Power Transmission.

CHAPTER TWO.
2.0 POWER TRANSMISSION.
2.1 BELTS
By the end of the topic, the trainee should be able to;
(i) Identify common types of belts;
(ii) Derive belt equations;
(iii) Apply the equations to solve belt problems;

2.1.1 Introduction to belts.

Belts are used for transmitting power from one shaft to another shaft. They may be;
Flat belts, vee belts etc.
Other methods of transmitting power are ropes and chains. The belts and ropes are running over
the pulleys. The pulleys are mounted on the two shafts.
Belts, ropes and chains are used where the distance between the shafts is large. For small
distances, gears are used.
Belts and ropes are not having constant velocity ratios whereas chains and gears have constant
velocity rations.

2.1.2 Selection of a belt drive.

Section of a belt drive depends upon;
(i) Centre distance between the shafts.
(ii) Power to be transmitted.
(iii) Speed of the driving and driven shafts and;
(iv) Speed reduction ratio.
Though there are many types of belts, the following types are more important:
1) Flat belt – they are rectangular section as shown in figure 5(a)
2) V-belt – they are trapezoidal in section as shown (b);
3) Circular belt or rope – circular in section as shown in figure (c).

Figure 5.1

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Power Transmission.

2.2 Flat belts.

The flat belts are of the following important types;
(i) Open belt drive.
(ii) Cross belt drive.
(iii) Compound belt drive.

2.2.1 Open Flat Belt Drives.

An open belt drive consists of pulleys A and B as shown in figure 5.2. The pulley which is keyed
to the rotating shaft is called driver pulley whereas the pulley which is keyed to the shaft which
is to be rotated is known as driven pulley or follower pulley.
Hence pulley A is the driver and pulley B is the driven pulley.

Figure 5.2

When the shafts are arranged in parallel and rotating in the same direction, open belt drive as
shown in fig.5.2 is used.
The driver pulley A pulls the belt from lower side and delivers it to the upper side. Hence the
tension in the lower side of the belt will be more than the tension in the upper side. The lower
side belt is known as tight side whereas the upper side belt is known as slack side.

2.2.2 Velocity Ratio of Open Belt Drive.

The ratio of velocity of the follower (driven) to the velocity of driver is called Velocity ratio.
Mathematically;

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Power Transmission.

N
Velocity ratio = 2

N1

Let; N1 = Speed of the driver in RPM,

d1 = Diameter of the driver.
N2, d2 = Speed and diameter of the follower respectively.
Consider the belt length passing over the driver and the follower in one minute.

Length of belt passing over the driver in one minute;

= circumference of driver x No. of revolutions per minute
= πd1 x N1
Similarly, Length of belt passing over the follower in one minute:
= circumference of follower x No. of revolutions per minute
= πd2 x N2
But the length of belt passing over driver in one minute is equal to the length of belt passing over
follower in one minute.
 πd1 x N1 = πd2 x N2
N d1
2
=
N1 d2

N d1
 Velocity ratio, 2
= ……. (1)
N1 d2

Equation [1] shows that the speed of pulley is inversely proportional to its diameter.

Questions:
a) Explain the effect of belt thickness on velocity ratio?
b) Find the speed of a shaft which is driven with the help of a belt by an engine running
at 200 rpm. The diameter of the engine pulley is 51cm and that of shaft is 30cm.
[Ans: 340 rpm].
c) If in the above equation, the thickness of the belt is 10mm, then find the speed of the
shaft. [Ans 335.4 rpm]

2.2.3 Slip of the belt.

This is a situation which occurs when the belt moves faster sometimes without carrying the
pulley with it.
When the driver pulley rotates, it carries the belt due to a firm grip between its surface and the
belt. The firm grip between the pulley and the belt is obtained by friction. This firm grip is
known as frictional grip. But sometimes the frictional grip is not sufficient. This may cause some
forward motion of the driver pulley without carrying the belt with it. This means that there is a
relative motion between the driver pulley and the belt. The difference between the linear speeds
of the pulley rim and the belt is a measure of slip.
Generally, slip is expressed as a percentage.

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Power Transmission.

In some cases, the belt moves faster in the forward direction without carrying the driven pulley
with it, hence the in case of a driven pulley, the forward motion of the belt is more than that of
driven pulley.
Let v = velocity of belt, passing over the driver pulley/min.
N1 = speed in rpm of driver.
N2 = sped in rpm of follower.
s1 = slip between the driver and belt in percentage.
s2 = percentage slip between follower and the belt.

The peripheral velocity of the driver pulley;

=  1 r1
2 N 1 d1
= 
60 2
 N 1d 1
= m / sec
60
Due to slip between the driver pulley and the belt, the velocity of belt passing over the driver
pulley will decrease.
 N 1d 1   N 1d 1  s1
 Velocity of belt =  
60  60  100

 N 1d 1  s1 
= 1  
60  100 

The belt is now passing over the follower pulley i.e. driven pulley. As there is a slip between the
belt and the driven pulley, the velocity (i.e., peripheral velocity) of the follower will decrease.

