Machine Elements 2

BELTS, ROPES AND CHAIN

Flexible Connectors – are used when the distance between the driving shaft and the driven shaft is
too great to be connected by gears. There must be sufficient friction between the band and the
surface of the pulleys to prevent slipping.

Flexible Connectors are divided into three (3) classes:

1. BELTS
 made of leather, rubber, or woven fabrics are flat and thin, and run on cylindrical
pulleys with smooth surfaces
 to connect shafts as much as 30 ft apart
 may run economically as high as 4500 fpm
 Belts are made with V-shaped cross section to be used with grooved pulleys
 V-belts are usually used to connect shafts with less that 15 ft apart
 Speed ratios up to 7 to 1
 Belt speeds up to 5000 fpm

2. ROPES
 made of manila hemp, cotton, or wire are nearly circular in section and run either
grooved pulleys or drum with flanges
 to connect shafts up to 100 ft apart
 should operate of less than 600 fpm

3. CHAIN
 are composed of metal links jointed together, and run on either sprockets or drums
either grooved, notched, or toothed to fit the link of the chain
 usually used to connect shafts that are less than 15 ft apart
 speed of the chain may depend upon the type of chain, but roller and silent chain may
operate up to 2500 fpm

USEFULL FORMULAS AND RELATIONSHIPS:

Linear Speed of pitch surface = 2πRN = πN(D + 2ρ)

(1) N4 = D2 + 2ρ where:
N2 D4 + 2ρ N = angular speed, rpm; D = pitch dia. of pulleys, in;
ρ = half thickness of belts, in.
(2) N4 = D2
N2 D4

1
Length of Belt Connecting Parallel Axis (Open-Belt). Refer to Fig 10-5.

(3) L = π (D + d) + ө(D – d) + 2C cosө where:

2 C = distance between shafts, in.
L = length of belt, in.
(4) L = π (D + d) + 2C + (D – d)2 ө = angle that subtends (D & d), radian
2 D = diameter of larger pulley, in.
d = diameter of smaller pulley, in.
Crossed-Belt. Refer to Fig. 10-6.

(5) Note: Equations 3 & 5 are exact, but equations 4 & 6 are
only approximate.

(6)

Stepped Pulleys, Refer to Fig 10-7:

(7)
N = speed of the driver (shaft A), rpm
n1 = speed of the driven pulley (shaft B), rpm
D2 = Diameter of driver (shaft A), in.
d1 = diameter of driven pulley (shaft B), rpm

(8)
Dx = Diameter of driving pulley, in
dx = diameter of driven pulley, in
nx = speed of driven pulley, rpm
2
 For stepped pulleys, two factors must be taken into account:
i. The speed ratio of the diameters of successive pairs of steps must be such as to
give the desired speed ratios.
ii. The sum of the diameters of any pair of steps must be such as to maintain the
proper tightness of the belt for all positions.

Stepped Pulleys (Crossed Belts):

(9)

Stepped Pulleys (Open Belts):

(10)

This equation may be solved simultaneously with equation 8.

ASSIGNMENT:
1. Study Example Problems 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Chapter 10, Elements of Mechanism by Doughtie &
James.

2. Solve Problems 10-6, 10-7 and 10-8.

Last Plate: L-41, page 480.

jnr.03.06.12
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