Introduction

The belts or ropes are used to transmit power from one shaft to another by means of pulleys which
rotate at the same speed or at different speeds.
The amount of power transmitted depends upon the following factors:
1. The velocity of the belt.
2. The tension under which the belt is placed on the pulleys.
3. The arc of contact between the belt and the smaller pulley.
4. The conditions under which the belt is used. It may be noted that
(a) The shafts should be properly in line to insure uniform tension across the belt section.
(b) The pulleys should not be too close together, in order that the arc of contact on the smaller pulley
may be as large as possible.
(c) The pulleys should not be so far apart as to cause the belt to weigh heavily on the shafts, thus
increasing the friction load on the bearings.
(d) A long belt tends to swing from side to side, causing the belt to run out of the pulleys, which in turn
develops crooked spots in the belt.
(e) The tight side of the belt should be at the bottom, so that whatever sag is present on the loose side
will increase the arc of contact at the pulleys.
( f ) In order to obtain good results with flat belts, the maximum distance between the shafts should
not exceed 10 meters and the minimum should not be less than 3.5 times the diameter of the larger
pulley. Selection of a Belt Drive
Various important factors upon which the selection of a belt drive depends:
1. Speed of the driving and driven shafts,
2. Speed reduction ratio,
3. Power to be transmitted,
4. Centre distance between the shafts,
5. Positive drive requirements,
6. Shafts layout,
7. Space available, and 8. Service conditions.
Types of Belt Drives
The belt drives are usually classified into the following three groups:
1. Light drives. These are used to transmit small powers at belt speeds up to about 10 m/s as in
agricultural machines and small machine tools.
2. Medium drives. These are used to transmit medium powers at belt speeds over 10 m/s but up to 22
m/s, as in machine tools.

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3. Heavy drives. These are used to transmit large powers at belt speeds above 22 m/s as in
Compressors and generators.
Types of Belts
Though there are many types of belts used these days, yet the following are important from the
1. Flat belt.
The flat belt as shown in Fig. 18.1 (a), is mostly used in the factories and workshops, where a moderate
amount of power is to be transmitted, from one pulley to another when the two pulleys are not more
than 8 metres apart.

2. V- belt. The V-belt as shown in Fig. (b) is mostly used in the factories and workshops, where a great
amount of power is to be transmitted, from one pulley to another, when the two pulleys are very near
to each other.
3. Circular belt or rope. The circular belt or rope as shown in Fig. (c) Is mostly used in the factories and
workshops, where a great amount of power is to be transmitted, from one pulley to another, when the
two pulleys are more than 8 meters apart. If a huge amount of power is to be transmitted, then a
single belt may not be sufficient. In such a case, wide pulleys (for V-belts or circular belts) with a
number of grooves are used. Then a belt in each groove is provided to transmit the required amount of
power from one pulley to another.
MATERIAL USED FORBELTS
The material used for belts and ropes must be strong, flexible, and durable. It must have a high
coefficient of friction. The belts, according to the material used, are classified as follows
LEATHER BELTS.
The most important material for the belt is leather. The best leather belts are made from 1.2 metres to
1.5 metres long strips cut from either side of the back bone of the top grade steer hides. The hair side
of the leather is smoother and harder than the flesh side, but the flesh side is stronger. The fibres on
the hair side are perpendicular to the surface, while those on the flesh side are interwoven and parallel
to the surface. Therefore for these reasons, the hair side of a belt should be in contact with the pulley
surface, as shown in Fig. This gives a more intimate contact between the belt and the pulley and places
the greatest tensile strength of the belt section on the outside, where the tension is maximum as the
belt passes over the pulley.

