Patent number: 7476168

Pivoting mechanical tensioner with cross strand damping

Original Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.

Field of technology: Vehicles, Engines and Transportation

Patent granted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2009

Patent drawing

Abstract

A closed loop chain tensioner system having a drive sprocket, one or more driven sprockets, a first mechanical tensioner located adjacent a slack strand and a second mechanical tensioner located adjacent a tight strand. Each tensioner is independently pivotally mounted to the engine block. The mounting point may be located at any point along the length of each tensioner. The tensioners are then linked to each other by a rigid, solid link. This solid link enables the tensioners to act in unison, thus providing damping across both strands of chain in response to engine torsional variations.