A method of fabricating a chain tensioner includes bending a sheet metal blank to form a connector portion perpendicular to a flat base. The connector portion has an arm extending beyond the base. The method further includes stamping an end of the arm to curl the end into a hollow cylinder having an axis perpendicular the flat base. Curling the end into a hollow cylinder may be performed in a series of stamping operations. The blank may define a gap which extends around a narrower portion of the arm after the end is curled into the hollow cylinder.

A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of assembly can include a housing (12) having an aperture and a piston (16) received within the aperture for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A tensioner spring (36) positioned within the aperture for bias the piston (16) toward the extended position. The piston (16) and the aperture of the housing (12) defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a cantilever spring (20) having a first end (22) attachable to the housing (12) and a second end (24) releasably engageable with the piston (16) for retaining the piston (16) in the retracted position against urging of the tensioner spring (36) during storage, shipment, installation, and service. The second end (24) can be disengageable from the piston (16) allowing movement of the piston (16) outwardly toward the extended position during operation in a working environment.

A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of manufacture can include a housing (12), a piston (16) moveable from a retracted position toward an extended position with respect to the housing (12) in response to fluid pressure, and a tensioner spring (36) biasing the piston (16) toward the extended position. The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a modular sleeve (14) supported by the housing (12) and defining an aperture (15) for slidably receiving the piston (16) and defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The housing (12) can provide a fluid passage (39) for fluid communication between the expandable fluid chamber (18) and a source of pressurized fluid. The housing (12) can have a seat (25) in fluid communication with the aperture (15). An end (38) of the modular sleeve (14) can be seated with respect to a seat (25) of the housing (12) to seal the fluid passage (39).

A tensioner comprising a base having a shaft and having a radially projecting tab therefrom, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the shaft about a pivot axis A-A, a torsion spring disposed between the base and the pivot arm, the torsion spring in a compressed state, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a first axial member extending from the pivot arm, the first axial member comprising a radially projecting portion adjacent to a radially receding portion, and the radially projecting portion engaging the radially projecting tab in a first pivot arm position and the radially receding portion cooperating with the radially projecting tab in a second pivot arm position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner that has a reduced number of components and lighter weight and is easy to assemble. The tensioner according to the present invention is configured such that a base member is detachably and mechanically joined to a rear end opening of a cylindrical plunger with a closed front end against the resilience of biasing means that is accommodated inside the plunger such as to be freely extend and contract. The joint between the plunger and the base member is a mechanical connection that is one of a thread engagement, a press-fit, and a pin connection.

A tensioning device (1) for tensioning a traction mechanism of a traction mechanism drive, including a housing (2), a piston (3) that is mounted such that the piston can be displaced in an axial direction inside the housing (2), and a transport securing element (4), which in at least one transport position of the tensioning device (1) is arranged in the housing (2) transversely to the piston (3) and in abutment with the piston (3) such that a displacement of the piston (3) in at least one first axial direction is blocked. The transport securing element (4) is provided with a support portion (5), wherein in the transport position at least one first web area (6) of the support portion (5) is in abutment with one end face (7) of the piston (3), and an additional web area (8) of the support portion (5) extending in an axial direction away from the first web area (6) is supported in the housing (2), at least in a radial direction.

An orbital tensioner comprising an annular base, a ring journalled to the annular base on a ball bearing, said ring having a ring axis of rotation (A-A), a first pulley journalled to the ring, a first pulley axis of rotation (B-B) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A), a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the ring, a pivot arm pivot axis (C-C) offset from the ring axis of rotation (A-A), a second pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a torsion spring biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, the ball bearing having a first race and a second race, the ring fixed to the first race, the annular base fixed to the second race, and a damping mechanism frictionally disposed between the ring and the base.

A tensioner for an accessory drive of an internal combustion engine has a belt on a first pulley connected to a drive shaft of the engine and a second pulley connected to an electric machine. The tensioner has a base configured to be fixed to a casing of the electric machine, a first ring rotating with respect to the base about a first axis, a second ring rotating with respect to the first ring about a second axis distinct from the first axis, a first tensioning pulley carried by the first ring and rotating with respect to it about its own axis, a second tensioning pulley carried by the second ring and rotating with respect to it about its own axis and elastic means acting on the first and on the second ring to push the first and the second pulleys into contact with respective spans of the belt.

A method of fabricating a chain tensioner includes bending a sheet metal blank to form a connector portion perpendicular to a flat base. The connector portion has an arm extending beyond the base. The method further includes stamping an end of the arm to curl the end into a hollow cylinder having an axis perpendicular the flat base. Curling the end into a hollow cylinder may be performed in a series of stamping operations. The blank may define a gap which extends around a narrower portion of the arm after the end is curled into the hollow cylinder.

A tensioning device, more particularly a hydraulically actuated chain tensioner, for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, having a tensioner housing, a tensioning piston which is displaceably guided in a piston bore of the tensioner housing and has a piston skirt, a transport securing means for fastening the tensioning piston in the tensioner housing, a adjustment apparatus for incrementally adjusting and limiting the working range of the tensioning piston, and a final position securing means for the captive arrangement of the tensioning piston in the piston bore. The transport securing means, the adjustment apparatus and the final position securing means together have a single securing ring for fastening the tensioning piston in the tensioner housing, the incremental adjustment and limiting of the working range of the tensioning piston and the captive arrangement of the tensioning piston. A chain drive, more particularly a control chain drive, of an internal combustion engine, having such a tensioning device is also provided.