Chapter 7:

Belt Drives and Chain Drives

CVT

Overview why used?

1.) Transfer power (torque) from one location to

another. From driver: motor,peddles,

engine,windmill,turbine to driven: conveyor belt, back
wheels/bike,generator rock crusher,dryer.
2.) Used to span large distances or need flexible xmission elements. Gear drives have a higher torque
capability but not flexible or cheap.
3.) Often used as torque increaser (speed reducer),
max speed ratio: 3.5:1. Gear drives?? Virtually
unlimited!
Applications? Show rust abrader, glove factory, draw sample drive of rust abrader, show slides from mechanism book.

Sometimes
desirable to
have both chain
and belt drive
(Fig 7.1)
Belt: high
speed/low
torque
Chain: Low
speed/high
torque

Belts vs. Chains

Belts
Use When:
Speed:
Dis:

Advs:

High Speed, Low T

2500 < Vt < 7000 ft./min.

Chains
High T, Low Speed
V < 1500 ft./min.

Must design with standard

lengths, wear, creep,
corrosive environment, slip,
temp., when must have
tension need idler

Must be lubricated,
wear, noise, weight,
vibration

Quiet, flexible, cost

Strength, length
flexibility

Types of Belts:

a)V-belt most common for

machine design, several
types (Fig. 7.5 7.8)
Timing belt (c & d) have
mating pulleys to
minimize slippage
c) Pos retention due to
mating pulleys
d) Pos retention due to
increased contact area
Flat belt
(rubber/leather) not
shown, run on tapered
pulleys
Add notes

Types of V-Belts

V-belt Drive Design Process

Need rated power of the driving motor/prime mover. BASE

sizing on this.
Service factor based on type of driver and driven load.
Center distance (adjustment for center distance must be
provided or use idler pulley) nominal range D2 < C < 3(D2 +
D1)
Power rating for one belt as a function of size and speed of the
smaller sheave
Belt length (then choose standard size)
Sizing of sheaves (use standard size). Most commercially
available sheaves should be limited to 6500 ft/min belt speed.
Belt length correction factor
Angle of wrap correction factor. Angle of wrap on smaller
sheave should be greater than 120 deg.
Number of belts
Initial tension in belts

Key Equations
Belt speed (no
slipping) =
Speed
ratio =

D11 D22

b R11 R2 2
2
2
1 D2
Pitch dias of

sheaves
Pitch dia
2 D1
in inches
Belt speed
ft/min

rpm

D1n1
12

Key Equations

Belt length:

( D2 D1 ) 2
L 2C ( D2 D1 )

4C

Center Distance:

B B 2 32( D2 D1 ) 2
C
16

Where, B 4 L 2 ( D2 D1 )
Recommended D2 < C < 3(D2+D1)

Note: usually belt length standard

(use standard belt length table 7-2),
then calculate C based on fixed L

Key Equations cont

Angle of contact of belt on each sheave

D2 D1
1 180 2 sin
2C
1

D2 D1
2 180 2 sin
2C
1

Note: Select Ds and Cs so maximum contact (1 + 2 = 180). If

less then smaller sheave could slip and will need reduction factor
(Table 7-14).

V-Belt Design Example

Given: 4 cylinder Diesel runs @ 80hp, 1800 rpm to

drive a water pump (1200 rpm) for less than 6
hr./day
Find: Design V-belt drive

V-belt Design Example Cont

1.) Calculate design power:
Use table 7-1(<6h/day, pump, 4 cyl. Engine)
Design Power = input power x service factor
= 80 hp x 1.1
= 88 hp

V-belt Design Example Cont

2.) Select belt type, Use table 7-9
Choose 5V
Speed = 1800 rpm

Design Power = 88 hp

V-belt Design Example Cont

3.) Calculate speed ratio
SR = w1/w2
= 1800 rpm/1200 rpm
= 1.5

V-belt Design Example Cont

4.) Determine sheave sizes
Choose belt speed of 4000 ft/min
(Recall 2500ft./min. < vb < 7000 ft./min)

vb

D1n1
12

12 vb 12 * 4000
D1

8.488 in
n1
*1800

So
D1 = 8.488in
D2 = SR * D1 = 1.5 * 8.488
D2 = 12.732in

V-belt Design Example Cont

5.) Find sheave size (Figure 7-11)
Must find acceptable standard sheave 1, then corresponding
acceptable sheave 2
Engine (D1)
8.4
8.4
8.9