 Peripheral velocity of the follower;

 s2 
= Velocity of belt   v e lo c ity o fb e lt  
 100 

 s2 
= Velocity of belt 1  
 100 

 N 1d 1  s1   s2 
=  1   1   …. (i)
60  100   100 

 N 1d 1  s1 
 V e lo c ity o fb e lt  1  
60  100 

But peripheral velocity of follower pulley;

=  2  r2

2 N 2 d2  N 2d 2
=  = … (ii)
60 2 60

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Power Transmission.

Equating (i) and (ii);

 N 2d 2  N 1d 1  s1   s2 
 1   1  
60 60  100   100 

 s2 s1 s1 s 2 
N 2 d 2  N 1d 1  1    
 100 100 10000 

 s1  s 2 
= N 1d 1  1  
 100 

 s 
= N 1d 1  1  
 100 

(where s = s1  s 2 i.e., total percentage of slip between driver and follower.)

N d1  s 

2


1 ……….. (2)
N1 d2  1 0 0 

If the belt thickness (t) is taken into account, then;

N d1  t  s 
2


1 ………… (3)
N1 d2  t  1 0 0 

Question;

A shaft running at 200 rpm is to drive a parallel shaft at 300 rpm. The pulley on the driving
shaft is 60cm diameter. Calculate the diameter of the pulley on the driven shaft:

(i) Neglecting belt thickness. [40 cm]

(ii) Taking belt thickness into account, which is 5mm thick. [39.83 cm]
(iii) Assuming in the latter case a total slip of 4%. [38.22 cm]

2.2.4 Creep of the Belt.

Creep is the relative motion which occurs between the belt and pulley surfaces due to changes in
length change from slack to tight side.
In a belt drive, the belt is passing over the driver pulley and driven pulley (follower). When the
power is transmitted with the help of this belt, the belt is subjected to tensions. The part of the
belt which leaves which leaves the follower and approaches the driver is known as the tight side
of the belt and is subjected to tension T1.

The part of the belt which leaves the driver and approaches the follower is known as slack side of
the belt and is subjected to tension T2. The two tensions are not equal in magnitude, i.e. T1 > T2.

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Power Transmission.

Hence the stretch in the belt due to different tensions on the two sides of the pulley will be
different.

A certain portion of the belt when passes from slack side to the tighter side, extends and the
same portion contracts again when the belt passes from the tight side to the slack side. Due to
these changes in length, there exists a relative motion a relative motion between the belt and the
pulley surfaces. This relative motion is called creep. The creep has an effect of reducing slightly
the speed of the follower i.e. driven pulley.

When creep is considered, the velocity ratio is given by;

N d1 E  f2 
2
   …………… (4)
 E 
N1 d2 f 1 

Where; E = Young’s modulus for the material of the belt.

f1 = stress in the belt on the tight side, and
f1= stress in the belt on the slack side.
Question;
Power is transmitted from a pulley 1m diameter running at 200rpm to a pulley 2.5m diameter
by means of a belt. Find the speed lost by the driven pulley as a result of the creep, if the stress
on the tight side and slack sides of the belt is 1.44N/mm2 and 0.49N/mm2 respectively. The
young modulus for the belt material is 100N/mm2.
Hint; 2 cases: Soln considering creep, to get speed of follower-eqn [4];
Soln neglecting creep [eqn- 1]
Answer [soln neglecting creep – soln considering creep = 0.33 rpm Ans.]

2.2.5 Length of Belt/ Size of belts.

The length of a belt means the total length of the belt required to connect a driver and a follower.
There are two cases to be considered. They are;

(i) Length of an open belt drive; and

(ii) Length of a cross – belt drive.

1. Length of Open Belt Drive.

If the distance between the centres of the two shafts and the diameter of pulleys are known, the
required length of the belt pulley may be easily calculated.

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Power Transmission.

Figure 5.3

The total length of an open belt is equal to the length of the belt not in contact with either pulley
+ the length of the belt in contact with larger pulley + length of belt in contact with smaller
pulley.

Let, x = Distance between the centres of the two pulleys i.e Length AB
r1 = Radius of the larger pulley
r2 = Radius of the smaller pulley.
L = Total length of the belt.
Both pulleys will rotate in the same direction as shown. The belt leaves the larger pulley at C and
D and smaller pulley at E and F.
Join C & D with A.
Join E & F with B.
From B draw BN parallel to EC. But CE is tangent at C. hence AC is perpendicular to CE
≡ angle ACE = 90° or π/2 radians. As BN//CE, angle ANB is also 90° or π/2 radians.
Let the angle ABN = α radians; then angle BAN = (π/2 -α) radians.
But angle BAK = 90° or π/2. Hence angle KAC = α.
Similarly, it can be shown that angle MBE = α.