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 (a) Single layer belt. (b) Double layer belt

2. The leather may be either oak-tanned or mineral salt tanned e.g. chrome tanned. In order to increase
the thickness of belt, the strips are cemented together. The belts are specified according to the
number of layers e.g. single, double or triple ply and according to the thickness of hides used e.g. light,
medium or heavy.
The leather belts must be periodically cleaned and dressed or treated with a compound or dressing
containing neat foot or other suitable oils so that the belt will remain soft and flexible.
3. COTTON OR FABRIC BELTS: Most of the fabric belts are made by folding canvass or cotton duck to
three or more layers (depending upon the thickness desired) and stitching together. These belts are
woven also into a strip of the desired width and thickness. They are impregnated with some filler like
linseed oil in order to make the belts water proof and to prevent injury to the fibres. The cotton belts
are cheaper and suitable in warm climates, in damp atmospheres and in exposed positions. Since the
cotton belts require little attention, therefore these belts are mostly used in farm machinery, belt
conveyor etc.
4. RUBBER BELT. The rubber belts are made of layers of fabric impregnated with rubber com- position
and have a thin layer of rubber on the faces. These belts are very flexible but are quickly destroyed if
allowed to come into contact with heat, oil or grease. One of the principal advantages of these belts is
that they may be easily made endless. These belts are found suitable for saw mills, paper mills where
they are exposed to moisture.
5. BALATA BELTS. These belts are similar to rubber belts except that balata gum is used in place of
rubber. These belts are acid proof and water proof and it is not effected animal oils or alkalies. The
balata belts should not be at temperatures above 40° C because at this temperature the balata begins
to soften and becomes sticky. The strength of balata belts is 25 per cent higher than rubber belts.
TYPES OF FLAT BELT DRIVES
The power from one pulley to another may be transmitted by any of the following types of belt drives:
OPEN BELT DRIVE. The open belt drive, as shown in Fig. 3.3, is used with shafts arranged parallel and
rotating in the same direction. In this case, the driver A pulls the belt from one side (i.e. lower side RQ)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

and delivers it to the other side (i.e. upper side L M). Thus the tension in the lower side belt will be
more than that in the upper side belt. The lower side belt (because of more tension) is known as tight
side whereas the upper side belt (because of less tension) is known as slack side, as shown in Fig.
CROSSED OR TWIST BELT DRIVE : The crossed or twist belt drive, as shown in Fig. is used with shafts
arranged parallel and rotating in the opposite directions.

Fig. Crossed or twist belt drive.

In this case, the driver pulls the belt from one side (i.e. RQ) and delivers it to the other side (i.e. L M).
Thus the tension in the belt RQ will be more than that in the belt L M. The belt RQ (because of more
tension) is known as tight side, whereas the belt LM (because of less tension) is known as slack side, as
shown in Fig. A little consideration will show that at a point where the belt crosses, it rubs against
each other and there will be excessive wear and tear. In order to avoid this, the shafts should be placed
at a maximum distance of 20 b, where b is the width of belt and the speed of the belt should be less
than 15m/s.
QUARTER TURN BELT DRIVE. The quarter turn belt drives also known as right angle belt drive, as
shown in Fig. (a), is used with shafts arranged at right angles and rotating in one definite direction. In
order to prevent the belt from leaving the pulley, the width of the face of the pulley should be greater
or equal to b, where b is the width of belt.
In case the pulleys cannot be arranged, as shown in Fig.(a), or when the reversible motion is desired,
then a quarter turn belt drive with guide pulley, as shown in Fig.(b), may be used.

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 (a) Quarter turns belt drive. (b) Quarter turn belt drive with guide pulley

4. BELT DRIVE WITH IDLER PULLEYS.

A belt drive with an idler pulley (also known as jockey pulley drive) as shown in Fig. 18.7, is used with
shafts arranged parallel and when an open belt drive can’t be used due to small angle of contact on the
smaller pulley. This type of drive is provided to obtain high velocity ratio and when the required belt
tension can’t be obtained by other means. When it is desired to transmit motion from one shaft to
several shafts, all arranged in parallel, a belt drive with many idler pulleys, as shown in Fig.

COMPOUND BELT DRIVE.

A compound belt drive, as shown in Fig. is used when power is transmitted from one shaft to another
through a number of pulleys.

Fig: Compound belt drive.

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STEPPED OR CONE PULLEY DRIVE.
A stepped or cone pulley drive, as shown in Fig. is used for changing the speed of the driven shaft while the

main or driving shaft runs at constant speed. This is accomplished by shifting the belt from one part of the
steps to the other.
7. Fast and loose pulley drive. A fast and loose pulley drive, as shown in Fig. is used when the driven or

machine shaft is to be started or stopped whenever desired without interfering with the driving shaft.
A pulley which is keyed to the machine shaft is called fast pulley and runs at the same speed as that of
machine shaft. A loose pulley runs freely over the machine shaft and is incapable of transmitting any
power. When the driven shaft is required to be stopped, the belt is pushed on to the loose pulley by
means of sliding bar having belt forks.
VELOCITY RATIO OF A BELT DRIVE:

It is the ratio between the velocities of the driver and the follower or driven. It may be expressed,
mathematically, as discussed below:

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SLIP OF THE BELT

In the previous articles we have discussed the motion of belts and pulleys assuming a firm Frictional
grip between the belts and the pulleys. But sometimes, the frictional grip becomes insufficient. This
may cause some forward motion of the driver without carrying the belt with it. This is called slip of the
belt and is generally expressed as a percentage.
s1 % = Slip between the driver and the belt, and
s2 % = Slip between the belt and follower,

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CREEP OF BELT:

When the belt passes from slack side to the tight side, certain of the belt extends and it
contracts again when the belt passes from the tight side to the slack side. Due to these changes of
length, there is a relative motion between the belt and the pulley surfaces. This relative motion is
termed as creep. The total effect of creep is reducing slightly the speed of the driven pulley or follower.
Considering creep, velocity ratio is given by

Where 𝜎1 & 𝜎2 =stress in the belt on the tight and slack side

E = young’s modulus for the material of the belt

Note: since the effect of creep is very small, therefore it is generally neglected.
Length of Open Belt Drive:

Length of a Cross Belt Drive

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Power Transmitted by a Belt:

T1 and T2 = Tensions in the tight side and slack side of the belt respectively in Newton’s,

r1 and r2 = Radii of the driving and driven pulleys respectively in meters,

ν = Velocity of the belt in m/s.

𝑵−𝒎
P= (T1-T2) V 𝒔𝒆𝒄

CENTRIFUGAL TENSION:
When the belt runs at lower speed, the initial tension given to the belt will be sufficient to
keep the belt on the pulley with required grip, on the other hand, if the belt speed increases, due to
centrifugal action, the belt will try to fly off from the pulley. At the same time, the tensions at the tight
side and slack side will increase. The force applied on the shaft due to centrifugal action is called as
centrifugal tension.

Let T1 = Tension in the tight side

T2 = Tension in the slack side

Centrifugal tension
Tc = mv2
Note: It is known that, the total tensions at tight side and slack side are given by
Tt1 = T1 + Tc and Tt2 = T2 + Tc
Since the centrifugal tension depends on the belt velocity, at low speeds the centrifugal action and its
tension may be neglected. But for the higher speeds, the centrifugal tension will be taken into account.
Tt1 = T1 and Tt2 = T2 at low speeds, and Tt1 = T1 + Tc and Tt2 = T2 + Tc high speeds.
Also since the centrifugal force tries to pull the belt away from the pulley resulting the decrease of
power transmitting capacity, the linear velocity of the belt is limited to 17.5 to 22.5 m/s, in order to
control the centrifugal tension. If µ is the coefficient of friction between the belt and pulley and 𝜃 is the
angle of contact for driving pulley in radians, then it is found that the ratio of driving tensions is

𝑻
2.3log ( 𝟏 )= 𝝁𝜽
𝑻𝟐

𝑻
( 𝟏 )= 𝒆𝝁𝜽
𝑻𝟐

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

 when the centrifugal tension (Tc) is neglected.