X 1.5
12.6
12.6
13.35

Standard D2
12.4
13.1
13.1

Actual n2
1219
1154
1223

n1 D2
Dn

n2 1 1
n2 D1
D2

**All look OK, we will try the first one

V-belt Design Example Cont

6.) Find rated power (use figure 7-11 again)

Rated Power = 21 hp

V-belt Design Example Cont

Adjust for speed ratio to get total power/belt

Total power = 21hp +1.55hp = 21.55hp

V-belt Design Example Cont

7.) Find estimated center distance
D2 < C < 3(D2+D1)

12.4 < C < 3 (12.4 + 8.4)

Notice using standard

sheave sizes found
earlier, not calculated
diameters

12.4 < C < 62.4

To provide service access will try towards long end,

try C = 40

V-belt Design Example Cont

8.) Find belt length
( D2 D1 ) 2
L 2C ( D2 D1 )

4C
(4in) 2
L 2(40 in) 1.57 (20 .8in)
112 .765 in
4(40 in)
2

V-belt Design Example Cont

9.) Select standard belt length
Lcalc = 112.765
Choose 112

V-belt Design Example Cont

10.) Calculate actual center distance
B 4 L 2 ( D2 D1 )
B 4(112) 6.28(20.8)

B 317.367"
B B 2 32( D2 D1 ) 2
C
16

317.367 317.3672 32(4) 2

C
16
C 39.62"

V-belt Design Example Cont

11.) Find wrap angle, small sheave

D2 D1
1 180 2 sin
2C

4
1
1 180 2 sin

2
(
39
.
62
)

1 174.2

V-belt Design Example Cont

12.) Determine correction factors
C .98

CL .98

V-belt Design Example Cont

13.) Calculate corrected power
Corrected Power C CL P
(.98)(.98)(22.5hp)
21.61hp

V-belt Design Example Cont

14.) Belts needed
Design Power (hp)
# belts
Corrected Power/belt
88 hp
# belts
4.07
21 .61hp / belt
Use 4 belts!

V-belt Design Example Cont

15.) Summary
D1=8.4
D2=12.4
Belt Length = 112
Center Distance = 39.62

4 Belts Needed

Chain Drives

Chain Drives

Types of Chains

Chain Drives

Roller Chain Construction (Most common Type)

Chain Design Process

1.)

# of sprocket teeth, N1 (smaller sprocket) > 17 (unless

low speed < 100 rpm.)

2.) Speed ratio = n1/n2 7

3.) 30 x Pitch Length < Center Distance < 50 x Pitch Length
4.) Angle of contact of chain on smaller sprocket > 120
5.) # sprocket teeth, N2 (longer sprocket) < 120

Chain Drives

Chain Drives Design Example

Given:

Driver: Hydraulic Motor

Driven: Rock Crusher
ni = 625 rpm, 100 hp
no = 225 rpm

Find:

Design belt drive

Chain Drives Design Example

1.) Design Power

DP = SF x HP
DP = 1.4 ( Table 7-8) x 100 hp
DP = 140 hp

Chain Drives Design Example

2.) Calculate Velocity Ratio

ni N o
VR

no N i

n = speed
N = teeth

625rpm
VR
225rpm
VR = 2.78

Heavy Requirement!!

Chain Drives Design Example

3.) Choose:

Size - (40, 60, 80)

80 (1in)

# Strands use 4
Required HP/chain = 140hp/3.3
= 42.42 hp/chain

No No
VR 2.78

N i 25

No = 69.5 use 70 teeth

Number of Roller
Chain Strands

Multiple Strand
Factor

1.7

2.5

3.3

3.9

4.6

Chain Drives Design Example

Conclusion:

4 Strands
No. 80 Chain
Ni = 25 Teeth
No= 70 Teeth

Chain Drive Design Example

Guess center distance: 40 Pitches
N 2 N1 ( N 2 N1 ) 2
L( pitches) 2C

2
4 2C
70 25 (70 25) 2
L( pitches) 2(40)

2
4 2 (40)

L = 128.8 pitches use 130 pitches

Chain Drives Design Example

Actual Center Distance, C
1
N 2 N1
N 2 N1 8( N 2 N1 ) 2

C ( pitches) L
L

4
2
2
4

1
70 25
75 25 8(70 25) 2

C ( pitches) 130
130

4
2
2
4 2

C = 40.6 use 40 Pitches