Now length AN = AC – CN = r1- r2

x   r1  r2 
2 2
AB  AN
2 2
BN = =

x   r1  r2 
2 2
BN = CE =
Considering triangle ABN,
AN r1  r2
Sin α = =
AB x
Since α <<<<, hence sin α = α.

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Power Transmission.

r1  r2
 α = sin α = ………. (i)
x
Total length, L of the belt is given by;
L = Arc DGC + CE + Arc EHF + FD
= 2[Arc GC + CE + Arc EH]
    
x   r1  r2 
2
= 2  r1   
2
 r2     ……….. (ii)
  2   2 

 
 r1  r2     r1  r2   x   r1  r2  …………………… (5)
2 2
= 2
 
2 
Equation 5 gives the exact length of an open belt drive.
It can be observed that the length of the open belt depends upon both the sum and difference of
the radii.

Questions;
1. Derive an expression for the exact length of the cross-belt drive.
2. Two parallel shafts 6m apart are connected by a belt running over pulleys of
diameters 60cm and 40cm respectively. Determine the exact lengths of the belt
required
(i) If the belt is open. [1357.24cm]
(ii) If the belt is crossed. [1361.24cm].

2.4 Ratio of Belt Tensions.

Consider a driver pulley A and driven pulley B rotating in the clockwise direction as shown in
figure 5.4. Let us consider the driven pulley B.

Figure 5.4

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Power Transmission.

Driven pulley B.

Let T1 = tension in the belt on the tight side.

T2 = Tension in the belt on the slack side.
Θ = angle of contact, i.e., the angle subtended by the arc EF at the centre of driven fully.
μ = Co-efficient of friction between the belt and pulley.
The ratio of the two tensions may be found by considering an elemental piece of the belt MN
subtending an angle   at the centre of the pulley B as shown. The various forces which keep
the elemental piece MN in equilibrium are:
(i) Tension T in the belt at M acting tangentially,
(ii) Tension T +  T in the belt at N acting tangentially,
(iii) Normal reaction R acting radially outward at P, where P is the middle point of
MN,
(iv) Friction force F = μR acting at right angles to R and in opposite direction of the
motion of pulley.

 Angle PBM =
2

Also angle TPF =
2
Resolving forces acting on belt MN in the horizontal direction, we get;
 
R  T s in   T   T  s in
2 2
 
Since angle   is very small, sin can be written as . Hence the above equation becomes;
2 2

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Power Transmission.

 
R  T   T   T  
2 2
  
= T  T   T 
2 2 2
 T  
= T   
2
 T  
= T   (Neglecting the small quantity ) … (i)
2
Resolving forces vertically, we get;
 
F  (T    ) c o s  T cos
2 2

Since   is very small, hence cos reduces to unity i.e. 1. Hence the equation becomes;
2
F  (T    )  T   T

R  T  F= R
T
R  ……. (ii)

Equating the two values of R in (i) and (ii);
T
T   

T
  .  …………………… (6)
T
Integrating eqn 6 between the limits T2 and T1, we get;
T1
dT
 T
   .d    d
T2

T1
lo g e   
T2

T1  
Or  e …………………………….. (7)
T2

Equation [7] gives the relationship between the tensions.  should be taken in radians. Here  is
known as angle of contact.

2.4.1 Angle of Contact for Open Belt Drive.

With the belt drive, the belt will begin to slip on the smaller pulley, since the angle of lap is
smaller on this pulley than on the large pulley.
The angle θ should be taken as the minimum angle of contact. Hence eqn [7], the angle of lap θ
at the smaller pulley must be taken into consideration.
Referring to fig 5.3 for an open belt, the angle of lap on the smaller pulley is equal to the angle
EBF which is equal to (180° - 2α).
 Angle of contact, θ = (180 - 2α) …………. (8)
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Power Transmission.

But the value of α is given by;

r1  r2
Sin α = ………………. (9)
x
Where; r1 = radius of larger pulley,
r2 = radius of smaller pulley, and
x = Distance between the centres of two pulleys.

Question;
Derive an expression for the angle of contact for crossed belt drive or
Show that for crossed belt drive the angle of lap on both the pulleys is the same or
Show that the angle of lap on smaller or larger pulley for a crossed belt drive is
r1  r2
equal to (180 + 2α) or angle of contact, θ = (180 + 2α); with sin α =
x

2.5 Power Transmitted by Belt.

Let T1 = Tension in the tight side of the belt.
T2 = Tension in the slack side of the belt.
v = Velocity of the belt in m/s.

