Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut, wherein said assembly is comprised of means for subjecting said threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said threaded shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction through said nut, thus applying an axial force in said axial direction.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said threaded shaft is operatively connected to a load in said axial direction.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said load is moveable.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said load is comprised of an optical assembly comprised of a lens, an image sensor, and a flexure, wherein said flexure provides substantially linear guidance along the axial direction of said lens relative to the location of said image sensor.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising a camera comprised of said optical assembly.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said axial force in said axial direction causes an optical apparatus to move, wherein said optical apparatus is selected from the group consisting of said lens, said image sensor, a zooming lens and combinations thereof.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a phone, wherein said camera is disposed within said phone.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprised of a support housing, wherein said threaded shaft is operatively connected to a low-friction bearing that allows rotation and prevents axial movement and said load is connected to said threaded nut and said support housing.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said load is comprised of a movable plunger located in a syringe.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for measuring the magnitude of movement of said threaded shaft.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for measuring the magnitude of movement of said threaded shaft is comprised of a Hall Effect magnetic sensor.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the position of said threaded shaft is measured using a sensor, wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, an optical sensor, and combinations thereof.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a drug delivery apparatus comprised of said syringe.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said threaded shaft is operatively configured to translate in both a positive axial direction and a negative axial direction.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a tangent motion limiting feature wherein
(a) said threaded nut and said threaded shaft are comprised of threads;
(b) said tangent motion limiting feature is configured so as to prevent said rotation without increasing said axial load on said threads.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said tangent motion limiting feature is comprised of a first notch disposed on said threaded nut and a second notch disposed on said threaded shaft, each of which are operatively configured such that said first notch will engage said second notch, thus preventing said threaded nut and said threaded shaft from tightening.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for generating said ultrasonic vibrations.
18. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut, wherein said threaded nut and said threaded shaft are operatively configured such that, upon exposure to ultrasonic vibrations, said threaded shift will simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction through said nut, thus applying an axial force in said axial direction.
19. An apparatus for driving a threaded shaft assembly comprised of a threaded shaft with an axis of rotation and, engaged therewith, a threaded nut, wherein:
(a) said assembly comprises means for subjecting said threaded nut to ultrasonic vibrations and thereby causing said threaded shaft to simultaneously rotate and translate in the axial direction through said nut, thus applying an axial force in said axial direction;
(b) said rotation and said translation in said axial direction through said nut occurs over a distance greater than the amplitude of any single amplitude of said ultrasonic vibration.
20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said threaded shaft is operatively connected to a load in said axial direction.
21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said load is comprised of a lens and a sensor wherein said axial force in said axial direction causes a focusing element to move, wherein said focusing element is selected from the group consisting of said lens, said sensor, and combinations thereof.
22. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, further comprising means for measuring the magnitude of motion of said threaded shaft.
23. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said load is comprised of a syringe.
24. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said threaded shaft has a proximal and distal end, wherein both said proximal and said distal ends are each comprised of said tangent motion limiting feature.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A lithographic process for producing a microstructure from an SU-8 photoresist, wherein the SU-8 photoresist has a thickness in a range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm, comprising the steps of:
(i) exposing a prebaked SU-8 photoresist on a substrate to light at a total energy density in a range of 18,000 to 35,000 mJcm2, wherein the light comprises a combination of wavelengths including g-line (436 nm), h-line (405 nm), and i-line (365 nm), and wherein the exposing further comprises:
(a) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light without a filter;
(b) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a first filter that filters out 80% of the light at 365 nm;
(c) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a second filter that filters out 90% of the light at 365 nm; and
(d) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a third filter that filters out all of the light at 365 nm;

(ii) post-baking the SU-8 photoresist at a temperature of at least 60\xb0 C.; and
(iii) developing the SU-8 photoresist in a solvent, whereby the microstructure is produced.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the SU-8 photoresist is an octafunctional epoxidised novolac resin.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post-baking step comprises a two step procedure in which the photoresist is heated to a first temperature that is in a range of 60\xb0 C. to 70\xb0 C. and subsequently to a second temperature that is in a range of 90\xb0 C. to 100\xb0 C.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of rinsing the developed photoresist after step (iii) followed by drying.
5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of (a) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light without a filter further comprises delivering 1512 mJcm2 to the photoresist.
6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of (b) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a first filter that filters out 80% of the light at 365 nm further comprises delivering 2268 mJcm2 to the photoresist.
