US3611822A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Belt-tightening mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-29
•
Granted: 1971-10-12
•
Expires: 1989-09-29
Abstract
Abstract Mechanism for automatically adjusting the tension in a drivebelt in accordance with changes in the magnitude of the required power transmission therealong. The mechanism includes a pulley wheel adapted to have an endless belt entrained thereabout, and the wheel is annular so as to provide an open interior about which are located a plurality of angularly spaced rollers defining the teeth of an internal ring gear meshingly engaged by a spur gear mounted upon a power shaft. The pulley wheel is rotatably supported by a plurality of support segments located within the interior of the wheel in rolling engagement with the rollers. The segments are connected with hanger structure located along the exterior of the pulley wheel and carried by the drive shaft for angular displacements relative thereto. Whenever the requirement for increased power transmission along the belt occurs, the hanger structure, support segments, and drive pulley swing angularly about the axis of rotation of the shaft in a direction to increase the tension in the belt, and vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin I Sanderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:16
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H7/00; F16H7/08; F16H7/10; F16H7/14; F16H7/16; F16H1/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19647
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
Tension-adjusting mechanism for an endless power-transmitting belt or the like, comprising an annular pulley wheel adapted to have such belt entrained thereabout and having an open interior provided therealong with a plurality of angularly spaced rollers defining the teeth of an internal ring gear, a power shaft disposed transversely relative to said pulley wheel and being equipped with a gear meshingly engaging said ring gear, support structure disposed at least in part within the interior of said pulley wheel and in engagement with said rollers therein to support said pulley wheel for rotation about a center established by said support structure whereby said rollers function both as gear teeth and as rotatable supports, and hanger structure connected with said support structure and being mounted for angular displacements about a center substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said shaft so that the center of rotation of said pulley wheel can be angularly displaced about the axis of said shaft to adjust the tension of any such belt entrained about said pulley wheel in accordance with the requirement for power transmission through the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
Tension-adjusting mechanism for an endless power-transmitting belt or the like, comprising an annular pulley wheel adapted to have such belt entrained thereabout and having an open interior provided therealong with a plurality of angularly spaced rollers defining the teeth of an internal ring gear, a power shaft disposed transversely relative to said pulley wheel and being equipped with a gear meshingly engaging said ring gear, support structure disposed at least in part within the interior of said pulley wheel and in engagement with said rollers therein to support said pulley wheel for rotation about a center established by said support structure whereby said rollers function both as gear teeth and as rotatable supports, and hanger structure connected with said support structure and being mounted for angular displacements about a center substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said shaft so that the center of rotation of said pulley wheel can be angularly displaced about the axis of said shaft to adjust the tension of any such belt entrained about said pulley wheel in accordance with the requirement for power transmission through the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 1 in which said support structure comprises a plurality of individual segments to facilitate positioning thereof within said pulley wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 2 in which said hanger structure is supported by said shaft for angular displacement thereabout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechanism of claim 2 in which each of said rollers is rotatably supported by said drive pulley.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mechanism of claim 4 in which said hanger structure is located exteriorly of said pulley wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mechanism of claim 1 in which said support structure comprises a plurality of individual segments to facilitate positioning thereof within said pulley wheel, and in which said hanger structure is located exteriorly of said pulley wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The mechanism of claim 6 in which said hanger structure is supported by said shaft for angular displacement thereabout, and in which each of said rollers is rotatably supported by said drive pulley.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 7 in which said hanger structure includes a plate located exteriorly of said drive pulley, and further includes fastener means extending between each of said support segments and said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 8 in which an additional plate provided by said hanger structure is located along the opposite side of said pulley wheel exteriorly thereof and is connected with each of said support segments by the aforesaid fastener means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
In combination, an annular gear wheel having an open interior provided therealong with a plurality of angularly spaced rollers defining the teeth of an internal ring gear, a power shaft disposed transversely relative to said wheel and being equipped with a gear meshingly engaging said ring gear, support structure in engagement with said rollers to support said wheel for rotation about a center established by said support structure, and hanger structure connected with said support structure and being mounted for angular displacements about a center substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said shaft so that the center of rotation of said wheel can be angularly displaced about the axis of said shaft in accordance with changes in the requirement for power transmission through said wheel, the diameter of said internal ring gear being substantially greater than the diameter of said gear Meshingly engaging the same so that said wheel rotates at a lower angular velocity than that of said gear in meshing engagement with said ring gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
169 words
In combination, an annular gear wheel having an open interior provided therealong with a plurality of angularly spaced rollers defining the teeth of an internal ring gear, a power shaft disposed transversely relative to said wheel and being equipped with a gear meshingly engaging said ring gear, support structure in engagement with said rollers to support said wheel for rotation about a center established by said support structure, and hanger structure connected with said support structure and being mounted for angular displacements about a center substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said shaft so that the center of rotation of said wheel can be angularly displaced about the axis of said shaft in accordance with changes in the requirement for power transmission through said wheel, the diameter of said internal ring gear being substantially greater than the diameter of said gear Meshingly engaging the same so that said wheel rotates at a lower angular velocity than that of said gear in meshing engagement with said ring gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |