Power systems having reduced operating noise and associated methods are disclosed. An example non-synchronous power system includes an engine, a generator, a driveshaft, and a pulley system. The engine may be configured to output, to the driveshaft, a rotational force at a first rotational speed. The pulley system may be configured to receive the rotational force at the first rotational speed at a first pulley and to output the rotational force at a second rotational speed via a second pulley. The first and second pulleys may be drivingly coupled to one another at a fixed pulley ratio. The generator may be configured to receive the rotational force at the second rotational speed to generate electric power.

A dynamic belt-tensioning apparatus for a treadmill includes a base having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. A foot-striking platform is movably supported by the base so as to allow vertical movement of the platform during operation of the treadmill. A drive belt has a fixed circumference and is positioned above a top portion of the platform. A drive roller is pivotally mounted adjacent to the first end of the base and engages the drive belt. A tensioning roller is pivotally mounted to the base and is capable of a range of movement to provide substantially constant tension to the drive belt in response vertical movement of the platform.

An accessory drive pulley assembly is configured to transfer rotational power from an engine crankshaft to one or more vehicle accessories. The accessory drive pulley has an inner race rotatable about an axis and having an outer surface. An outer race is located radially outward from the inner race and has an inner surface facing the inner race. A wedge plate is located radially between the outer surface and the inner surface. The wedge plate is configured to expand and contract radially to selectively lock and unlock the inner race with the outer race. When locked, an associated pulley can rotate at a different speed than when unlocked.

Methods and systems are provided for a starter/generator in a vehicle drivetrain. In one example, a system may include an integrated starter/generator (ISG) rotationally coupled to an engine crankshaft via a belt drive system, the belt drive system including a first decoupler configured to engage a shaft of the ISG in a first torque transfer direction only and a second decoupler configured to engage the shaft of the ISG in a second torque transfer direction only, the second torque transfer direction opposite the first torque transfer direction. In this way, hubloads that occur while transitioning the ISG between driving the belt drive system and being driven by the belt drive system may be reduced while a response time of the transitioning may also be reduced.

A belt-driven attachment system is disclosed. The attachment system includes a mobile power unit with a drive pulley and a power unit interface for connection of an attachment. The attachment includes at least one driven pulley and a first belt guide to maintain the belt aligned with the at least one driven pulley when tension on the belt is released. The attachment also includes an idler pulley and an idler position assembly coupled to the idler pulley. The idler position assembly provides a first position setting for the idler pulley in which tension on the belt is maintained and a second position setting for the idler pulley in which tension on the belt is released. The attachment also includes a second belt guide to maintain the belt aligned with the idler pulley when tension on the belt is released.

A dynamic belt-tensioning apparatus for a treadmill includes a base having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. A foot-striking platform is movably supported by the base so as to allow vertical movement of the platform during operation of the treadmill. A drive belt has a fixed circumference and is positioned above a top portion of the platform. A drive roller is pivotally mounted adjacent to the first end of the base and engages the drive belt. A tensioning roller is pivotally mounted to the base and is capable of a range of movement to provide substantially constant tension to the drive belt in response vertical movement of the platform.

An engine includes an intake electric S-VT configured to change a rotational phase of an intake camshaft, an exhaust electric S-VT configured to change a rotational phase of an exhaust camshaft, a fuel pump, and a supercharger driven by the engine. Both the fuel pump and the supercharger are driven by power transmitted from a crankshaft. The power is transmitted to the fuel pump via a first drive mechanism, and the power is transmitted to the supercharger via a second drive mechanism whose system is different from a system of the first drive mechanism.

An accessory mounting structure of an engine 1 includes a crankshaft 2 that extends in a first direction. The engine 1 supports an accessory 7 via a bracket 8. The bracket 8 includes a first portion 16 connected to the engine 1, and a second portion 17 connected to the accessory 7 and having a lower rigidity than the first portion 16. The second portion 17 functions as a dynamic damper that attenuates vibration of the engine 1 by vibrating in an opposite phase to the vibration of the engine 1 and in the first direction when the engine 1 vibrates in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on a horizontal plane.

The present discloser is directed toward a method for detecting misalignment of a belt for a front end accessory drive system. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of optical sensors, multiple images of the belt arranged on a series of pulleys of the drive system. The belt includes a contrast element that is detectable by the optical sensors system and is visually distinct from a color of the belt. The method further includes analyzing, by way of a controller, data indicative of the acquired images to determine whether the contrast element is present in the captured images, and identifying the belt as being misaligned in response to the contrast element being in at least one of the acquired images.

A device for removing road tape from a surface comprises a body, and a drive assembly coupled to the body. The drive assembly comprises a motor having a drive wheel, at least one drive belt, a rolling drum drive wheel configured to engage the at least one drive belt, and at least one rolling drum configured to secure an end of the road tape. The rolling drum is configured to rotate in response to rotation of the rolling drum drive wheel and wind the road tape about a circumference. The winding of the road tape drives the body in a forward direction.