US3824864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Belt drives
Assignee: MASSEY COMBINES Corp A CORP OF ONTARIO
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Filing: 1973-05-24
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-05-24
Abstract
Abstract Belt tension control apparatus having a pulley mounted at one end of a lever arm. The arm is connected at its other end to a coiled tension spring and pivotally mounted between its ends on a support. The position of the pivot along the support may be adjusted. Decrease in belt tension resulting from belt stretch is indicated visually by angular movement of the arm from a reference position at right angles to the support. After position adjustment of the pivot to restore the arm to its reference position following belt stretch, the degree of extension of the spring is greater than before the stretch occurred.
Inventors
- 👤 J Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:09
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H7/00; F16H7/08; A; A01; A01D; A01D41/00; A01D41/12; A01D69/00; A01D69/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A belt tensioner comprising a belt-engageable member, bias means connected to said belt-engageable member and operative to maintain belt tension after belt stretch has occurred, an indicator connected to said belt-engageable member and operative to indicate when belt stretch has occurred and responsive to movement of said member by said bias means to take-up said belt stretch, and adjustment means whereby the bias applied by said bias means may be adjusted when said indicator shows that belt stretch has occurred characterized in that adjustment of said adjustment means to restore said indicator to a reference position after said belt stretch has occurred increases said bias to a level higher than that which was provided before said belt stretch occurred.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A belt tensioner comprising a belt-engageable member, bias means connected to said belt-engageable member and operative to maintain belt tension after belt stretch has occurred, an indicator connected to said belt-engageable member and operative to indicate when belt stretch has occurred and responsive to movement of said member by said bias means to take-up said belt stretch, and adjustment means whereby the bias applied by said bias means may be adjusted when said indicator shows that belt stretch has occurred characterized in that adjustment of said adjustment means to restore said indicator to a reference position after said belt stretch has occurred increases said bias to a level higher than that which was provided before said belt stretch occurred.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
The belt tensioner of claim 1 wherein said belt-engageable member is mounted on an an arm, said arm is pivotally mounted on a support member therefor, and said bias means is connected to said arm, the pivot connection between said arm and said support member being position-adjustable with respect to said support member and being located at a position on said arm between the connection of said arm to said bias means and the connection of said arm to said belt-engageable member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The belt tensioner of claim 2 wherein said pivot connection between said arm and said support member is nearer to said connection of said arm with said belt engageable member than to said connection of said arm to said bias means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The belt tensioner of claim 2 wherein said bias means comprises a coiled tension spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The belt tensioner of claim 4 wherein said tension spring acts between said arm and said support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The belt tensioner of claim 2 wherein said support member is adapted to be mounted for pivotal movement, and said belt-engageable member comprises a variable diameter vee belt pulley.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The belt tensioner of claim 6 wherein thrust means connected to said support member is provided to effect pivotal movement thereof whereby in use the effective diameter of said vee belt pulley may be changed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The belt tensioner of claim 1 wherein said adjustment means includes a manually operable screw-threaded thrust mechanism connected to the pivot to provide stepless position-adjustment thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A belt drive comprising a drivable power input pulley, a drive belt, and a belt tensioner according to claim 1 engageable with said belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combine harvester having driven ground wheels or tracks and a variable ratio belt drive to said ground wheels or tracks, said drive including a variable diameter vee belt pulley constituting the belt-engageable member of a belt tensioner according to claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3628390A
Cited
US3759342A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |