INTRODUCTION TO BELT DRIVE

SELECTION

Belt drive 1

Belt drive 2
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
A. Know the applications of belt drives and chain drives
 List three types of transmission belts and chains in common use.
 Compare and contrast belt and chain drives.
 State the different engineering applications of belt and chain
drives.
 Describe the different parts of a vee groove sheave and belt.

B. Design a vee belt drive system ( Using Mitsuboshi Belting)

 Determine the design power, and select the proper cross-section.
 Select a pair of standard sheaves and belt pitch length.
 Determine the number of belts required for a particular problem.
 Calculate the forces acting on the shaft due to belt tension.
1. Introduction
Belt and chain drives are used for the transmission of
power when the centre distance between drives are
relatively large and need not be very precise.

Belts are machine elements that use friction for the

transfer of energy. Belts drives can absorb shock and
vibration and relatively quiet.

Chain drives offer the advantages of positive drive (no

slip) and therefore greater power capacity
Ribbed belt driving alternator, steering wheel
pump & air-con compressor.
Types of chain:
 4. Advantages of Belt Drives over Chain Drives
(a) Absorb shock and vibration.
(b) Simple maintenance as it does not need any
lubrication.
(c) Relative low cost, initial cost of drive is moderate
and replacement cost is low.
(d) Design flexibility. It permits power transmission
over non-parallel shafts ( For Flat Belt only).
5. Advantages of Chain Drives over Belt Drives

(a) High efficiency. It permits smooth and efficient flow of

power. Efficiency can be as high as 98%.
(b) Positive Drive (no slip); and therefore greater power of
capacity. Normally used in automobile valve timing and
printing machines.
(c) Can be operated in oil-surrounded or high temperature
environment, where belt drives would be unsuitable.
(d) A single chain can drive many shafts at different speeds.
(e) Can be driven on both sides.
 V-Belts

V-belts :
• trapezoidal cross-section
• run on pair of grooved pulleys.
• variety of standardized sizes and transmission powers,
(kilowatts)
• operate best at belt speeds between 8 and 30 m/s. For
standard belts the ideal speed is approximately 23 m/s.
• For most drive applications the maximum satisfactory
speed ratio is approximately 7:1.
A typical cross section of a V-belt is shown below:
Material and Surface Finish of V-pulley
 Important facts:
• “ω” at smaller pulley is faster
• “V” is a constant
• V= R ω
2π
∀ ω (rpm) = ω × (rads -1
)
60
• “Driver” : pulley to power source (eg. Engine, motor)
• “Driven” pulley to load (eg. Conveyor, pump, fan…)
• 1 Hp = 746 W
• Use SI units during calculations.
 Selection of V-Belts

•Belt design => selection of suitable belt size to

transmit a required power.

•Use Mitsuboshi catalogues.

•Based on the empirical formulae.

 Belt section ?

Std pulley size ?

Follow S.R
arrangement (pitch dia.)
of tables &
charts given

C Std pitch length ? Ca

How many
belts ?
Example One :
Design a V-belt drive to transmit the power
from an A.C. squirrel cage motor rotating at
1440 rpm and rated at 11 kW (14.7 HP) to a fan
rotating at 720 rpm. Centres are to be near to,
but not more than 750 mm apart and the driven
pulley is not to exceed 250 mm outside
diameter. The drive is required to run a
minimum of 18 hours a day.
1440 rpm

D
d

Centre Distance 720 rpm

Driver Driven
- A.C. squirrel cage motor - fan
- rated 11 kw
- 18 hrs/day
 Belt section ?

Std pulley size ?

Follow
arrangement (pitch dia.)
of tables &
charts given

Std pitch length ?

How many
belts ?
 (a) To select Belt Section

Service Factor (Table A2-2) = 1.3

Design Power = Rated Power x Service Factor
= 1.3 x 14.7
= 19.11 Hp
Belt Section Selected (Fig A2-3) = B
 Belt section ?

Std pulley size ?

Follow S.R
arrangement (pitch dia.)
of tables &
charts given

Std pitch length ?

How many
belts ?
(b) To determine Standard
Pulleys Sizes
Speed Ratio =2
Standard pulley selected (Table
A2-4)
Pitch Diameter of Larger Sheave,
D = 240mm
Pitch Diameter of Smaller Sheave,
d = 120 mm
 Belt section ?

Std pulley size ?

Follow
arrangement (pitch dia.)
of tables &
charts given

C Std pitch length ? Ca

How many
belts ?
( c) To Select Standard
Pitch Length of Belt

2
Lc = 2C + 1.57 (D+d) + (D-d) = 2070 mm
4C ( Table A2-1)
Standard pitch length, L s (Table A2-5) = 2057 mm
( Belt no. 81)
 Belt section ?

Std pulley size ?

Follow
arrangement (pitch dia.)
of tables &
charts given

Std pitch length ?

How many
belts ?
Power Rating per belt = 3.81 + 0.71
Using Rpm of 1425 & pitch dia. of 115 mm.

= 4.52 Hp
 Arc of contact, (D-d)/C a = 0.16

Arc of Contact correction factor = 0.97

Table A2-11
Length Correction Factors

Belt length correction factor

(Table A2-11) = 0.98
Actual power rating per belt = 0.98 x 0.97 x 4.52
= 4.3 Hp

No. of belts = Design power/Actual power rating

per belt
= 19.11 / 4.3
= 4.4
Choose 5 belts
Any Questions
 Belt tension (Ts) generates
hub load (Fs)

Hub load generates

bending moment
(M = Fs x L)

Power transmitted thru’

rotating shaft generates a
torque (T = P/ϖ)

TE = M 2 + T 2

TE × r
Torsional stress of shaft: τ =
J
Torque P
T =
transmitted ω Ts, N, θ

Bending M = Fs × L
moment

Equivalent TE = M 2 + T 2
torque

Min. Shaft 16TE

diameter d =3
π × τ all
 If the overhang at the fan pulley in Example 1 is
120mm find the maximum standard shaft diameter of
the fan. Use the allowable shear stress of 50MN/m2
for the shaft material
From Example 1, •B section belt
• Ls = 2057mm •Ca = 746mm
• D = 240mm •no. of belts = 5
•d = 120mm •Pd = 19.11 Hp
Torque Transmitted by the shafts (use rated power)
T = P/ω
= (11 x 1000) / (2π / 60 x 720)
= 146 Nm
Bending Moment, M on the Shaft
Belt speed, V = ω x R
= (2π / 60 x 720) x (0.240 / 2)
= 9.05 m/s
Arc of contact, (D-d)/Ca = 0.16
Any Questions