M3.

2 Belt Drives

M3.2.1 Introduction

Figure: A V-Belt drive

Belt drives are suitable when the power source (eg: motor) is at some distance away from the
load. These could be used for torque and speed conversion like gears. A belt is a strip of rubber
or some other flexible material that is looped over two or more sheaves (i.e. pulleys). They are
used as a simple and efficient way to transmit power between two rotating shafts.

Belts have a very high power transmission efficiency at around 95%. Belts are inexpensive and
easy to design. The maintenance of these devices is also easy. The elasticity present in the belts
can provide damping and shock absorption which results in less vibration.

Usually the belts have a composite structure. They have a rubber or a synthetic surface for
providing a sufficient amount of friction. In order to provide increased tensile strength the belts
are reinforced with steel wires.

M3.2.2 Types of belts

Flat belts

• Flat looped strip of flexible material

• Mechanically links two or more rotating shafts

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• Also used as a source of motion (i.e. conveyor belt), to continually carry a load between two
points
• Pros:
• Inexpensive and efficiently transmits power
• Low Noise
• Absorbs the shock force against the motor caused by load fluctuations
• Cons:
• Susceptible to Slipping and misalignment

V-Belts
• Belt is shaped in a Shaped in a ‘V’
• V belt allows higher torques to be transmitted
• The sheave circumference has grooves that would mate with the V-belt. These grooves
wedge the belt at higher loads, allowing more torque to be placed on the belt.
• The grooves solve the problem of slipping and misalignment
• For higher power requirement, two or more belts can be joined side-by-side to form a
multi-V belt
• When a belt cannot be specified, a linked V-belt can be used, which is made up of rubber
links held together by metal fasteners. However, these are weaker and runs at slower speeds

Timing Belts

• Also known as notch, tooth, or cog Belts

• These encounters no slippage
• Capable for running at constant speed
• Transfers direct motion for indexing and timing purposes
• These are often used in vehicles as a part of the internal combustion engine to control the
timing of engine valves.

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M3.2.3 Belt Relations

Basic Terminology

Contact Angle Geometry

θ2
θ1

dspan 

dcenter 

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