BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for adjusting tension in a drive belt of HVAC systems.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of any kind.

A wide range of applications exist for HVAC systems. For example, residential, light commercial, commercial, and industrial systems are used to control temperatures and air quality in residences and buildings. Such systems may be dedicated to either heating or cooling, although systems are common that perform both of these functions. Very generally, these systems operate by implementing a thermal cycle in which fluids are heated and cooled to provide a desired temperature in a controlled space, such as the inside of a residence or a building. Generally, HVAC units may include a blower that is configured to drive air flow through the HVAC unit. The blower is typically powered by a motor. Particularly, the motor may transfer power to the blower via drive belt. At times, a tension of the drive belt may be adjusted.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a belt tensioner for a blower assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to couple directly to the blower assembly and an idler arm configured to couple to the mounting bracket at a connection point and in an angular position relative to a base of the blower assembly. The angular position is adjustable about the connection point. The belt tensioner further includes an idler pulley coupled to the idler arm. The idler pulley is configured to engage with a drive belt of the blower assembly.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower, a blower housing configured to house the blower, a motor configured to provide rotational power, and a drive belt configured to transfer the rotational power from the motor to the blower. The HVAC system further includes a belt tensioner having an L-shaped support with a first arm coupled to an idler pulley and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are coupled to one another at a bend. The L-shaped support is rotatably coupled to the blower housing via a mounting bracket. The idler pulley is configured to contact the drive belt to facilitate tensioning of the drive belt.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a blower assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower fan, a blower housing containing the blower fan, and a drive belt coupled to the blower fan and configured to drive rotation of the blower fan. The HVAC system further includes a belt tensioner having an L-shaped bracket that is coupled to the blower housing via a mounting bracket. The L-shaped bracket is rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket at a bend of the L-shaped bracket.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a belt tensioner for a blower assembly includes a guide rail configured to couple directly to the blower assembly and an idler mounting plate configured to slide along the guide rail, such that a position of the idler mounting plate is linearly adjustable relative to the guide rail. The belt tensioner further includes an idler pulley coupled to the idler mounting plate. The idler pulley is configured to engage with a drive belt of the blower assembly.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower, a blower housing configured to house the blower, a motor configured to provide rotational power, and a drive belt configured to transfer the rotational power from the motor to the blower. The HVAC system further includes a belt tensioner having a guide rail configured to mount directly to the blower housing, an idler mounting plate configured to move linearly along the guide rail, an idler pulley configured to mount to the idler mounting plate, and a bolt configured to couple to the idler mounting plate and to a lock plate, such that rotation of the bolt linearly adjusts a position of the idler pulley relative to the drive belt.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a guide rail configured to couple directly to a blower housing of the HVAC system and an idler mounting plate configured to support an idler pulley and having a first hole disposed through a first flange of the idler mounting plate. The idler mounting plate is configured to slide along the guide rail to adjust a position of the idler pulley relative to a blower drive belt of the HVAC system. The HVAC system further includes a lock plate having a second hole disposed through a second flange of the lock plate. The lock plate is configured to couple directly to the blower housing. The HVAC system further includes a bolt configured to extend through the first hole of the first flange of the idler mounting plate and through the second hole of the second flange of the lock plate. Rotation of the bolt is configured to adjust a position of the idler mounting plate relative to the guide rail to adjust the position of the idler pulley.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a belt tensioner for a blower assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to couple directly to the blower assembly, an idler arm configured to rotatably couple to the mounting bracket and having a first side and a second side, and an idler pulley rotatably coupled to the idler arm. The idler pulley is configured to engage with a drive belt of the blower assembly. The belt tensioner further includes a tension spring coupled to the mounting bracket and to the first side of the idler arm, and a compression spring coupled to the mounting bracket and to the second side of the idler arm.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning system includes a blower housing, a mounting bracket configured to mount to the blower housing, and an idler arm configured to rotatably couple to the mounting bracket. The HVAC system further includes a first linear spring configured to couple to a first side of the idler arm and to the mounting bracket, a second linear spring configured to couple to a second side of the idler arm and to the mounting bracket, and an idler pulley configured to couple to an end of the idler arm and to engage with a drive belt of the HVAC system.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower, a blower housing configured to house the blower, a motor configured to provide rotational power, and a drive belt configured to transfer the rotational power from the motor to the blower. The HVAC system further includes a belt tensioner having a mounting bracket configured to mount directly to the blower housing, an idler arm configured to rotatably mount to the mounting bracket at a pivot point, an idler pulley configured to rotationally mount to an end of the idler arm distal to the pivot point, and a set of linear springs coupled between the idler arm and the mounting bracket. Each linear spring of the set of linear springs is configured to be linearly actuated in response to engagement between the idler pulley and the drive belt.

Other features and advantages of the present application will be apparent from the following, more detailed description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the application.

