Tensioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10851876-B2
Application number	US-201815919562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A tensioner capable of keeping oil pressure in an oil pressure chamber stable is provided. In the tensioner, a flow amount control mechanism includes a flow amount control member set inside a control space so as to be able to approach and separate from the oil pressure chamber, a control biasing unit, a first restricting part and a second restricting part. The flow amount control member and the inner wall of the control space are provided such that the flow resistance of a first control flow passage, which is exhibited when the flow amount control member contacts the first restricting part, is larger than the flow resistance of a second control flow passage, which is exhibited when the flow amount control member contacts the second restricting part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tensioner comprising: a plunger having a plunger hole that is open on a rear side; a housing having a plunger accommodating hole that is open on a front side for accommodating the plunger; a main biasing unit that is accommodated inside an oil pressure chamber formed between the plunger accommodating hole and a rear end of the plunger so as to be able to expand and contract and to urge the plunger toward the front side; an oil supply passage that supplies oil from outside the housing into the oil pressure chamber; a check valve that allows oil to flow from the oil supply passage into the oil pressure chamber and prevents the oil from flowing out from the oil pressure chamber to the oil supply passage; and a flow amount control mechanism set at a position further toward the oil supply passage than the check valve, wherein
the flow amount control mechanism includes a flow amount control member set inside a control space formed at the position further toward the oil supply passage than the check valve so as to be able to approach and separate from the oil pressure chamber, a control biasing unit that urges the flow amount control member toward the oil supply passage, a first restricting part that restricts movement of the flow amount control member toward the oil pressure chamber, and a second restricting part that restricts movement of the flow amount control member toward the oil supply passage,
when the flow amount control member contacts the first restricting part, a first control flow passage is formed between the flow amount control member and an inner wall of the control space so that the oil is allowed to flow between the control space and the oil pressure chamber,
when the flow amount control member contacts the second restricting part, a second control flow passage is formed between the flow amount control member and the inner wall of the control space so that the oil is allowed to flow between the oil supply passage and the control space,
the flow amount control member and the inner wall of the control space are provided such that the first control flow passage has a larger flow resistance than the second control flow passage,
the flow amount control member has a restricted surface that abuts on the first restricting part when restricted by the first restricting part from moving toward the oil pressure chamber,
the restricted surface has a first communication groove formed thereon,
the first restricting part includes an oil hole that communicates with the oil pressure chamber, and
the flow amount control member includes a small-diameter part protruded from the restricted surface to be inserted into the oil hole when restricted by the first restricting part from moving toward the oil pressure chamber.

2. The tensioner according to claim 1 , wherein part of the inner wall of the control space is formed by the check valve.

3. The tensioner according to claim 1 , wherein the flow amount control member includes a base part having the restricted surface, and a large-diameter part formed on the base part side facing the oil supply passage and having a larger diameter than the base part,
the control biasing unit is formed as a control spring, and
the control spring has one end set on a side face of the large-diameter part on a side facing the oil pressure chamber.

4. A tensioner comprising: a plunger having a plunger hole that is open on a rear side; a housing having a plunger accommodating hole that is open on a front side for accommodating the plunger; a main biasing unit that is accommodated inside an oil pressure chamber formed between the plunger accommodating hole and a rear end of the plunger so as to be able to expand and contract and to urge the plunger toward the front side; an oil supply passage that supplies oil from outside the housing into the oil pressure chamber; a check valve that allows oil to flow from the oil supply passage into the oil pressure chamber and prevents the oil from flowing out from the oil pressure chamber to the oil supply passage; and a flow amount control mechanism set at a position further toward the oil supply passage than the check valve, wherein
the flow amount control mechanism includes a flow amount control member set inside a control space formed at the position further toward the oil supply passage than the check valve so as to be able to approach and separate from the oil pressure chamber, a control biasing unit that urges the flow amount control member toward the oil supply passage, a first restricting part that restricts movement of the flow amount control member toward the oil pressure chamber, and a second restricting part that restricts movement of the flow amount control member toward the oil supply passage,
when the flow amount control member contacts the first restricting part, a first control flow passage is formed between the flow amount control member and an inner wall of the control space so that the oil is allowed to flow between the control space and the oil pressure chamber,
when the flow amount control member contacts the second restricting part, a second control flow passage is formed between the flow amount control member and the inner wall of the control space so that the oil is allowed to flow between the oil supply passage and the control space,
the flow amount control member and the inner wall of the control space are provided such that the first control flow passage has a larger flow resistance than the second control flow passage,
the flow amount control member has a restricted surface that abuts on the first restricting part when restricted by the first restricting part from moving toward the oil pressure chamber,
the restricted surface has a first communication groove formed thereon,
the flow amount control member includes a base part having the restricted surface, and a large-diameter part formed on the base part side facing the oil supply passage and having a larger diameter than the base part,
the control biasing unit is formed as a control spring, and
the control spring has one end set on a side face of the large-diameter part on a side facing the oil pressure chamber.

Assignees

• Tsubakimoto Chain Co

Inventors

• Watanabe Masanori
• Takagi Yudai

Classifications

• F16H2007/0859

  Check valves · CPC title

• F16H2007/0812

  Fluid pressure · CPC title

• F16H7/08 Primary

  Means for varying tension of belts, ropes or chains  (pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) · CPC title

• F02B67/06

  driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members · CPC title

• F16H2007/0872

  Sliding members · CPC title