable and tiltable relative to the other by a tensioning system that extends between each end of the shaft supporting the movable wheel and the main frame of the bandmill. The tensioning system comprises a pair of longitudinally-extending hydraulic actuators. A pair of connecting assemblies is provided to operatively connect a respective actuator to one end of the shaft. A fluid divider is used to supply an equal amount of hydraulic fluid under pressure to each actuator in order to ensure an equal displacement of each side of the movable wheel. An auxiliary hydraulic line is in fluid communication with one of the actuators allows the movable wheel to be tilted. In another embodiment, two sets of primary and secondary actuators are provided instead of a pair of single actuators. Each secondary actuator is directly and coaxially mounted on the piston assembly of a respective primary actuator. The primary actuators provide the tension in the saw blade and the secondary actuators are used in conjunction with a hydraulic damper assembly.