Legal Information

The OVERRUNNING ALTERNATOR DECOUPLER™ (OAD™) is a patented technology of Litens Automotive Group. Litens hold exclusive rights to this technology for use in all original equipment and replacement applications as well as other markets.

No other product design is appropriate for use in place of a Litens OAD™ DECOUPLER on any vehicle application originally equipped with OAD™ technology. The use of any other replacement technology, regardless of design, could lead to severe damage to the vehicle's belt drive system and related components.

For example, the use of an overrunning alternator pulley (OAP, or "one-way clutch") on an application requiring an OAD™ DECOUPLER is inappropriate and a potential cause of severe damage in all installations requiring OAD™ technology.

Use of a solid pulley in place of an OAD™ DECOUPLER on such applications also can cause severe damage.

Any attempt to copy or "design around" the Litens OAD™ DECOUPLER design, technology and other intellectual property is strictly forbidden by law.

Corresponding U.S. patents held by Litens include: #6 083 130; #5 139 463; and #5 156 573.



 
Solid Pulley vs. OAP (One-Way Clutch) vs. OAD™

This comparison of three leading alternator pulley designs demonstrates the danger of using the wrong type of pulley on a vehicle requiring an OAD™ pulley.

Note the severe level of belt drive vibration (see whiplashing belt tensioner) when a "solid pulley" is installed on the belt drive system.

Similarly, the use of an "OAP" ("one-way clutch") on this application also results in significant belt drive vibration, causing NVH issues and wear of key components.

This footage shows a Litens OAD™ pulley on the same application. Note the smooth, efficient, low-stress operation of the belt drive system.

Alternator Pulley Comparison

This video demonstrates the excessive levels of NVH, belt system stress and other severe issues resulting from the use of a solid alternator pulley on this Ford engine.

This clip shows the use of a variety of "one-way clutch" alternator pulleys on the same engine.

Now we see the smooth, efficient operation of the same engine belt drive system using an OAD™ pulley. The Liten OAD™ pulley was previously referred to as an isolating decoupler pulley or IDP and marketed under the RotorRX brand.

Solid Alternator Pulley Demonstration

This engine requires an overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley. To show the importance of using the right pulley design, we installed an alternator equipped with a solid pulley.

Notice the severe vibration in the belt drive system. This condition will cause a loss of engine efficiency/fuel economy, shortened belt and bearing life, extreme NVH, and other problems.

One-Way Clutch (OAP) Demo

This is a closeup view of the belt tensioner on a vehicle equipped with the wrong alternator pulley design - a "one-way clutch" (OAP). This engine requires an overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley.

Note the significant vibration and stress on the belt tensioner. This condition will likely lead to unsatisfactory levels of NVH and reduced component life.

Litens OAD™ Closeup

This tight view of an alternator equipped with a Litens overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulley shows how the patented spring-loaded mechanism absorbs belt drive vibration.

This innovative design - required on millions of vehicles - boosts engine efficiency and helps eliminate NVH issues.

It is never appropriate to use another alternator pulley design in place of an OAD™ on vehicles originally equipped with this technology.

This video was created using a strobe light to see how the OAD™ pulley compensates and absorbs the engine pulses being transmitted by the belt to the alternator rotor.

Benefits of OAD™ Pulleys

Several vehicle manufacturers now specify isolating decoupler pulleys (IDP) or Litens' overrunning alternator decoupler (OAD™) pulleys for their latest engines due to the extremely smooth, efficient belt drive performance made possible by this technology.

It is never appropriate to use another alternator pulley design in place of an OAD™/IDP on vehicles originally equipped with this technology.

Vehicle Makes/Models Requiring DECOUPLERS™
  • Chevrolet Cobalt   • Chevrolet Corvette   • Chevrolet Malibu   • Chrysler Pacifica   • Chrysler Sebring   • Dodge Caliber   • Dodge Caravan   • Dodge Prowler   • Jeep Compass   • Jeep Liberty KJ   • Jeep Patriot   • John Deere 4.5L Tractor   • Lexus GS   • Lexus IS   • Lexus ES   • Pontiac G6   • Pontiac Solstice   • Pontiac Vibe   • Saab 9-3   • Saab 9-5   • Saturn Ion (Redline)   • Saturn Sky   • Toyota Avalon   • Toyota Camry   • Toyota Corolla   • Toyota Matrix   • Toyota RAV4   • Toyota Sienna   • Toyota Solara   • Volvo V70   • Volvo XC90   • Volvo S80