Lecture-1(a)

Belt Drives

©2019 Mechanical Engineering Design, MDB3083 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

 COURSE OUTCOMES

CO# CO Description POs Addressed

Design the basic mechanical components in

CO1 PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4
engineering systems.

Develop engineering models of the

CO2 PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4
components / systems.

Apply materials selection in the design of

CO3 PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4
mechanical systems, e.g. for DFM and DFA.

Apply Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

CO4 PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4
(FMEA) on mechanical system design.

©2019 Mechanical Engineering Design, MDB3083 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

©2019 Mechanical Engineering Design, MDB3083 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
 CONTENT

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Types of Belts

1.3 Flat and Rounded Belt Drives

1.4 Summary

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 Introduction

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Overview – why used?
◼ Transfer power (torque) from one location to another.
From driver: motor, peddles, engine, windmill, turbine to
driven: conveyor belt, back wheels/bike, generator rock
crusher, dryer.

◼ Used to span large distances or need flexible transmission

elements. Gear drives have a higher torque capability but
not flexible or cheap.

◼ Often used as torque increaser (speed reducer), max

speed ratio: 3.5:1. Gear drives?? Virtually unlimited!

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 Belts
• Most flexible elements do not have an infinite life.
• Characteristics of belts include
– They may be used for long center distances.
– Except for timing belts, there is some slip and creep, and so the
angular-velocity ratio between the driving and driven shafts is
neither constant nor exactly equal to the ratio of the pulley
diameters.
– In some cases an idler or tension pulley can be used to avoid
adjustments in center distance that are ordinarily necessitated by
age or the installation of new belts.
• Flat-belt geometry.

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 Belts (cont..)
• Belt drives are either reversing or nonreversing.
• The shafts need not be at right angles as in a flat-belt drive with
out-of-plane pulleys.
• In contrast with flat belts, V belts are used with similar sheaves and
at shorter center distances.
• For timing belts, no initial tension is necessary, so that fixed-center
drives may be used. The restriction on speeds has also been
eliminated.

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 Application Examples

Source: http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-history/source-replacement-flat-belt-167449/index2.html

©2019 Mechanical Engineering Design, MDB3083 Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

 Mechanical Drives

Flexible Drive Rigid drive

- belts, chains, - gears, shafts,
and ropes splines

• Flexible drives transmit power over long distances.

• The intermediate link absorbs shock and vibration.
• Flexible drives are less costly as compared to gear drives.
• Flexible drives provide considerable flexibility in terms of locating
driving and driven shaft.
Limitation:
• Flexible drives occupy more space.
• Not so high velocity ratio and the velocity may not be constant.

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 Advantages of Flexible Drives:
❑ Transmits power over long distances.

❑ Absorbs shock and damps vibration.

❑ Flexibility in the location of shafts.

❑ Less costly as compared to gear drives, and

❑ Low maintenance cost.

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Belts vs. Chains
Belts Chains

Use When: High Speed, Low T High T, Low Speed

Speed: 2500 < Vt < 7000 ft./min. V < 1500 ft./min.

Must design with standard Must be lubricated,

Dis: lengths, wear, creep, wear, noise, weight,
corrosive environment, slip, vibration
temp., when must have
tension need idler

Advs: Quiet, flexible, cost Strength, length

flexibility

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 Types of Belts

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Types of Belts

Main characteristics :
– Applicable for long center distances,
– angular-velocity ratio between the driving and driven shafts is neither
constant nor exactly equal to the ratio of the pulley diameters,
– idler or tension pulley can be used to avoid adjustments in center
distances.

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Flat-belt Geometry:

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Types of drives:

Non-reversing

Reversing

Reversing &
Open Belt

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Flat-belt Geometry:

Variable Speed
Quarter Twist Belt Drive
Fork
Belt Drive
Controlled

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 Flat and Rounded
Belt Drives

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Flat Belt Drives

• Efficiency of flat-belt drive: about 98%,

• Efficiency of a V-belt drive: ranges from about 70 to 96%.

Length of the belt:

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Flat Belt Drives (cont.)

Angle of wrap:

Length of the belt:

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 Key Equations
Belt speed (no
slipping) = 
D11 D22
b = R11 = R2 2 = =
2 2
Speed 1 D2 Pitch dia’s of
ratio = = sheaves
2 D1 Pitch dia
in inches rpm

D1n1
b =
Belt speed
ft/min 12

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Key Equations
Belt length: 2 ( D2 − D1 ) 2
◼ L = 2C + ( D2 + D1 ) +
 4C

B + B 2 − 32( D2 − D1 ) 2
◼ Center Distance: C=
16

◼ Where, B = 4 L − 2 ( D2 − D1 )
Recommended D2 < C < 3(D2+D1)

Note: usually belt length standard

(use standard belt length table 7-2),
then calculate C based on fixed L

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 Key Equations cont…
◼ Angle of contact of belt on each sheave
 D2 − D1 
1 = 180 − 2 sin −1  
 2C 
 D − D1 
 2 = 180  + 2 sin −1  2 
 2C 

Note: Select D’s and C’s so maximum contact (Ѳ1 + Ѳ2 = 180º). If

less then smaller sheave could slip and will need reduction factor
(Table 7-14).

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 Thank You!

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