Belt Drive

ME 561P/147P
Machine Design I
Belts 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.
Classification of Belt Drives
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.
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
1. Flat belt. The flat belt 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 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 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 metres 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.
Types of Flat Belt Drives:
1. Open belt drive. The open belt drive, as shown
below, is used with shafts arranged parallel and
rotating in the same direction.
2. Crossed or twist belt drive. The crossed or twist belt
drive, as shown, is used with shafts arranged parallel and
rotating in the opposite directions.

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 15 m/s.
3. Quarter turn belt drive. The quarter turn belt drive (also
known as right angle belt drive) as shown, is used with
shafts arranged at right angles and rotating in one definite
direction.
4. