Abstract Chain tightener means for power transmission systems including a driver pulley and a driven pulley and having an endless flexible coupling means extending therebetween defining a normal tension span and a normal slack span, the tightener means extending between said spans and including a pair of idler pulleys disposed outwardly of the spans with spacer means adjustably spacing said idler pulleys apart a predetermined distance, each of said idler pulleys being journaled for rotation about idler spindles secured to ends of individual elongated support arm means, said support arm means having opposed ends with a shank zone therebetween; means pivotally mounting each of said support arms at intermediate points along the shank zone and about support points spaced from said idler spindles to permit simultaneous rockable shifting of each of said support arms about said support points; and coupling means secured adjacent to the opposed end of at least one of said support arm means for securing said arm to shock absorber means, said shock absorber means reversibly resisting and decelerating shifting motion of said support arms.
Chain tightener means comprising: a. a driver pulley and a driven pulley having endless flexible coupling means extending therebetween and defining a normal tension span and a normal slack span; b. tightener means extending between said spans comprising a pair of idLer pulleys disposed outwardly of said spans with spacer means adjustably spacing said idler pulleys apart by a predetermined distance, each of said idler pulleys being journaled for rotation about idler spindles secured to the ends of individual elongated support arm means, said support arm means having opposed ends with a shank zone therebetween; c. means pivotally mounting each of said support arms at intermediate points along the shank zone of said elongated support arm means and about support points spaced from said idler spindles to permit simultaneous rockable shifting of each of said support arms about said support points; d. coupling means secured adjacent to the opposed end of at least one of said support arm means for securing said arm to shock absorber means, said shock absorber means reversibly resisting and decelerating shifting motion of said support arms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
Chain tightener means comprising: a. a driver pulley and a driven pulley having endless flexible coupling means extending therebetween and defining a normal tension span and a normal slack span; b. tightener means extending between said spans comprising a pair of idLer pulleys disposed outwardly of said spans with spacer means adjustably spacing said idler pulleys apart by a predetermined distance, each of said idler pulleys being journaled for rotation about idler spindles secured to the ends of individual elongated support arm means, said support arm means having opposed ends with a shank zone therebetween; c. means pivotally mounting each of said support arms at intermediate points along the shank zone of said elongated support arm means and about support points spaced from said idler spindles to permit simultaneous rockable shifting of each of said support arms about said support points; d. coupling means secured adjacent to the opposed end of at least one of said support arm means for securing said arm to shock absorber means, said shock absorber means reversibly resisting and decelerating shifting motion of said support arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A chain tightener means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said flexible coupling means is an endless chain flexible in one plane about its motion axis, and wherein said driver pulley, driven pulley, and idler pulleys are toothed sprockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The chain tightener means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that the pivot points for each of said support arms, and said idler spindles are arranged at the respective corners of a parallelogram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chain tightener means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said idler pulleys are spaced apart a predetermined distance which biases said tension span and slack span inwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The chain tightener means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said shock absorber comprises a piston arm disposed within a hydraulic cylinder, the motion of the piston arm within the cylinder being hydraulically damped.