Scribd
Upload
156 views11 pages

Machine Design: Flexible Power Transmission: Belts

Uploaded by

omer1299
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
156 views11 pages

Machine Design: Flexible Power Transmission: Belts

Uploaded by

omer1299
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Machine Design

Flexible Power
Transmission:
Belts

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 1


Belt Basics
To transmit power: need Torque.
Recall: Power = Torque x Rot’l Speed

Slack
r R
Driver
Load
Tight

And since Torque = ( Ftight - Fslack ) x R [ ΣMoment ]


need Ftight > Fslack ,
where Ftight and Fslack are the tensions in the two legs
of the belt.

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 2


Belt Tension
Flat and V-Belts depend on friction, so they
need a normal force due to an initial preload.
Fi
r R
2Fi 2Fi
Belt Tension
Fi

Before moving, Ftight = Fslack = Fi .


As rotation begins and torque builds,
Ftight = Ftight + ∆F = Fi + ∆F and
Fslack = Fslack - ∆F = Fi - ∆F , from which
Ftight + Fslack = 2 Fi

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 3


Belt Wrap Angles

If both pulleys are Center Distance


c
the same size, the
“wrap” angles, φ , R
r
are both 180°. φ
If not, calculate
−1 ⎛ R − r ⎞ α
α = sin ⎜ ⎟ α
⎝ C ⎠
and the wrap angles are:
φ = 180° - 2α for the small pulley, and
φ = 180° + 2α for the big pulley.

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 4


Weightless Belts

The operating belt


µ Fslack
tension ratio is
constrained by the φ
friction, µ, and the
wrap angle, φ :
Ftight
Ftight µφ
=e φ is in Radians
Fslack
Note: Since the wrap angle is less on the
smaller pulley, it is the limiting component.

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 5


Real Belts
µ
For a real belt that weighs W lb/in Fslack
(or has a mass of m kg/m), φ
there is a centrifugal force (mv2) of
Ftight
Wv 2
Fc = [lb ] or Fc = mv 2 [N ]
g ( g = 386 in/s2 )

This force reduces the belt tension that the pulley


feels, and the operating tension ratio becomes:
Ftight − Fc µφ
=e
Fslack − Fc
© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 6
V-Belts
The wedging action of a V-Belt
with Vee angle = 2β will
increase the belt-to-pulley
friction to be effectively
µ 2β
µ eff =
sin( β )

This lets the operating tension ratio, and therefore


the torque, be much greater.
For a typical Vee angle of 2β = 36°, 1/sin(18°) = 3.2 ,
more than tripling friction.
© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 7
Belt Calculations
Frequently, you will know the initial belt tension, Fi ,
and you will use these two equations:
1) Ftight + Fslack = 2 Fi

Ftight − Fc µφ
2) =e
Fslack − Fc
to solve for whichever quantity is unknown.
Once you know Ftight and Fslack , you can compute the
operating Torque T = ( Ftight - Fslack ) x R , and also the
operating Power Pmax = T x Rot’l Speed [Rad/sec] or
Pmax = ( Ftight - Fslack ) x Linear Belt Speed
© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 8
Belt Power Limit
As a sanity check, recall Fbelt = Fi + ∆F .
When torqued so that ∆F increases to Fi , then
Ftight = 2 Fi and Fslack = 0
Then the limit of power transmitted is

2 Fi [lb ]× V [ ft / s ]
PHP = HorsePower
550

(This tension ratio = 2 Fi / 0 will be greater than the


friction and wrap angle allow, so actual power must
be something less than this result.)

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 9


Belt Length
Center Distance

Knowing the pulley c


radii and their center
R
spacing, the belt r

length can be
calculated:

(R − r) 2
L ≈ 2C + π ( R + r ) +
C

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 10


Belts
• Belts may be “rated” by:
1) A max. tension, Ftight
2) A max. stress (which, times
cross section area, gives max tension)
3) A max power (esp. V-Belts; is
function of speed and pulley diameter)
• Timing belts and roller-chain carry all the
torque in the tight side of the loop.

© 2006 by W.H.Dornfeld. All rights reserved. Belts: 11

You might also like