Belt tensioning method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016102739-A1
Application number	US-201414891508-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 19, 2014
Priority date	May 17, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an actuator, preferably a linear actuator, including a carriage ( 16 ) having a lateral support surface ( 144, 152 ) for supporting a first longitudinal section of a belt against lateral deflection and a space ( 164 ) adjacent to and longitudinally offset from the lateral support surface for partially surrounding a second longitudinal section of the belt that is deflected relative to the lateral support surface to take up slack and/or tension the belt. By containing the slack within the carriage using the space and the lateral support surface, slack may be removed from the belt or the belt may be tensioned in an easy and cost efficient manner.

First claim

1 . A belt driven actuator module including:
a guide track; a carriage guided by the guide track for longitudinal movement along the guide track; and a belt having a portion thereof attached to the carriage, wherein the carriage has a first lateral support surface for supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in a first direction, wherein the belt has a second longitudinal section contiguous with the first longitudinal section, which second longitudinal section is longitudinally offset from the first lateral support surface and is laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface in the first direction to take up slack in the belt and/or tension the belt, wherein the carriage has a second lateral support surface longitudinally spaced apart from the first lateral support surface for supporting a third longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in the first direction, and the second longitudinal section of the belt is disposed between the first and third longitudinal sections, wherein the first longitudinal section, the second longitudinal section, and the third longitudinal section are contiguous, wherein the carriage includes first and second clamps for clamping the first and third longitudinal sections of the belt to the first and second lateral support surfaces, respectively, and wherein the belt is held within the carriage such that the second longitudinal section remains laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface.

2 . The actuator module of claim 1 , further including a deflection member adjustable in the first direction within the carriage, the deflection member being positioned to engage the second longitudinal section at a first side of the belt that is opposite a second side of the belt that engages the first lateral support surface at the first longitudinal section, whereby adjustment of the deflection member in the first direction causes the second longitudinal section of the belt to deflect laterally relative to the first longitudinal section of the belt supported by the first lateral support surface for taking up slack in the belt and/or tensioning the belt.

3 . The actuator module of claim 2 , wherein the deflection member includes a plunger.

4 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . The actuator module of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal section of the belt has an engaging portion facing in the first direction and engaged with an engaging portion of the first support surface to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the first longitudinal section and the first support surface,
wherein the first longitudinal section has a splice that is thicker than the third longitudinal section of the belt, and wherein a clamp stop surface is laterally offset in the first direction from a second clamp stop surface by the difference in belt thickness between the splice and the third longitudinal section.

9 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The actuator module of claim 2 , wherein the deflection member includes a plunger that has a belt engaging end face, the belt engaging end face having an intermediate portion disposed between and projecting beyond opposite end portions in the first direction, and wherein the first and second lateral support surfaces have located therebetween a recess in which the belt engaging end face is received, the intermediate portion engaging and laterally deflecting the second longitudinal section of the belt relative to the first lateral support surface in the first direction, and the opposite end portions cooperating with opposing surfaces at the sides of the recess for clamping respective portions of the belt to the opposing surfaces.

12 . The actuator module of claim 1 , wherein the belt is an endless belt trained around a drive pulley and an idler pulley located at opposite ends of the track, and
wherein the spacing between the drive pulley and idler pulley is not adjustable.

13 . (canceled)

14 . A method of tensioning a belt in an actuator module including a guide track, a carriage guided by the guide track for longitudinal movement along the guide track, and a belt having a portion thereof attached to the carriage, the method including:
laterally supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against a first lateral support surface in the carriage against lateral deflection in a first direction, while laterally deflecting in the first direction a second longitudinal section of the belt contiguous with the first longitudinal section laterally beyond the first lateral support surface to take up slack in the belt and/or tension the belt, wherein a deflection member is used to deflect second longitudinal section laterally; and holding the second longitudinal section laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface, wherein the holding step includes holding the belt with a first clamp against the first lateral support surface, and wherein the holding step includes holding the belt with a second clamp against a second lateral support surface longitudinally spaced apart from the first lateral support surface, with the second longitudinal section being located longitudinally between the first and second lateral support surfaces.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the deflection member is used to hold the second longitudinal section laterally deflected relative to the first lateral support surface.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the deflection member is first used to deflect the belt laterally and then removed after the holding step is performed.

18 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the deflecting step is prior to holding the belt with the second clamp.

21 - 22 . (canceled)

23 . An actuator carriage including:
a body extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of wheels mounted to the body for rotation around a respective axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a longitudinally extending through passage for a belt to extend longitudinally through; a first lateral support surface adjacent the through passage for supporting a first longitudinal section of the belt against lateral deflection in a first lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a clamp passage extending at least partially through the body in the first lateral direction; a clamp moveable in the first lateral direction for clamping the first longitudinal section of the belt to the first lateral support surface; a tension passage extending at least partially through the body in the first lateral direction for guiding a deflection member; and a recess facing a second direction opposite the first lateral direction and configured to laterally receive a belt engaging end face of the deflection member, wherein at least a portion of the recess is opposite the tension passage relative to the first lateral support surface.

24 . (canceled)

25 . The actuator carriage of claim 23 , further including a deflection member adjustable in the first lateral direction within the carriage, the deflection member being positioned to engage a second longitudinal section of the belt at a first side of the belt that is opposite a second side of the belt that engages the first lateral support surface at the first longitudinal section, whereby adjustment of the deflection member in the first lateral direction causes the second longitudinal section of the belt to deflect laterally relative to the first longitudinal section of the belt supported by the

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Baric Thomas
• Bridges Mike
• Halimic Adis

Classifications

• F16H2019/0681

  the flexible member forming a closed loop · CPC title

• F16H19/0672 Primary

  characterised by means for tensioning the flexible member · CPC title

• F16H2019/0686

  the flexible member being directly driven by a pulley or chain wheel · CPC title

• F16C29/045

  having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts · CPC title

• F16C2322/39

  General buildup of machine tools, e.g. spindles, slides, actuators · CPC title