7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of (c) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a second filter that filters out 90% of the light at 365 nm further comprises delivering 3780 mJcm2 to the photoresist.
8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of (d) exposing the SU-8 photoresist to the light with a third filter that filters out all of the light at 365 nm further comprises delivering 17010 mJcm2 to the photoresist.
9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light is UV light emitted from a high pressure mercury lamp.
10. A microstructure fabricated using the process of claim 1.
11. A microstructure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the microstructure produced by the process comprises an aspect ratio of greater than or equal to 40:1.

1. An insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising:
an insurance coverage that protects an insured against a reduction in compensation, the reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount.
2. The insurance product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
3. An insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising:
an insurance coverage that protects an insured against a reduction in compensation, the reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the insurance coverage requiring a premium payment be paid for at least an eligibility period before the insured is eligible to file a claim for benefits.
4. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
5. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance coverage requires a reemployment period during which the insured at least procures the replacement employment position after the involuntary dismissal, to be eligible to file the claim for benefits.
6. The insurance product in accordance with claim 5 wherein upon acceptance of the claim for benefits, the insured receives benefits for a benefit period.
7. The insurance product in accordance with claim 6 wherein the benefits comprise a predetermined percentage of the reduction in compensation.
8. The insurance product in accordance with claim 7 wherein the predetermined percentage is in the range of about fifty percent to one hundred percent.
9. The insurance product in accordance with claim 8 wherein the predetermined percentage is sixty percent.
10. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the initial compensation amount is annual earned wages or salary of the insured with or without the inclusion of stock options, overtime compensation, commissions or bonuses.
11. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the reduced compensation amount is the annual earned wages or salary of the insured with or Without the inclusion of stock options, overtime compensation, commissions or bonuses.
12. The insurance product in accordance with claim 4 wherein the reduction in compensation is subject to a maximum salary gap percentage of fifty percent of the initial compensation amount.
13. The insurance product in accordance with claim 12 wherein the benefits comprise a predetermined percentage of the reduction in compensation in the range of about fifty percent to one hundred percent.
14. The insurance product in accordance with claim 13 wherein the predetermined percentage is sixty percent.
15. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the eligibility period is from six months to three years.
16. The insurance product in accordance with claim 15 wherein the eligibility period is two years.
17. The insurance product in accordance with claim 6 wherein the benefit period is from one to three years.
18. The insurance product in accordance with claim 17 wherein the benefit period is two years.
19. The insurance product in accordance with claim 5 wherein the reemployment period is one year.
20. The insurance product in accordance with claim 6 wherein the insurance coverage terminates upon commencement of the benefit period.
21. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance coverage provides protection for the working life of the insured.
22. The insurance product in accordance with claim 6 wherein the insured receives benefits in monthly increments.
23. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insured may optionally have an early termination percentage of the paid premium payments be returned if the insured is involuntarily dismissed during the eligibility period.
24. The insurance product in accordance with claim 23 wherein the early termination percentage is sixty percent.
25. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance product further comprises one or more other insurance coverages that protect against expenses incurred during unemployment.
26. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance product further comprises an insurance coverage to cover the cost of COBRA health insurance payments during unemployment.
27. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a vesting option whereby the insured is eligible to recover a vesting percentage of all paid premium payments after passage of a vesting qualifying period.
28. The insurance product in accordance with claim 27 wherein the vesting percentage of all paid premium payments increases in a straight line manner during a vesting entitlement period that commences with expiration of the vesting qualifying period.
29. The insurance product in accordance with claim 28 wherein the vesting percentage has a maximum of sixty percent.
30. The insurance product in accordance with claim 28 wherein the vesting entitlement period is from five to twenty years.
31. The insurance product in accordance with claim 27 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
32. The insurance product in accordance with claim 31 wherein the vesting qualifying period is of a shorter duration than the conversion qualifying period.
33. The insurance product in accordance with claim 31 wherein the vesting qualifying period and the conversion qualifying period are of the same duration.
34. The insurance product in accordance with claim 31 wherein the equity-building vehicle is a life insurance policy.
35. The insurance product in accordance with claim 3 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
36. The insurance product in accordance with claim 35 wherein the equity-building vehicle is a life insurance policy.
37. An insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising:
an insurance coverage that protects an insured against a reduction in compensation, the reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount.
