Timing chain tensioners

Claim 1

In a chain tensioner for a timing chain of an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, a chain tensioner wheel arranged on a pivotable support arm in meshing engagement with said timing chain, said chain tensioner and timing chain arranged in a timing chain housing of said engine, said chain tensioner comprising a chain tensioner housing, a hydraulic dashpot arranged in said chain tensioner housing, said hydraulic dashpot including a cylinder, a dashpot valve and a piston arranged in said cylinder, said piston having a plunger bearing against said support arm and pivoting said chain tensioner wheel into tensioning relationship with said timing chain, a resilient element in said cylinder for urging the plunger of said piston toward said support arm, the improvement comprising a fluid reservoir affixed to said chain tensioner housing in fluid communication with the cylinder, said fluid reservoir having an upwardly open end for exposing the fluid in said reservoir to the atmosphere in said timing chain housing and for collecting oil droplets entrained in said atmosphere, baffle means arranged adjacent the open end of the reservoir for limiting loss of oil from said reservoir caused by centrifugal forces acting on the oil in said reservoir, said baffle means comprising a pair of plates affixed to said reservoir adjacent the upper open end thereof, said plates having confronting edges defining an elongated aperture therebetween, the lengthwise axis of said aperture extending substantially parallel to the crankshaft of said engine.