Belt tensioning device

Abstract

A tensioning device for attraction mechanism including a receiving and mounting housing, a roller carrier pivotably connected to the mounting housing, a bearing which radially supports the roller carrier relative to the mounting housing, a spring between the roller carrier and the mounting housing for applying a tensioning force, and a damping device. The damping device includes a damping bush which, by friction, dampens any movement between the roller carrier and the mounting housing in such a way that damping is greater in the direction of an increasing tension force than in the direction of decreasing tension force. A flat band spring applies the friction force to the damping bush. The flat band spring is secured, at a first end, to the receiving and mounting housing in a rotationally fast way, and at a second end to the damping bush in a rotationally fast way.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tensioning device for a traction mechanism comprising: 
 a receiving and mounting housing;    a roller carrier pivotably connected to the receiving and mounting housing;    a bearing which radially and axially supports the roller carrier relative to the receiving and mounting housing;    a spring for applying a tensioning force, which spring is arranged between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing;    a damping device comprising a damping bush which, by friction, dampens any movements between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing in such a way that the damping effect is greater in the direction of an increasing tensioning force than in the direction of a decreasing tensioning force, and    a flat band spring applying a friction force to the damping bush, the flat band spring at a first end being secured to the receiving and mounting housing in a rotationally fast way and, at its second end being secured to the damping bush in a rotationally fast way.    
     
     
         2 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein the damping bush comprises a resilient material.  
     
     
         3 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein the damping bush comprises a slot for diameter-reduction.  
     
     
         4 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is secured to the receiving and mounting housing in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         5 . A tensioning device according to  claim 2  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is secured to the receiving and mounting housing in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         6 . A tensioning device according to  claim 3  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is secured to the receiving and mounting housing in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         7 . A tensioning device according to  claim 4  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is held in a mounting slot provided at the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         8 . A tensioning device according to  claim 5  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is held in a mounting slot provided at the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         9 . A tensioning device according to  claim 6  wherein at its first end, the flat band spring is held in a mounting slot provided at the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         10 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is fixed to the damping bush in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         11 . A tensioning device according to  claim 2  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is fixed to the damping bush in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         12 . A tensioning device according to  claim 3  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is fixed to the damping bush in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         13 . A tensioning device according to  claim 4  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is fixed to the damping bush in a form-fitting or material-locking way.  
     
     
         14 . A tensioning device according to  claim 10  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is held in a fixing slot provided in the damping bush.  
     
     
         15 . A tensioning device according to  claim 11  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is held in a fixing slot provided in the damping bush.  
     
     
         16 . A tensioning device according to  claim 12  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is held in a fixing slot provided in the damping bush.  
     
     
         17 . A tensioning device according to  claim 13  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is held in a fixing slot provided in the damping bush.  
     
     
         18 . A tensioning device according to  claim 3  wherein at its second end, the flat band spring is held in the slot for diameter-reduction of the damping bush.  
     
     
         19 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein the bearing comprises a bearing bush connected to the roller carrier and a bearing pin connected to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         20 . A tensioning device according to  claim 4  wherein the bearing comprises a bearing bush connected to the roller carrier and a bearing pin connected to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         21 . A tensioning device according to  claim 10  wherein the bearing comprises a bearing bush connected to the roller carrier and a bearing pin connected to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         22 . A tensioning device according to  claim 19  wherein the bearing bush comprises a bearing sleeve providing radial support and a bearing collar providing axial support.  
     
     
         23 . A tensioning device according to  claim 20  wherein the bearing bush comprises a bearing sleeve providing radial support and a bearing collar providing axial support.  
     
     
         24 . A tensioning device according to  claim 21  wherein the bearing bush comprises a bearing sleeve providing radial support and a bearing collar providing axial support.  
     
     
         25 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a flat spiral spring.  
     
     
         26 . A tensioning device according to  claim 4  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a flat spiral spring.  
     
     
         27 . A tensioning device according to  claim 10  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a flat spiral spring.  
     
     
         28 . A tensioning device according to  claim 19  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a flat spiral spring.  
     
     
         29 . A tensioning device according to  claim 22  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a flat spiral spring.  
     
     
         30 . A tensioning device according to  claim 1  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a helical spring.  
     
     
         31 . A tensioning device according to  claim 4  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a helical spring.  
     
     
         32 . A tensioning device according to  claim 10  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a helical spring.  
     
     
         33 . A tensioning device according to  claim 19  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a helical spring.  
     
     
         34 . A tensioning device according to  claim 22  wherein the spring provided between the roller carrier and the receiving and mounting housing is a helical spring.  
     
     
         35 . A tensioning device according to  claim 30  wherein the helical spring, when subjected to tensile loads, also connects the roller carrier to the receiving and mounting housing and axially fixes the roller carrier, via the bearing, relative to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         36 . A tensioning device according to  claim 31  wherein the helical spring, when subjected to tensile loads, also connects the roller carrier to the receiving and mounting housing and axially fixes the roller carrier, via the bearing, relative to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         37 . A tensioning device according to  claim 32  wherein the helical spring, when subjected to tensile loads, also connects the roller carrier to the receiving and mounting housing and axially fixes the roller carrier, via the bearing, relative to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         38 . A tensioning device according to  claim 33  wherein the helical spring, when subjected to tensile loads, also connects the roller carrier to the receiving and mounting housing and axially fixes the roller carrier, via the bearing, relative to the receiving and mounting housing.  
     
     
         39 . A tensioning device according to  claim 34  wherein the helical spring, when subjected to tensile loads, also connects the roller carrier to the receiving and mounting housing and axially fixes the roller carrier, via the bearing, relative to the receiving and mounting housing.