38. The insurance product in accordance with claim 37 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
39. An insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising:
an insurance coverage that protects an insured against a reduction in compensation, the reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the insurance coverage requiring a premium payment be paid before the insured is eligible to file a claim for benefits.
40. The insurance product in accordance with claim 39 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
41. The insurance product in accordance with claim 39 wherein the insured remains in active military service for at least an eligibility period to be eligible to file the claim for benefits.
42. The insurance product in accordance with claim 41 wherein, upon acceptance of the claim for benefits, the insured receives benefits for a benefit period.
43. The insurance product in accordance with claim 42 wherein the benefits comprise a predetermined percentage of the reduction in compensation.
44. The insurance product in accordance with claim 42 wherein the insurance coverage terminates upon commencement of the benefit period.
45. The insurance product in accordance with claim 42 wherein the insured receives benefits in monthly increments.
46. The insurance product in accordance with claim 41 wherein the insured may optionally have an early termination percentage of the paid premium payments be returned if the insured leaves active military service during the eligibility period.
47. The insurance product in accordance with claim 39 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a vesting option whereby the insured is eligible to recover a vesting percentage of all paid premium payments after passage of a vesting qualifying period.
48. The insurance product in accordance with claim 47 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
49. The insurance product in accordance with claim 39 wherein the insurance product optionally provides the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
50. A method for providing an insurance product for lifestyle protection, the method comprising:
offering insurance coverage to protect an -insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount.
51. The method in accordance with claim 50 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
52. A method for providing an insurance product for lifestyle protection, the method comprising:
(a) offering insurance coverage to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount and
(b) requiring a premium payment be paid for at least an eligibility period before the insured is eligible to file a claim for benefits.
53. The method in accordance with claim 52 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
54. The method in accordance with claim 52 further comprising requiring the insured to at least procure the replacement employment position within a reemployment period after the involuntary dismissal to be eligible to file the claim for benefits.
55. The method in accordance with claim 54 further comprising accepting the claim for benefits and providing the insured with benefits for a benefit period.
56. The method in accordance with claim 55 wherein the benefits comprise a predetermined percentage of the reduction in compensation.
57. The method in accordance with claim 52 wherein the method further comprises providing the insured with a vesting option whereby the insured is eligible to recover a vesting percentage of all paid premium payments after passage of a vesting qualifying period.
58. The method in accordance with claim 52 wherein the method further comprises providing the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
59. The method in accordance with claim 52 wherein the method further comprises providing one or more other insurance coverages that protect against expenses incurred during unemployment.
60. A method for providing an insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising, the method comprising:
offering an insurance coverage to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount.
61. The method in accordance with claim 60 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
62. A method for providing an insurance product for lifestyle protection comprising, the method comprising:
(a) offering an insurance coverage to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount and
(b) requiring a premium payment be paid before the insured is eligible to file a claim for benefits.
63. The method in accordance with claim 62 wherein the reduction in compensation is the difference between the initial compensation amount and the reduced compensation amount.
64. The method in accordance with claim 62 further comprising requiring the insured to remain in active military service for at least an eligibility period to be eligible to file the claim for benefits.
65. The method in accordance with claim 64 further comprising accepting the claim for benefits and providing the insured with benefits for a benefit period.
66. The method in accordance with claim 65 wherein the benefits comprise a predetermined percentage of the reduction in compensation.
67. The method in accordance with claim 62 wherein the method further comprises providing the insured with a vesting option whereby the insured is eligible to recover a vesting percentage of all paid premium payments after passage of a vesting qualifying period.
68. The method in accordance with claim 62 wherein the method further comprises providing the insured with a conversion option whereby the insured may convert a conversion percentage of all paid premium payments to an equity-building vehicle or an insurance device after passage of a conversion qualifying period.
69. A method of implementing an insurance product to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the method comprising:
(a) enrolling the insured in the insurance product and
(b) receiving premium payments from the insured for at least an eligibility period.
70. A method of implementing an insurance product to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured being involuntarily dismissed from an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and commencing a replacement employment position having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the method comprising:
(a) processing a claim for benefits and
(b) providing benefits to the insured for a benefit period.
71. The method in accordance with claim 70 further comprising requiring the insured to at least procure the replacement employment position within a reemployment period following the involuntary dismissal to be eligible to file the claim for benefits.
