MECHANICS OF MACHINES

Lecture 3: Belt Drive

Belt and Pulley Drives
Belts play a critical role in transmitting power between shafts using pulleys that rotate either at the same speed
or different speeds. The effectiveness of power transmission is contingent upon several factors:
 Velocity of the belt
 Tension applied to the belt on the pulleys
 Angle of contact between the belt and the smaller pulley
Belt Types
Various types of belts are employed in contemporary applications, with the following being particularly
significant from a subject perspective.
 Flat Belt: A belt with a rectangular cross-section is categorized as a flat belt. Widely utilized in factories
and workshops, the flat belt is suitable for moderate power transmission between pulleys situated within
a distance of no more than 8 meters.
 V-Belt: Recognized by its trapezoidal cross-section, the V-belt requires minimal adjustment and delivers
higher power transmission efficiency, devoid of slippage, when compared to flat belts. Commonly used
in factories and workshops, V-belts are especially well-suited for applications with short center
distances.
 Circular Belt or Rope: When a substantial amount of power needs to be transmitted between pulleys
separated by more than 8 meters, the circular belt or rope comes into play. This type of belt is employed
for efficient power transmission over longer distances.

In the case of a flat belt, the power transmitted (P) can be expressed as:

Here, T1 and T2 represent belt tensions at the tight and slack sides in Newtons, v is the belt speed in meters per
second, θ is the angle of contact between the belt and the smaller pulley in radians, and μ is the coefficient of
friction.
Effective power transmission requires:
 Proper alignment of shafts for uniform tension across the belt
 Adequate spacing between pulleys to ensure a large angle of contact on the smaller pulley
 Avoidance of excessive distance between pulleys, preventing undue belt weight on the shafts
 Placement of the tight side of the belt at the bottom to increase the angle of contact
Belt Drive Classification:
Belt drives are categorized into three groups:
 Light drives: Transmit small power at belt speeds below 10 m/s (e.g., hand drills).
 Medium drives: Transmit medium power at belt speeds between 10 m/s and 22 m/s (e.g., lathes, milling
machines, shapers, power saws, etc.).
 Heavy drives: Transmit large power at belt speeds exceeding 22 m/s (e.g., compressors, generators,
production machines).
Types of Belt Drives
Power transmission from one pulley to another can occur through various types of belt drives:
 Open Belt Drive: In this configuration, shafts are arranged in parallel and rotate in the same direction.
 Crossed or Twist Belt Drive: Shafts are arranged in parallel but rotate in different directions. To
mitigate excessive wear and tear where the belt crosses, shafts should be spaced at a maximum distance
of 20b, where b is the width of the belt. Additionally, the belt speed should not exceed 15 m/s.

 Quarter Turn Belt Drive: Also known as a right-angle belt drive, this type is employed to drive shafts
inclined at right angles, rotating in the same direction. The figure below demonstrates its use, often with
a guide pulley to maintain the pulleys at a right angle.
  Belt Drive with Idler Pulleys: This is a belt drive with idler pulleys used when an open belt drive
cannot be utilized due to a small angle of contact on the smaller pulley. It is typically employed to
enhance the velocity ratio and when the required belt tension cannot be achieved by other means. This
configuration is also suitable for transmitting motion from one shaft to several parallel shafts.

Belt drive with single idler pulley Belt drive with many idler pulleys

 Compound Belt Drive: This type is employed when power needs to be transmitted from one shaft to
another through several pulleys.

Initial Tension in Belts: During power transmission, the belt-pulley drive is assembled with initial tension (T i).
Tension in the tight side increases from T i to T1, while on the slack side, it decreases from T i to T2. Assuming the
belt obeys Hooke's law and maintains a constant length, the increase in length of the tight side (δ 1 equals the
decrease in length of the slack side (δ2).
Materials of the Belts:
Belts must be constructed from strong, flexible, and durable materials with a high coefficient of friction.
Common materials include:
 Leather belts: Periodic cleaning and treatment are necessary to keep the belt soft and flexible.
 Cotton or fabric belts: Made by folding canvas or cotton duck to three or more layers, suitable for
warm climates.
 Rubber belts: Consist of layers of fabric impregnated with rubber layers at the faces, flexible but
sensitive to heat, oil, or grease.
 Balata belts: Similar to rubber belts but use balata gum; acid and water-proof but should not be used at
temperatures above 40°C.
Velocity Ratio in Belt Drives
The velocity ratio in belt drives is defined as the ratio of the velocity of the driven component to the velocity of
the driving component. For a belt drive with no slip, let d 1, d2, N1, and N2 represent the diameter of the driving
pulley, the diameter of the driven pulley, the speed of the driving pulley in revolutions per minute (rev/min), and
the speed of the driven pulley in rev/min, respectively.
The peripheral velocity of the belt on the driving pulley (v1) is given by:

Similarly, the peripheral velocity of the belt on the driven pulley (v2) is given by:

Since there is no belt slip, v1 equals v2, leading to the equation:

Simplifying further:

When power is transmitted through several pulleys, the velocity ratio of pulley 1 and 2 (N2/N1) is given by:

The velocity ratio of pulley 3 and 4 (N4/N3)is given by:

Multiplying these ratios yields:

As pulleys 2 and 3 are keyed to the same shaft (N3=N2), the equation becomes:

Consequently, it can be concluded that:

where Nb, is the speed of the last driven pulley, N a is the speed of the first driving pulley, P b is the product of the
diameters of the driving pulleys, and Pa is the product of the diameters of the driven pulleys.
Slip of the Belt
Velocity ratio in belt drives is determined by assuming a firm frictional grip between the belt and the pulley.
However, insufficient friction can lead to belt slip, causing the driving pulley to move forward without carrying
the belt and subsequently causing the belt to move forward without carrying the driven pulley. Belt slip,
expressed as a percentage, reduces the velocity ratio of the drive system. As belt slippage is common, belt
drives should not be used where a constant and definite velocity ratio is required.
Let s1% be the slip between pulley 1 and the belt, and s2% be the slip between pulley 2 and the belt.
The velocity of the belt passing over pulley 1 per second is,

Velocity of the belt passing over pulley 2 per second is,

i.e, neglecting ,
so that,

where s12 = s1 + s2 is the total percentage of belt slip on the drive. Therefore, the total velocity ratio when belt
slip is considered is,

For a compound belt drive, the velocity ratio when the belt slip is considered can be shown to be:
Example:
An engine operates at 100 revolutions per minute, propelling a line shaft through a belt mechanism. The engine
pulley has a diameter of 750mm, while the line shaft pulley measures 450mm in diameter. Further down the line
shaft, a 900mm pulley drives a 150mm pulley attached to a dynamo shaft. Determine the speed of the dynamo
shaft under the following conditions: (a) No slip. (b) Total slip of 2% at each drive.
(a) When there is no belt slip
The velocity of the output shaft (dynamo shaft) is

(b) When there is a total 2% belt slip on each drive

The velocity of the output shaft (dynamo shaft) is

Therefore, when there is a total 2% belt slip on each drive, the dynamo shaft rotates at 960 r.p.m