Tensioner Installation Assembly With Eccentric Fastener Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioner installation methods require separate fasteners for assembly, which can lead to relative movement and instability during installation, affecting the preload and engagement of belt drives.
Innovation Solution
A tensioner installation assembly with a base fixedly connected to a retaining element and shaft, using a tool receiver for rotational adjustment, ensuring no relative movement between the base, shaft, and retaining member, and utilizing eccentrically aligned holes for secure attachment to a mounting surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate fasteners are used to connect the base to the shaft and retaining element, then the assembly process is simpler and more flexible, but relative movement occurs during installation leading to instability and affecting preload and engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The base, shaft, and retaining element are fixedly connected together to form a single integrated assembly. The base is fixedly connected to the shaft, and the shaft is fixedly connected to the retaining element, eliminating separate fasteners and preventing relative movement between components during installation and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioner assembly is divided into distinct functional components (base, shaft, retaining element) that are precisely positioned and fixedly connected. The base includes a mounting surface for attachment, the shaft provides the rotational axis, and the retaining element secures the belt, with each segment having a specific function while maintaining fixed relative positions.
2Reliability
If the base, shaft, and retaining member are fixedly connected to prevent relative movement, then installation stability and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base, shaft, and retaining element are fixedly connected together to form a single integrated assembly. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate fasteners and connection mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring no relative movement occurs during installation.
3Manufacturing precision
If eccentrically aligned holes are used for fastener engagement, then precise positioning and secure attachment are achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hole in the base and the hole in the retaining element are eccentrically aligned, meaning they are not concentric with the shaft axis. This asymmetric positioning allows the fastener to engage both components at offset locations, providing secure attachment while the fixed connection between base and shaft ensures precise relative positioning is maintained.
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 provides a stable and secure installation assembly that allows for precise adjustment and secure attachment of the tensioner, ensuring proper belt engagement and preload without the need for separate fasteners, enhancing the reliability of the belt drive system.
Implementation Method 1
The tensioner comprises a base, pivot arm and spring for biasing the pivot arm
Implementation Method 2
cooperatively engaging a fastener (110), the base, shaft and retaining member fixedly connected together such that there may be no relative movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A tensioner comprising a base (10) having a shaft (70) fixedly connected thereto, the shaft having a bore (72), a pivot arm (40) pivotally engaged with the shaft and having a pivot axis (A-A), a pulley (50) journalled to the pivot arm and having a center of rotation about axis (C-C), a spring (30) engaged between the base and the pivot arm, a retaining member (90) fixedly engaged with the shaft opposite the base, the pivot arm and spring disposed between the retaining member and the base, a first hole (12) in the base and a second hole (91) in the retaining member aligned with an axis (B-B), the first hole and second hole and bore cooperatively engaging a fastener (110), the axis (B-B) offset a predetermined distance from axis (A-A), the axis (C-C) offset a predetermined distance from axis (A-A), a tool receiver (92) in the retaining member, and the base, shaft and retaining member fixedly connected together such that there may be no relative movement between the base, shaft and retaining member during installation.