72. A method of implementing an insurance product to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the method comprising:
(a) enrolling the insured in the insurance product and
(b) receiving a premium payment from the insured.
73. A method of implementing an insurance product to protect an insured against a reduction in compensation arising from the insured leaving an initial employment position having an initial compensation amount and being activated or deployed for military service, the military service having a reduced compensation amount that is less than the initial compensation amount, the method comprising:
(a) requiring the insured to remain in active military service for at least an eligibility period to be eligible to file a claim for benefits;
(b) processing the claim for benefits and
(c) providing benefits to the insured for a benefit period.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pivot joint comprising:
a pressure plate having a pressure plate surface;
a clutch plate having a clutch plate hole extending through the clutch plate, a clutch plate surface in contact with the pressure plate surface and at least one inclined clutch contact area opposite the clutch plate surface;
a pivot arm having a pivot hole and comprising at least one inclined arm contact area in contact with and complementary in shape to the inclined clutch contact area;
a pivot pin comprising a pivot pin head and a pivot pin shaft extending through the pivot hole and the clutch plate hole and into the pressure plate; and
a first spring mounted on the pivot pin between the pivot pin head and the pivot arm for urging the pivot arm away from the head of the pivot pin and for providing a first spring preload on the pivot arm and the clutch plate and for providing an end gap between the pivot pin head and the pivot arm to be taken up by an increase in a stack height of the clutch plate and the pivot arm around the pivot pin;
such that when the end gap has not been taken up and the pivot arm rotates in a compression direction, the inclined arm contact area rotates around the pivot pin relative to the inclined clutch contact area, thereby increasing a distance between the inclined arm contact area and the pressure plate and increasing the stack height around the pivot pin.
2. The pivot joint of claim 1 further comprising:
a second spring mounted on the pivot pin and acting on a surface of the clutch plate to bias the clutch plate toward the pressure plate for providing a second spring preload on the clutch plate.
3. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate, a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area, an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface, the first spring preload, the second spring preload, an active radius of the inclined arm contact area, and an active radius of the clutch plate are chosen such that in pivot arm compression a torque to slip the inclined plane contact area becomes greater than a torque to slip the clutch plate above a critical torque that occurs at a pivot arm displacement greater than a displacement required to take up the end gap.
4. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate, a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area, an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface, the first spring preload, the second spring preload, an active radius of the inclined arm contact area, and an active radius of the clutch plate are chosen such that in pivot arm extension a torque to slip the inclined plane contact area is less than a torque to slip the clutch plate.
5. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein a frictional material is located on the clutch plate surface or the pressure plate surface.
6. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the pressure plate surface is formed to change the torque required for rotation of the clutch plate with respect to the pressure plate.
7. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the first spring is a Belleville spring.
8. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the inclined clutch contact area is centered about the pivot hole and has a slope running tangential to a constant radius from a center point of the pivot hole.
9. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the pressure plate is mounted to a stationary surface to prevent rotation of the pressure plate relative to the surface.
10. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the second spring acts on a surface of the pivot arm to bias the clutch plate toward the pressure plate.
11. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein the second spring acts on a surface of the pivot pin to bias the clutch plate toward the pressure plate.
12. The pivot joint of claim 2, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate (\u03bcC), a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area (\u03bcR), an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface (\u03b8), an arm preload force (FS1), a clutch preload force (FS2), an active radius of the inclined arm contact area (RR), and an active radius of the clutch plate (RC) are selected such that:
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13. A tensioner comprising:
a pressure plate having a pressure plate surface;
a clutch plate having a clutch plate hole extending through the clutch plate, a clutch plate surface in contact with the pressure plate surface and at least one inclined clutch contact area opposite the clutch plate surface;
a tensioner arm for tensioning a chain or belt, the tensioner arm having a pivot hole at a proximal end portion and comprising at least one inclined arm contact area in contact with and complementary in shape to the inclined clutch contact area;
a pivot pin comprising a pivot pin head and a pivot pin shaft extending through the pivot hole and the clutch plate hole and into the pressure plate; and
a first spring mounted on the pivot pin between the pivot pin head and the tensioner arm for urging the tensioner arm away from the head of the pivot pin and for providing a first spring preload on the tensioner arm and the clutch plate and for providing an end gap between the pivot pin head and the tensioner arm to be taken up upon tensioning by an increase in a stack height of the clutch plate and the tensioner arm around the pivot pin;
such that when the end gap has not been taken up and the tensioner arm rotates in a compression direction, the inclined arm contact area rotates around the pivot pin relative to the inclined clutch contact area, thereby increasing a distance between the inclined arm contact area and the pressure plate and increasing the stack height around the pivot pin.
