Tensioner Spring Damper Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioners with friction brakes are susceptible to improvements, particularly in terms of torque transmission and vibration damping, as they lack effective mechanisms to manage increasing torque and resonate vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A tensioner design incorporating a pivot shaft, pivot arm, torsion spring, damper, stop sleeve, clamp sleeves, and a friction clamp, where the damper is in continuous contact with the torsion spring coils and deflects radially inwardly to manage increasing torque, and the friction clamp and clutch spring form a one-way clutch to control rotational directions, while damping members attenuate vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a friction brake is used in the tensioner, then the tensioner can maintain tension on power transmitting elements, but it is susceptible to resonance vibrations and cannot effectively manage increasing torque
Solution Approach 1:
A damper is introduced as an intermediary element between the torsion spring and the pivot arm. The damper includes a resilient member that contacts the torsion spring coils and deflects radially inwardly to absorb vibrations and manage increasing torque, preventing resonance while maintaining tensioning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The torsion spring is designed as a closing-type spring with multiple coils received about the pivot shaft, allowing it to progressively engage and manage torque through changing geometric parameters as the pivot arm rotates, providing effective torque management across different operating conditions
2Reliability
If the torsion spring is designed with multiple coils received about the pivot shaft, then torque management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing-type torsion spring with multiple coils serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the restoring force for the pivot arm, manages torque through progressive coil engagement, and works with the damper to control vibrations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
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 design enhances torque management and vibration damping, maintaining tension in power transmitting elements effectively while preventing resonance and allowing for manual adjustment of the tensioner.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one damper is formed of a resilient material and deflects inwardly with increasing torque transmitted through the torsion spring
Implementation Method 2
The resilient member that deflects radially inwardly in response to contact with the coils of the torsion spring
Implementation Method 3
The friction clamp is housed between the first and second clamp sleeves and frictionally engaging the pivot shaft
Implementation Method 4
The torsion spring biases the pivot arm about the pivot shaft in a first rotational direction
Implementation Method 5
a torsion spring that biases the pivot arm about the pivot shaft in a first rotational direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A tensioner having a closing-type torsion spring that is employed to bias a pivot arm about a pivot shaft. The tensioner includes a damper that continuously contacts an inside surface of the torsion spring to dampen torsional vibration transmitted through the torsion spring.