Power transmission belts

V-belt selection
— it’s a veritable
Consider application loads and drive type before you pick your belt.

made of rubber, neoprene, and ure-
Deborah Fox thane synthetic materials, replaced
Maska Pulleys Inc. flat belts. Now, the increased over-
Quebec, Canada all surface material of modern belts
adheres to pulley grooves through
friction force, to reduce the tension
required to transmit torque. The
top part of the belt, called the ten-
sion or insulation section, contains
fiber cords for increased strength as

T
he most common systems
for transmitting power from
a drive to a driven shaft are
belt, gear, and chain drives. But V-
belt drive systems, also called friction
drives (because power is transmitted
as a result of the belt’s adherence to
the pulley) are an economical option
for industrial, automotive, commer-
cial, agricultural, and home appli-
ance applications. V-belt drives are
also easy to install, require no lubri-
cation, and dampen shock load.
Here’s the catch: Standard fric-
tion drives can both slip and creep,
resulting in inexact velocity ratios or
degraded timing precision between
input and output shafts. For this rea-
son, it is important to select a belt
appropriate for the application at
hand.
Belt makeup
Belt drives are one of the earli-
est power transmission systems
and were widely used during the
Industrial Revolution. Then, flat
belts conveyed power over large dis-
tances and were made from leather.
Later, demands for more powerful
machinery, and the growth of large
markets such as the automobile in-
dustry spurred new belt designs. V-
belts, with a trapezoidal or V shape,
A newer system for sizing belt drives
When building a new engineering drive or redesigning equipment, there
are several approaches to determining the most suitable belt. In one ap-
proach, which we present here, adjusted power ratings are used instead
of basic ratings. How is this helpful? Basic power ratings are based only
on the size of the sheave and drive speed. In the values of the system we
present here, length correction and arc correction factors are applied — to
adjust the basic power rating to the ratio and center distance. In selection
tables here, the adjusted power rating is presented with both correction
factors.
Which components are required for a cost-efficient and precise V-belt
drive application? To evaluate a selection quickly, follow these steps.
 Determine drive requirements. How much power do you need to trans-
mit and at what speed?
 Based on manufacturer ratings, determine the service factor for your
particular application.
 Determine the design horsepower using the formula for it.
 Based on your results, determine which belt section would be appro-
priate for your drive with speed-power charts. (Narrow belt sheaves, more
compact than classic sheaves, have different ratings.)
 Determine the ratio of your drive application based on the ratio formula
and find the closest value in the drive selection tables for your selected belt
section. A center distance is preselected based on the drive size.
 Find the number of belts required by dividing the design horsepower
by the horsepower/belt value in drive selection tables.
 Verify the validity of this drive by consulting the number of grooves
available in these sheave sizes.
 Determine whether dynamic balancing is needed for each sheave
based on the dynamic or two-plane balancing formula. Note that standard
face width dimensions can be found in tables.
Several associations provide belt specification guidelines. Those estab-
lished by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) are most commonly
used. Too, drive selection program software makes this process easier.

18 APRIL 2008 MOTION SYSTEM DESIGN • www.motionsystemdesign.com


cinch
it carries the load of traction force.
It helps hold tension members in
place and acts as a binder for greater
adhesion between cords and other
sections. In this manner, heat build-
up is reduced, extending belt life.
Prestretched tension-member cords
(polyester, aramide, steel, fiberglass)
also minimize stretch.
The bottom, or compression sec-
tion, is designed to withstand com-
pression. It is made from a tough
rubber compound that exerts a
wedging force against the pulley
groove to increase adherence with-
out deformation.
The protective cover (generally
an elastic cover made of rubber-im-
pregnated fabric that is slip-resistant
and durable) is a heat-resistant layer
that protects the belt’s inner compo-
nents.
The torque obtained depends on
the belt’s resistance to the applied
tension and the degree of adher-
ence to the inner walls of the pulley
groove. For this reason, belt-drive
systems should never be lubricated,
as they depend on friction to trans-
mit power — in contrast to chain or
gear systems that function through
pure contact pressure. Another tip:
The inside face of the belt should
never touch the bottom of the
groove.
Horsepower
All belt sizes are classified by
cross-section and length dimen-
APRIL 2008
sions. The cross-section indicates
the top width, depth, and V angle
dimensions. Length is measured in
terms of outside and inside (pitch)
lengths.
In mechanical engineering, power
is a measure of performance or ca-
pacity and is defined as the amount
of work performed in a given time.
Torque is related to power:
τ (lb - in.) ⋅ rpm
hp =
63,025
Adding a service factor to nominal
horsepower (which is either motor
power or horsepower to be trans-
mitted) ensures drive efficiency.
Adjusted power rating
Basic power ratings are known for
all belt sheave sizes and drive speeds.
Should a rotational com-
ponent become blocked
while in operation, the
entire power transmission
system can be damaged
with chains or gears. Belt
drives reduce this risk,
because belts slip if the
system freezes, thus pre-
venting breakage.
MOTION SYSTEM DESIGN • www.motionsystemdesign.com
Pulleys with more tracks
pull more load.
With the system presented here, a
length correction and an arc correc-
tion factor adjust this basic power
rating to the sheave speed ratio
(which we’ll explain shortly) and the
center distance. This is more accu-
rate and realistic than formulas and
tables that only show basic horse-
power values.
For simplicity, a typical center
distance is usually assumed for each
sheave combination. For distances
not listed, know that longer cen-
ter distances mean slightly higher
power ratings — and shorter center
distances mean lower power ratings.
For high ratio drives, small center-
distance changes may affect the
power rating considerably.
19
 Power transmission belts

Design service factor

Type of driving unit
Type of service can
either be intermittent Ac motors: normal torque, Ac motors: high torque, split,
(meaning 3 to 5 hours squirrel. Dc motors: shunt repulsion-induction, single-phase
daily or seasonal), wound, multiple cage, syn- series, compound wound • single-
normal (meaning 8 to chronous, split-phase. Engines: cylinder engines • line shafts •
10 hours of operation a cylinder, internal combustion clutches
day), or continuous (16
to 24 hours a day.)
Intermittent Normal Continuous Intermittent Normal Continuous
Driven machine type
Light-duty conveyors
• fans to 10 hp • centrifu-
gal pumps, compressors 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.3
• blowers, exhausters •
liquid agitators
Revolving, vibrating
screens • positive dis-
placement rotary pumps
• printing machinery •
punches, presses, shears
• machine tools • laundry 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4
machinery • line shafts •
generators • fans over 10
hp • mixers • Sand, grain
belt conveyors
Textile machinery •
saw mill, woodworking
machinery • pulverizers
• positive-displacement
blowers • piston pumps •
paper mill beaters • ham- 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.6
mer mills • conveyors
(drag, pan, screw) piston
compressors • exciters •
bucket elevators • brick
machinery
Rubber calendars, 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.8
extruders, mills • hoists
• mills (ball-rod-tube)
• crushers (gyratory-
jaw-roll)

These service factors for V-belt drives follow RMA standards. They make
V-belt selections more appropriate for specific load and driving conditions.

Finally: Many standard sheaves Service factors depend on the

are designed to operate up to 6,500
fpm as per industry standards. Drives
exceeding this speed require a duc-
tile iron sheave construction, and in
such cases, extra manufacturer de-
sign help is highly recommended.
Design horsepower
A service factor takes into account
power losses due to vibration, shock,
heat, and other factors caused by
the motor and application. Using a
design power based on these consid-
erations results in a more accurate,
efficient drive system.
Circle XXX
20 APRIL 2008 MOTION SYSTEM DESIGN • www.motionsystemdesign.com
driven machines and driving units;
select a driven machine with load
characteristics closest to those of
the machine being considered, then
multiply it by the rated motor power
or power demand of the driven unit
to obtain design power. A service
factor of 2.0 is recommended for
equipment subject to choking.
HP’ = SF × HP
Where SF = Service factor
HP = Basic horsepower
HP’ = Design horsepower
Next factor: A ratio expresses the
speed relation between two V-belt
 Speed-power capabilities
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,500
Speed of faster shaft (rpm)

2,000
1,500

1,000
A, AX B, BX
600

400 C, CX

D
200
150

100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 200 300 500
Basic horsepower x service factor = Design horsepower (hp)

Pick a belt section appropriate for your design’s geometry and actual
work requirements.

Drive selection pulleys. Theoretical speed ratios are

stable, because slippage is ignored
Datum Datum Center Driver rpm=1,750 — about 5% speed loss. However, Rpm driver = 3,500
Ratio driver driven distance Driven Hp/Belt
because belt slip is inevitable, actual Driven HP / Belt
*Belt
Number
in. in. in. rpm A
ratios vary. If the speed ratio is less RPM A AX
1.98 3.00 6.20 11.31 882 2.17
than 1 (1:4, for example) it’s a sys- 3,500 1.44 2.31 24
2.01 3.20 6.70 11.75 869 2.48
tem that increases speed; if the ratio 3,500 2.04 2.91 26
2.02 2.35 5.00 9.29 867 1.19
is more than 1 (4:1, for example) it’s 3,500 2.54 3.41 28

Armed with the speed ratio, we ob- a speed reduction system. In both 3,500 3.02 3.88 29
tain the hp-per-belt value; dividing cases, the ratio is obtained with di- 3,500 3.77 4.64 32
design horspower by that gives the mensions of the input (driver) and
number of belts required.
output (driven) pulley dimensions:
1.00 3.20 3.20 10.13 1,750 2.06 2.58
1.00 3.50 3.50 11.16 1,750 2.52 3.04

51 Minimum
1.05 3.50diameters
3.70 and other
11.00 useful
1,661 2.60 3.12information
3,323 3.92 4.79 32
52 1.05 4.00 4.20 12.71 1,671 3.38 3.90 3,343 5.16 6.05 37
53 1.05 5.70 Datum 16.96Number
6.00 1,666of grooves
6.11 6.58 3,332 9.08 10.18 51
O.D.
for ligh-duty A-B sheaves

A B 1 2 3 4 Section
54 1.05 6.20 6.50 18.68 1,672 6.94 7.40 3,344 10.12 11.36 Number
56 of grooves
3.75 3.0 3.4
Bushing table

55 1.05 9.00
3.95 9.50
3.2 26.13
3.6 1,660 11.35 11.79 - - - 80
56 1.05 4.15
9.50 3.4
10.00 3.8
27.84 1,665 12.11 12.57 - - A - 85 1, 2
4.35 3.6 4.0
4.55 3.8 4.2 SH: 0.5 to 1.625 in. AB 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10
132 1.16 4.75
4.70 4.0
5.50 4.4
14.64 1,507 4.63 5.14 3,013 7.10 8.06
44
4.95 4.2 4.6 C 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12
133 1.16 6.00
5.15 7.00
4.4 17.94
4.8 SD: 1/26.73
1,509 to 2 in.7.20 3,017 9.97 11.16 55
134 1.16 7.50 8.75 22.39 1,507 9.18 9.62 - - - 69
Distance
Sheave face widths (in.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 between
grooves

