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Lister Based Generators / Re: Drive belt tensioner
« on: October 21, 2008, 07:11:05 AM »
Sorry if this has been mentioned before but all the talk of belt chirping and light flickering makes me wonder if the generators on these slow speed diesels would benefit from a "decoupler" or clutch pulley. Years ago I started seeing pulleys on automotive alternators that behaved like a sprag clutch on a starter drive allowing the alternator to freewheel when its speed or momentum was greater than the belt speed. I originally assumed that because it was on a diesel engine that it was only used to keep the alternator and/or belt from being damaged or chirping from the sudden engine stops. I have since seen them on gas powered engines also, notably on Chryslers where they start to make noise for a few seconds after shutdown. The link explains how they cut down on belt slippage.
http://www.tendeco.com/website/decouplers/decouplers_func.html
Notice in the beginning and end that the mass(behind the driven pulley with arrow on it) freewheels when the drive pulley slows or stops.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHXWvVwmthMÂ
http://www.tendeco.com/website/decouplers/decouplers_func.html
Notice in the beginning and end that the mass(behind the driven pulley with arrow on it) freewheels when the drive pulley slows or stops.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHXWvVwmthMÂ