pic: Team 610 Off-Season Tank Drive Prototype

[Andy Y.]

Originally Posted by T. Hoffman

Just wanted to share a pic of our tank tread tensioner design. We came up with this design after breaking so many belts in 2004. We only broke 1 belt in 2006, and we believe that was due to someone overtensioning the tread in the pit.

Basically, for each of our tread modules, the non-driven pulley wheel axle rides inside slots on the frame. A u-shaped 1/4" aluminum assembly straddles the pulley wheel. This U-assembly is pushed by a bolt which passes through a threaded hole on a thicker frame member. Turning the bolt pushes against the U-frame and provides the tension adjustment. A jam nut lets us lock the bolt into position once the sweet spot has been found.

Big? Yes. Beefy? No doubt. But the results speak for themselves.

Sweet Design. We were thinking of the same thing, except instead of an adjustable screw, Derek (lab technician), our mentor, and I discussed a spring loaded system where a piece of u-channel would keep constant regular pressure on the 2 pulleys maintaining tension. Ofcourse we would have to calculate the tension needed to ensure we don't over/under tighten the belt like you mentioned. Thanks for the pic ; sweet drive design too.

Andy