14. The tensioner of claim 13 further comprising:
a second spring mounted on the pivot pin and acting on a surface of the clutch plate to bias the clutch plate toward the pressure plate for providing a second spring preload on the clutch plate.
15. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate, a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area, an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface, the first spring preload, the second spring preload, an active radius of the inclined arm contact area, and an active radius of the clutch plate are chosen such that in tensioner compression a torque to slip the inclined plane contact area becomes greater than a torque to slip the clutch plate above a critical torque that occurs at a tensioner displacement greater than a displacement required to take up the end gap.
16. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate, a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area, an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface, the first spring preload, the second spring preload, an active radius of the inclined arm contact area, and an active radius of the clutch plate are chosen such that in tensioner extension a torque to slip the inclined plane contact area is less than a torque to slip the clutch plate.
17. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein a frictional material is located on the clutch plate surface or the pressure plate surface.
18. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein the pressure plate surface is formed to change the force required for rotation of the clutch plate with respect to the pressure plate.
19. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein the first spring is a Belleville spring.
20. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein the inclined clutch contact area is centered about the pivot hole and has a slope running tangential to a constant radius from a center point of the pivot hole.
21. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein the pressure plate is mounted to a stationary surface to prevent rotation of the pressure plate relative to the surface.
22. The tensioner of claim 14 further comprising:
at least one blade spring mounted in the tensioner arm; and
a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion;
wherein the distal end portion is slidingly received on a sliding surface.
23. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion of the tensioner arm is pivotally attached to a second pivot pin, the tensioner further comprising:
at least one blade spring mounted in the tensioner arm; and
a second tensioner arm having a proximal end portion pivotally attached to the pivot pin, a distal end portion pivotally attached to the second pivot pin, and a wear surface slidingly received on a sliding surface.
24. The tensioner of claim 14, wherein a portion of the second tensioner arm serves as the pressure plate.
25. The tensioner of claim 15, wherein a coefficient of friction between the clutch plate and the pressure plate (\u03bcC), a coefficient of friction between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area (\u03bcR), an angle of inclination of the inclined arm contact area with respect to a plane parallel to the clutch plate surface (\u03b8), an arm preload force (FS1), a clutch preload force (FS2), an active radius of the inclined arm contact area (RR), and an active radius of the clutch plate (RC) are selected such that:
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26. A pivot joint comprising:
a pressure plate having a pressure plate surface;
a clutch plate having a clutch plate hole extending through the clutch plate, a clutch plate surface in contact with the pressure plate surface and at least one inclined clutch contact area opposite the clutch plate surface;
a pivot arm having a pivot hole and comprising at least one inclined arm contact area facing and complementary in shape to the inclined clutch contact area;
a pivot pin comprising a pivot pin head and a pivot pin shaft extending through the pivot hole and the clutch plate hole and into the pressure plate; and
a preload spring mounted on the pivot pin between the pivot arm and the clutch plate for urging the pivot arm away from the clutch plate, for providing a spring preload on the clutch plate, and for providing a preload gap between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area to be taken up by an increase in a stack height of the clutch plate and the pivot arm around the pivot pin.
27. A tensioner comprising:
a pressure plate having a pressure plate surface;
a clutch plate having a clutch plate hole extending through the clutch plate, a clutch plate surface in contact with the pressure plate surface and at least one inclined clutch contact area opposite the clutch plate surface;
a tensioner arm for tensioning a chain or belt, the tensioner arm having a pivot hole at a proximal end portion and comprising at least one inclined arm contact area facing and complementary in shape to the inclined clutch contact area;
a pivot pin comprising a pivot pin head and a pivot pin shaft extending through the pivot hole and the clutch plate hole and into the pressure plate; and
a preload spring mounted on the pivot pin between the pivot arm and the clutch plate for urging the pivot arm away from the clutch plate, for providing a spring preload on the clutch plate, and for providing a preload gap between the inclined clutch contact area and the inclined arm contact area to be taken up by an increase in a stack height of the clutch plate and the pivot arm around the pivot pin.