The effective tension or force acting at the circumference of the driven pulley is the difference
between the two tensions i.e. T1 - T2
 Effective driving force = T1 - T2
 Effective work done per second = Force x Velocity
= (T1 - T2)  v Nm.
 Power transmitted = (T1 - T2)  v Watts. …….. (10)
( T1  T 2 )  v
= kW …………. (11)
1000
In case of equation [11], the tensions T1 and T2 are taken in Newtons.

2.6 Torque.
Torque exerted on the driving pulley = (T1 - T2)  r1 ……. (12)
Torque exerted on the driven pulley = (T1 - T2)  r2 …….. (13)

Questions;
1. A belt running over a pulley of diameter 120 cm at 200 rpm. The angle of contact is
165° and coefficient of friction between the belt and pulley is 0.3. if the maximum
tension in the belt is 3000N, find the power transmitted by the belt.

Soln;
Dia of pulley, d = 120cm = 1.2m

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Power Transmission.

Speed of pulley, N = 200 rpm

 
Angle of contact, θ = 165° = 1 6 5   1  rad
180 180
Coefficient of friction, μ = 0.3
Max tension, T1 = 3000N
 dN   1 .2  2 0 0
Velocity of belt, v    1 2 .5 6 m / s
60 60
Let T2 = Tension on the slack side of the belt.
T1  
Using the eqn;  e
T2
, we get;

T1   0 .3 1 6 5   /1 8 0
 e  e  2 .3 7 1 4
0 .8 6 3 5
e
T2
=
3000
 2 .3 7 1 4
T2

3000
T2   1265 N
2 .3 7 1 4
Power transmitted;
( T1  T 2 )  v
P= kW
1000

 3 0 0 0  1 2 6 5   1 2 .5 6
 =12.79kW.
1000

2. An open belt drive connects two pulleys 120 cm and 50 cm diameters, on parallel shafts
4m apart. The maximum tension in the belt is 1855.3N. The coefficient of friction is 0.3.
The driver pulley of diameter 120 cm runs at 200 rpm. Calculate;
(i) The power transmitted, and [power, P = 13.73kW]
(ii) Torque on each of the two shafts.
[Ans. Driving shaft = 656.1 Nm, driven shaft = 273.4Nm]

2.7 Vee belt drive.

The power transmitted from one shaft to another is also transmitted with the help of V- belt drive
and rope drive.
Consider a V-Belt with grooved pulley shown in figure 5.6;
Let; RN = Normal reaction between belt and sides of the V – grooved pulley.
2α = Angle of groove.
μ = coefficient of friction between belt and pulley.
R = Total reaction in the plane of groove.

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Power Transmission.

Figure 5.6

Resolving the forces vertically, we get;

R = RN sin α + RN sin α = 2RN sin α

R R
RN  = c o s e c
2 s in  2

Frictional resistance =  RN   RN  2 RN

R
= 2  c o s e c
2

=  R c o s e c = (μ cosec α) x R.

Recall, frictional force or resistance for a flat belt is μ x R, whereas in case of V – Belt it is equal
T1
to (μ cosec α) x R. hence the ratio of tensions i.e. in case of V- belt can be obtained by
T2

replacing μ by μ cosec α in the equation (7).

T1  c o s e c  
 For Vee Belt,  e
T2

T1   c o s e c
 e ………….. (14)
T2

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Power Transmission.

Questions.

1. Show that the centrifugal tension in a belt connected to a pulley is given by; TC = mv2,
where; m = mass of belt per meter length; and v = velocity of belt in m/s.

2. The maximum allowable tension in a V-belt of groove angle of 45° is 1.5kN. The angle
of lap is 170° and μ = 0.27. If the belt is running at 2m/s, determine;
i. Net driving tension.
ii. Power transmitted by the pulley. neglect centrifugal tension.
[1315N; 2.63kW]

3. The following data relates to a V-belt drive;

V-groove angle = 30°
belt depth = 2cm; maximum width = 2cm.
mass of the belt = 3.5g/cm length.
max. allowable stress = 140N/cm2.
Determine the maximum power transmitted when the angle of lap is 140° and μ = 0.15.
hint: for maximum power transmitted, centrifugal tension TC = one-third Max tension Tmax.
[4.09kW]

4. The max permissible stress in a belt is 1.4N/mm2 and ratio of tensions is 2.0. Find the maximum
power transmitted by a belt 150mm by 10mm if the density of leather is 1 Mg/m3. [14.75kW]

5. A V-belt of mass 0.9kg/m length is used to transmit power between two shafts. The angle of lap
is 170° and angle of groove is 45°. The coefficient of friction between belt and pulley is 0.17and
maximum permissible tension in the belt is limited to 2.2kN. Find;
i. velocity of belt for maximum power
ii. power transmitted at this velocity.
[28.54m/s; 30.67kW]

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