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Patent Number: |
7442137 |
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Case ID: |
0 |
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Patent Title:
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Eccentric mounting and adjustment system for belt driven devices
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
1/14/2009 1:29:54 PM |
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Issue Date:
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10/28/2008 |
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Filed Date:
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3/28/2005 |
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Serial #:
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1/094,549 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
(Washington,
DC)
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Inventor(s):
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Hansen, David N. |
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Lab Name: |
311th Human Systems Wing Brooks City-Base |
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Location: |
2510 Kennedy Circle, Suite 116
Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5115 |
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Contact: |
Contact Lab About This Patent |
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BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an eccentric mounting and adjustment (EMA) system for belt driving or belt driven devices that are installed and operated within the restricted confines of an engine compartment, typically a motor vehicle. It
satisfies two essential requirements for automotive devices driven by an endless flexible belt. These are: 1) a reliable mounting to the engine block assembly, and 2) a continuous provision of a proper amount of tension to the belt for either driving or
driven devices. As a result, there is minimal wear and tear on device bearings and the belt, which reduces operational failures and assures maximum efficiency for these devices.
The term "belt driven device" includes those devices within motor vehicles that are serviced by endless belts, such as power steering pumps, air compressors, water pumps, generators, alternators, cooling fans, sheaves, idlers, pulleys, water
extraction and recycle systems, and other . . . . More |
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An eccentric adjustment and mounting system is useful for belt engaging
engine components such as alternators or water pumps. The system includes
a housing fixed to the engine, a socket rotatable in pawl-and-ratchet
fashion within the housing, and a socket aperture eccentrically disposed
relative to the socket''s axis. The aperture receives the belt engaging
component, whereby rotation of the socket moves the component to adjust
belt tension. |
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The invention claimed is:
1. For an engine assembly that includes an endless belt and a device on the assembly engaged by the belt, an eccentric mounting and adjustment system for receiving the
device and adjusting the position of the device to affect tension of the belt, the system comprising: a housing member fixed to the engine assembly; an array of pawl apertures defined by the housing member; removable pawls on the housing member, means
for retaining the pawls on the housing member with at least one of the removable pawls in a selected one of the pawl apertures; pawl teeth on the pawls projecting inwardly relative to the housing member; a socket accepted by the housing member and
rotatable therein about a socket axis; socket teeth on the socket engaged by the pawl teeth; a receiving aperture defined by the socket for receiving the device; and means for preventing relative rotation between the socket and the belt driven device; wherein the receiving aperture is disp . . . . More |
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