Clutched damper for a belt tensioner

Abstract

A tensioner including a support structure defining a pivot axis, an arm coupled to the support structure for rotation about the pivot axis, and a damping mechanism. The arm includes a cup having the damping mechanism seated therein. The damping mechanism includes a first tensioner component that is generally cup-shaped and has first ramp features on the rim thereof, a second tensioner component having second ramp features, and a damper spring coupling the first tensioner component to the second tensioner component. The first tensioner component is rotatable with the arm and the second tensioner component is non-rotatable. The damper mechanism has the first ramp features aligned with the second ramp features and rotation of the first tensioner component in a first direction moves the first ramp features relative to the second ramp features and translates the first tensioner component into damping engagement with the arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tensioner comprising:
 a support structure having a tensioner axle that defines a pivot axis; 
 an arm coupled to the support structure so as to permit the arm to pivot about the tensioner axle, the arm having a lower surface that faces the support structure and an upper surface that in part defines a cup; 
 a damping mechanism at least partially seated in the cup of the arm, the damping mechanism comprising:
 a first tensioner component being cup-shaped having first ramp features on the rim thereof, the first tensioner component engaged to the arm for rotation therewith; 
 a second tensioner component having second ramp features, the second tensioner component being non-rotatable about the pivot axis; and 
 a damper spring coupling the first tensioner component to the second tensioner component; 
 wherein the first ramp features are aligned with the second ramp features and rotation of the first tensioner component in a first direction moves the first ramp features relative to the second ramp features such that the first tensioner component translates into a damping engagement with the arm. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the damper spring has an inner tang and an outer tang, wherein the outer tang is coupled to the first tensioner component and the inner tang is coupled to the second tensioner component. 
     
     
       3. The tensioner of  claim 2  wherein the damper spring is a flatwire spring. 
     
     
       4. The tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a damper bushing positioned between the first tensioner component and the cup of the arm, wherein the damper bushing is mated to the first tensioner component for rotation and translation therewith and is in frictional engagement with the cup. 
     
     
       5. The tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a torsional spring coupling the arm to the support structure. 
     
     
       6. The tensioner of  claim 5  wherein the torsional spring is a flatwire spring. 
     
     
       7. The tensioner of  claim 5  wherein the support structure is a spring case that houses the torsional spring. 
     
     
       8. The tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the first ramp features and the second ramp features have geometries pre-selected to provide a desired change in frictional damping in response to the arm pivoting about the pivot axis. 
     
     
       9. The tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the second tensioner component is an end cap enclosing the damping mechanism within the cup of the arm. 
     
     
       10. The tensioner of  claim 1  further comprising a ramp bushing having an upper ramp surface and a lower ramp surface, the ramp bushing being disposed between the first tensioner component and the second tensioner component such that the upper ramp surface seats against the first ramp features and the lower ramp surface seats against the second ramp features. 
     
     
       11. The tensioner of  claim 10  wherein the ramp bushing is translatable along the pivot axis and rotatable about the pivot axis. 
     
     
       12. A tensioner comprising:
 a support structure having a tensioner axle that defines a pivot axis; 
 an arm coupled to the support structure so as to permit the arm to pivot about the tensioner axle, the arm having a lower surface that faces the support structure and an upper surface that in part defines a cup opposite thereof; 
 a damping mechanism at least partially seated in the cup on the upper surface of the arm, the damping mechanism comprising:
 a first tensioner component having first ramp features, the first tensioner component engaged to the arm for rotation therewith; 
 a second tensioner component having second ramp features, the second tensioner component being non-rotatable about the pivot axis; and  
 a damper spring coupling the first tensioner component to the second tensioner component; and 
 a damper bushing positioned between the first tensioner component and the cup upper surface of the arm, wherein the damper bushing is mated to the first tensioner component for rotation and translation therewith and is in frictional engagement with the cup upper surface of the arm; 
 wherein the first ramp features are aligned with the second ramp features such that rotation of the first tensioner component in a first direction moves the first ramp features relative to the second ramp features such that the first tensioner component translates relative to the second tensioner component into a damping engagement with the arm. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The tensioner of  claim 12  wherein the further comprising a damper spring is a flatwire spring coupling the first tensioner component to the second tensioner component. 
     
     
       14. The tensioner of claim  13  12 wherein the first tensioner component defines a spring case that houses the flatwire a damper spring coupling the first tensioner component to the second tensioner component. 
     
     
       15. The tensioner of  claim 14  wherein the first ramp features define the upper surface of the outer wall of the spring case. 
     
     
       16. The tensioner of  claim 15  wherein the second tensioner component is an end cap enclosing the damping mechanism damper spring within the cup of the arm spring case. 
     
     
       17. The tensioner of claim  16  12 wherein the damper spring has is a flatware spring having an inner tang and an outer tang, wherein the outer tang is coupled to the first tensioner component and the inner tang is coupled to the second tensioner component. 
     
     
       18. The tensioner of claim  17  12 further comprising a ramp bushing having an upper ramp surface and a lower ramp surface, the ramp bushing being disposed between the first tensioner component and the second tensioner component such that the upper ramp surface seats against the first ramp features and the lower ramp surface seats against the second ramp features. 
     
     
       19. The tensioner of  claim 12  further comprising a torsional spring coupling the arm to the support structure. 
     
     
       20. The tensioner of  claim 19  wherein the torsional spring is a flatwire spring. 
     
     
       21. The tensioner of claim 14 wherein the damper spring has a first tang and a second tang, wherein the first tang is coupled to the first tensioner component and the second tang is coupled to the second tensioner component. 
     
     
       22. The tensioner of claim 12 wherein the first tensioner component defines an annular-shaped cavity having the first ramp features on a rim thereof. 
     
     
       23. The tensioner of claim 22 wherein a damper spring is seated in the annular-shaped cavity and has a first tang connected to the first tensioner component and a second tang connected to the second tensioner component.