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Dr Sanjay H Upadhyay
Associate Professor
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Roorkee- 247 667 , Uttarakhand
Office No: 235 (East Block)
Contact No: 285520 (O)
Belts, ropes, chains, and other similar elastic or flexible machine
elements are used in conveying systems and in the transmission of power
over comparatively long distances. It often happens that these elements
can be used as a replacement for gears, shafts, bearings, and other
relatively rigid power-transmission devices. In many cases their use
simplifies the design of a machine and substantially reduces the cost.
In addition, since these elements are elastic and usually quite long, they
play an important part in absorbing shock loads and in damping out and
isolating the effects of vibration. This is an important advantage as far
as machine life is concerned.
Most flexible elements do not have an infinite life. When they are used,
it is important to establish an inspection schedule to guard against
wear, aging, and loss of elasticity. The elements should be replaced at
the first sign of deterioration.
• The belts or ropes are used to transmit power
from one shaft to another by means of pulleys
which rotate at the same speed or at different
speeds.
• Amount of power transmitted depends upon the
following factors :
1. The velocity of the belt.
2. The tension under which the belt is placed on the
pulleys.
3. The arc of contact between the belt and the
smaller pulley.
4. The conditions under which the belt is used.
• The points to be take in mind while designing of
belt.
(a) The shafts should be properly in line to insure
uniform tension across the belt section.
(b) The pulleys should not be too close together, in
order that the arc of contact on the smaller pulley
may be as large as possible.
(c) The pulleys should not be so far apart as to cause
the belt to weigh heavily on the shafts, thus
increasing the friction load on the bearings.
(d) A long belt tends to swing from side to side,
causing the belt to run out of the pulleys, which in
turn develops crooked spots in the belt.
(e) The tight side of the belt should be at the
bottom, so that whatever sag is present on the
loose side will increase the arc of contact at the
pulleys.
(f) In order to obtain good results with flat belts, the
maximum distance between the shafts should not
exceed 10 metres and the minimum should not be
less than 3.5 times the diameter of the larger
pulley.
• Types of Belt Drives:-
• 1. Light drives.
Small powers
Belt speeds upto about 10 m/s
In agricultural machines and small machine tools.
• 2. Medium drives.
Medium powers
Belt speeds over 10 m/s but up to 22 m/s
In machine tools.
• 3. Heavy drives.
Large powers
Belt speeds above 22 m/s
In compressors and generators.
The four principal types of belts are shown, with some of their characteristics, in
Table 17–1.
• Types of Belts:-
1. Flat belt. Mostly used in the factories and workshops, where a
moderate amount of power is to be transmitted, from one pulley to
another when the two pulleys are not more than 8 metres apart.
Flat belts are made of urethane and also of rubber-
impregnated fabric reinforced with steel wire or
nylon cords to take the tension load. One or both
surfaces may have a friction surface coating. Flat
belts are quiet, they are efficient at high speeds,
and they can transmit large amounts of power over
long center distances.
Now consider a small portion of the belt PQ, subtending an angle δθ at the
centre of the pulley as shown in Fig. The belt PQ is in equilibrium under
the following forces:
1. Tension T in the belt at P,
2. Tension (T + δT) in the belt at Q,
3. Normal reaction RN, and
4. Frictional force F = μ × RN, where μ is the coefficient of friction
between the belt and pulley.
• Since the angle δθ is very small, therefore putting sin δθ/2 = δθ/2
Integrating the above equation between the limits T2 and T1 and from
0 to θ,
The above expression gives the relation between the tight side and slack
side tensions, in terms of coefficient of friction and the angle of contact.
• Centrifugal Tension:-
• Since the belt continuously runs over the pulleys,
therefore, some centrifugal force is caused, whose effect is
to increase the tension on both the tight as well as the
slack sides. The tension caused by centrifugal force is
called centrifugal tension.
• At lower belt speeds (less than 10 m/s), the centrifugal
tension is very small, but at higher belt speeds (more than
10 m/s), its effect is considerable and thus should be taken
into account.
• length of the belt
PQ = r.dθ
• Mass of the belt
PQ = m.r.dθ
• Centrifugal force acting
on the belt PQ,
• Resolving the forces (i.e. centrifugal force and centrifugal
tension) horizontally,
Where,
T1 = T – TC
P = (T – TC) v × C
= (T – mv2 ) v × C = ( T.v – m.v3) C
• For maximum power, differentiate the above expression with respect
to ‘v’ and equate to zero,
from 30 to 40 degrees.
The cross-sectional dimensions of V belts have been standardized by
manufacturers, with each section designated by a letter of the alphabet for
sizes in inch dimensions. Metric sizes are designated in numbers. Though
these have not been included here, the procedure for analyzing and
designing them is the same as presented here.
Dimensions, minimum sheave diameters, and the horsepower range for
each of the lettered sections are listed in Table 17–9.
17–3 V Belts
To specify a V belt, give the belt-section letter, followed by the inside
circumference in inches (standard circumferences are listed in Table 17–10).
For example, B75 is a B-section belt having an inside circumference of 75
in.
Table 17–10 Inside Circumferences of Standard V Belts
The groove angle of a sheave is made somewhat smaller than the belt-section
angle. This causes the belt to wedge itself into the groove, thus increasing
friction. The exact value of this angle depends on the belt section, the sheave
diameter, and the angle of contact. If it is made too much smaller than the
belt, the force required to pull the belt out of the groove as the belt leaves the
pulley will be excessive.
Optimum values are given in the commercial literature.
The minimum sheave diameters have been listed in Table 17–9. For best
results, a V belt should be run quite fast: 4,000 ft/min is a good speed.
Trouble may be encountered if the belt runs much faster than 5,000 ft/min or
much MEslower than 1,000 ft/min.
The pitch length Lp and the center-to-center distance C are
Table 17–12
Horsepower
Ratings of
Standard V Belts
17–3 V Belts
Table 17–12
(Continued)
ME 17–3 V Belts
59
• Advantages and Disadvantages of V-belt Drive
over Flat Belt Drive:-
• Advantages:-
1. The V-belt drive gives compactness due to the small
distance between centres of pulleys.
2. The drive is positive, because the slip between the belt and
the pulley groove is negligible.
3. Since the V-belts are made endless and there is no joint
trouble, therefore the drive is smooth.
4. It provides longer life, 3 to 5 years.
5. It can be easily installed and removed.
6. The operation of the belt and pulley is quiet.
7. The belts have the ability to cushion the shock when
machines are started.
8. The high velocity ratio (maximum 10) may be obtained.
9. The wedging action of the belt in the groove gives high
value of limiting ratio of tensions. Therefore the power
transmitted by V-belts is more than flat belts for the same
coefficient of friction, arc of contact and allowable tension
in the belts.
10. The V-belt may be operated in either direction, with tight
side of the belt at the top or bottom. The centre line may
be horizontal, vertical or inclined.
• Disadvantages:-
1.The V-belt drive can not be used with large centre distances,
because of larger weight per unit length.
2.The V-belts are not so durable as flat belts.
3.The construction of pulleys for V-belts is more complicated
than pulleys of flat belts.
4.Since the V-belts are subjected to certain amount of creep,
therefore these are not suitable for constant speed applications
such as synchronous machines and timing devices.
5.The belt life is greatly influenced with temperature changes,
improper belt tension and mismatching of belt lengths.
6.The centrifugal tension prevents the use of V-belts at speeds
below 5 m/ s and above 50 m / s.
• Ratio of Driving Tensions for V-belt:-