Blade Spring Tensioner for Uniform Chain Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain tensioners face challenges in maintaining consistent chain tension due to temperature fluctuations, thermal expansion, wear, and torsional vibrations, leading to excessive tensioning forces and potential slippage or tooth jumping in internal combustion engines.
Innovation Solution
A tensioner design featuring a resilient chain guide element and at least one blade spring, where the blade spring is positioned in a groove on a bracket body, providing a shorter spring length that maintains constant force along the chain guide, ensuring even tension distribution and accommodating chain wear and elongation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic tensioner with a rigid piston and pressure chamber is used, then the chain tension can be maintained under normal conditions, but the device cannot accommodate temperature fluctuations, thermal expansion, and chain wear that cause tension variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid hydraulic piston system with a dynamic spring-based mechanism where the resilient chain guide element and blade spring can flex and adapt their force application in response to varying chain tension conditions caused by temperature changes and wear
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state from rigid hydraulic pressure to elastic deformation of the blade spring, allowing the tensioning force to vary dynamically with chain conditions while maintaining reliable tension through the spring's elastic properties
2Adaptability or versatility
If a long blade spring is used to span the entire length of the chain guide, then the spring can accommodate chain wear and elongation, but the force distribution becomes non-uniform with excessive force at the center and insufficient force at the ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single long spring into multiple shorter blade springs (typically three) positioned at different locations along the chain guide. Each spring independently applies force to its local section, ensuring uniform force distribution across the entire chain length while collectively accommodating chain wear and elongation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses multiple identical or similar blade springs positioned at different locations, where each spring replicates the same functional principle (elastic force application) to achieve uniform force distribution across the chain guide that a single long spring cannot provide
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively maintains consistent chain tension by distributing force evenly along the chain, reducing the likelihood of slippage and tooth jumping, and adapting to changes in chain condition through the semi-flexible nature of the chain guide element and the bowing action of the blade spring.
Implementation Method 1
at least one blade spring, present in the groove with each of its ends in the containment means of the groove, urging the chain guide away from the body and toward the chain
Implementation Method 2
the resilient chain guide element can be biased away from the body, and the semi-flexible nature of the chain guide element and the bowing action of the blade spring
Data Source
AI summary
A tensioner for imparting tension to a chain having a body, a resilient chain guide element a support member and at least one blade spring. The body contains at least one groove on its surface adjacent to the resilient chain guide for containing a blade spring in compression. The length of the blade spring is less than the length of the support member.