𝑻𝟏 −𝑻𝒄
= 𝒆𝝁𝜽
𝑻𝟐−𝑻𝒄

When the centrifugal tension (Tc) is considered.

Maximum Tension in the Belt

σ = Maximum safe stress,

b = Width of the belt, and

t = Thickness of the belt.

T = Maximum stress × Cross-sectional area of belt = σ.b.t

When centrifugal tension is neglected, then

T (or Tt1) =T1, i.e. Tension in the tight side of the belt.

When centrifugal tension is considered, then

T (or Tt1) =T1 + TC

Condition for the Transmission of Maximum Power

Initial Tension in the Belt

the belt is subjected to some tension, called initial tension

T0= Initial tension in the belt,

T1= Tension in the tight side of the belt,

T2= Tension in the slack side of the belt, and

α = Coefficient of increase of the belt length per unit force.

𝑇1 −𝑇2
T0 = (Neglecting centrifugal tension)
2

𝑇1 +𝑇2 +2𝑇𝑐
T0 = 2
(Considering centrifugal tension)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Problems:

1. In a horizontal belt drive for a centrifugal blower, the blower is belt driven At 600 r.p.m. by a 15 kW,
1750 r.p.m. electric motor. The centre distance is twice the diameter of the larger pulley. The density
of the belt material = 1500 kg/m; maximum allowable stress = 4 MPa;μ1 = 0.5 (motor pulley); μ2= 0.4
(blower pulley); peripheral velocity of the belt = 20 m/s. Determine the following:
1. Pulley diameters, 2. Belt length, 3. Cross-sectional area of the belt;
4. Minimum initial tension for operation without slip; and 5. Resultant force in the plane of the blower
when operating with an initial tension 50 per cent greater than the minimum value.
Solution.

Solution.
N2 = 600 r.p.m. ;
P = 15 kW = 15 × 10 W;
N1 = 1750 r.p.m . ;ρ = 1500 kg/m3
σ = 4 MPa = 4 × 106 N/m2 ,
μ1 = 0.5 ; μ2 = 0.4 ;
v = 20 m/s
Fig. Shows a horizontal belt drive. Suffix 1 refers to a motor pulley and suffix 2 refers to a blower pulley.

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
2. A belt 100 mm wide and 10 mm thick is transmitting power at 1000 meters/min. The net driving
tension is 1.8 times the tension on the slack side. If the safe permissible stress on the belt section in 1.6
MPa, calculate the maximum power that can be transmitted at this speed. Assume density of the
leather as 1000 kg/m3.Calculate the absolute maximum power that can be transmitted by this belt and
the speed at which this can be transmitted.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
3. A belt is required to transmit 18.5 kW from a pulley of 1.2 m diameter running at 250rpm to another
pulley which runs at 500 rpm. The distance between the centers of pulleys is 2.7 m. The following data
refer to an open belt drive, = 0.25. Safe working stress for leather is 1.75 N/mm2. Thickness of belt =
10mm. Determine the width and length of belt taking centrifugal tension into account. Also find the
initial tension in the belt and absolute power that can be transmitted by this belt and the speed at
which this can be transmitted.

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
4. Select a V-belt drive to transmit 10 kW of power from a pulley of 200 mm diameter mounted on an
electric motor running at 720 rpm to another pulley mounted on compressor running at 200 rpm. The
service is heavy duty varying from 10 hours to 14 hours per day and centre distance between centres
of pulleys is 600 mm.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Number of bolts:

The nearest standard value of nominal pitch length for the selected C- cross section belt L = 2723 mm
,Nominal inside length = 2667 mm, For nominal inside length = 2667 mm, and C-cross section belt,
correction factor for length Fe = 0.94

Types of Pulleys for Flat Belts:

Following are the various types of pulleys for flat belts:

1. Cast iron pulleys, 2. Steel pulleys, 3. Wooden pulleys, 4. Paper pulleys and 5. Fast and loose pulleys.

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