691 A 0.755.50 1.375

3.17 2
18.00 2.625
23.88 3.25
551 3.875
6.44 4.5 6.96 5.125
1,1035.759.826.375 7
10.96 7.625
85 0.63
692 3.19 3.20 10.75 14.72 549 2.60 3.17 1,098 4.02 4.98 51
B 1 1.75 2.5 3.25 4 4.75 5.5 6.25 7 7.75 8.5 9.25 0.75
693 3.20 2.25 7.75 10.95 547 1.10 1.67 1,094 1.49 2.46 37
C 1.375 2.375 3.375 4.375 5.375 6.375 7.375 8.375 9.375 10.375 11.375 12.375 1
694 3.20 2.80 9.50 13.07 547 1.95 2.53 1,095 2.94 3.90 45
695 3.20 3.50 11.75 16.15 547 3.10 3.68 1,094 4.84 5.80 56
Are 3.20
696 there versions
4.20 of
14.00 the selected
18.72 546 sheave
4.26 size with
4.82 1,093 enough
6.66 grooves
7.65 66 to accomo-
date3.21
697
the belts
2.55
required?
8.75
That’s 544
12.39
verified
1.57
here,
2.14
and nonstandard
1,089 2.29 3.26
face42widths are
calculated but shaded in purple.
698 3.21 4.50 15.00 20.16 545 4.77 5.33 1,090 7.45 8.46 71 Circle XXX
699 3.24 2.45 8.50 11.66 540 1.40 1.97 1,080 2.01 2.97 40
700 3.26 3.20 11.00 APRIL
15.00 2008
537 2.61 3.19 MOTION
1,073 4.03 SYSTEM
5.00 52 DESIGN • www.motionsystemdesign.com 21
 Power transmission belts
rpm1 D2
RS = =
rpm 2 D1
Where RS = Speed ratio
D1 = Driver pulley diameter
D2 = Driven pulley diameter
Rim or belt speed is:
1 ft
Pulley diameter ⋅ π ⋅ rpm ⋅
12 in.
or fpm = Pulley diameter ⋅ 0.2618 ⋅ rpm
To obtain the maximum recom-
mended operating rpm for a stan-
dard sheave or pulley, introduce
the 6,500 fpm speed limit with this
formula. This speed limit refers only
to pulley construction. If the sheave
is to be operated at a higher speed,
then two-plane or dynamic balanc-
ing should be considered.
Balancing
When a unit runs in a circular
path, inertial centrifugal force pulls
the element away from center. (For
a better feel of centrifugal force, tie
one end of a rope to an object and
the other end to a rotating axis. As
speed increases, the object is lifted in
the air until the rope extends hori-
zontally.)
In power transmission systems,
if the mass of a rotating body is un-
evenly distributed around its rota-
tional axis, centrifugal forces will be
unbalanced. This causes vibration,
noise, and reduced life. Sheave bal-
ancing on V-belt drives fixes this by
altering the center of gravity to cor-
respond with the axis of rotation (at
the center of the part).
Every rotating component is un-
balanced to some degree; parts with
absolute balance would be costly (if
not impossible) to manufacture. But
two types of balancing approved by
the Mechanical Power Transmission
Association (MPTA) correct the sit-
uation: single and double-plane.
Single-plane balancing is always
recommended. Here, a counter
Circle XXX
22 APRIL 2008 MOTION SYSTEM DESIGN • www.motionsystemdesign.com
weight is added, identical and di-
rectly opposite the extra mass. How-
ever, single-plane balancing is not
always sufficient. If the rpm of the
application exceeds the maximum
recommended, two-plane balancing
is required. Specifically:
15,500
rpm =
DF
Where D = Diameter, in.
F = Face width, in.
For example, if a ∅20 × 10-in. face
width sheave runs faster than 1,100
rpm, dynamic balancing is recom-
mended. The result: 1,096 rpm.
When single-plane balancing is
insufficient, two-plane balancing
corrects weight on two planes on
the component axis. (This is not
fully dynamic balancing, but par-
tially dynamic balancing.) The areas
affected must be separated to effec-
tively produce a two-plane balance
as per MPTA guidelines. So, two-
plane balancing acts on nonbalanced
units of masses that do not lie within
a narrow plane. They are distributed
along the component length.
Several factors affect total imbal-
ance: The mass of the imbalance
source, the distance from rotational
center, speed, and the distance be-
tween the imbalance cause along the
axial length. In general, the longer a
component in relation to its diam-
eter, the greater the need for two-
plane balancing at a certain speed.
Two-plane balancing is recom-
mended only where the product
face width is relatively large and the
operational speed relatively fast, or
where balance is critical. It is con-
sidered optional and must be specifi-
cally requested.
Only partial example charts are pre-
sented here, but a full technical e-hand-
book (and software to size belt drives)
are available at maskapulleys.com —
or call (800) 463-8928.