Inventors:
Clair D. Splittstoesser - Coffeyville KS
Brian C. Crockett - Bartlesville OK
Ronald J. Eisenbart - Cherryvale KS
Assignee:
Dixon Industries, Inc. - Coffeyville KS
International Classification:
F16H 722
A01D 3443
Abstract:
An automatic tensioner to be used with a drive train of a self-propelled mower for drivingly connecting a ground wheel to the mower transmission, wherein the tensioner includes tensioning mechanism, which may be constructed as a spring biased idler arm having an idler member rotatably mounted thereon, to apply a tensioning force against the flexible element of the drive. The tensioner further includes an anti-slackening assembly having an elongated takeup rod being pivotally coupled with the idler arm at one end thereof so that the takeup rod moves generally with the idler arm, as the arm moves in a tensioning direction and opposed slackening direction. The anti-slackening assembly also includes a swingable control tab having an aperture receiving the other end of the takeup rod. The tensioner is constructed so that the takeup rod engages the aperture of the control tab to swing the control tab to a disposition in which the takeup rod is generally aligned with the aperture permitting relative movement therebetween as the idler arm and takeup rod move in the tensioning direction, and to alternatively swing the control tab to a locking position in which the takeup rod is canted within the aperture to prevent the idler arm and takeup rod from moving in the slackening direction.