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JEFERSON SABIO | BSCE 3A | CE314

What are the advantages and disadvantages of belts
compared to other forms of power transmission?

PROS
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Due to the flexible nature of the belt’s material, pulleys
can be arranged to rotate in different planes and
rotate in opposite directions.

Power transmission belts are not lubricated and

maintenance is minimal.

Manufacturing of belts and pulleys are less expensive.

Operation is smooth and silent.

CONS
The endless loop belts cannot be repaired when broken,
and has to be replaced.

Changes in the load or tension may cause slippage.

They cannot operate in extreme situations since the
material is sensitive to temperature and the moisture
reduces the contact surface friction causing slippage.

The length of the belt drives cannot be adjusted.

2
Give several applications for each type of belt

FLAT BELTS
Historically, flat belts were often used for transmission of
power from flywheels to other parts of machinery. Today,
they are commonly seen in use as conveyor belts or parts
of belt arrays, where the flat surface makes it easy to
move products along the top of the belt.

ROUND BELTS
Round-belt drives are now rare and are used only in
mechanisms of low power, such as those in sewing
machines.

V-BELTS
V-belt drives are extensively used in industrial and pump
applications.

SYNCHRONOUS BELTS
Synchronous belts can be used for applications such as
automatic machinery where a definite motion sequence
or indexing is necessary.
 3
What is alignment and why is it very important in belt drive?
Name and describe the types of misalignment.

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ALIGNMENT
Alignment in a belt drive system is the arrangement of
SSIGNMENT pulleys or the shafts on which the pulleys are mounted.

IMPORTANCE
Proper alignment is important to achieve maximum and
effective power transmission. When this is not managed well,
misalignment may occur. It is a condition when pulleys or
their shafts are not arranged properly which could reduce
belt performance by increasing wear and fatigue. This puts
undue stress on the belt and may cause it to tear. There are
two types of misalignment: Angular and Parallel

ANGULAR
misalignment results in
accelerated
belt/sheave wear and
potential stability
problems with individual
V-belts. This occurs
when pulleys become
“tilted” because their
shafts are not parallel.
PARALLEL
Misalignment also results
in accelerated
belt/sheave wear and
potential stability
problems with individual
belts. This occurs when
pulley is “out of plane”
with the other pulleys in
the drive system.

4
What is belt tension and why is it important?

BELT TENSION four

Belt tension is an internal pulling force that is directed away
from the belt and attempts to stretch or elongate itself. It is
determined by measuring the force to deflect the belt a
given distance per inch of pulley.

IMPORTANCE
This is important to prevent slippage which can lead to spin
burns, cover wear, overheating of the belt, and possibly
overheating of bearings.

resources
https://www.plantengineering.com/articles/basics-of-belt-drives/
https://www.toolingu.com/class/440150/belt-drive-applications-241
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/belt-tension
https://learnmech.com/mechanical-drives-belt-chain-gear/
https://www.knowyourparts.com/technical-resources/engine/serpentine-belt-alignment/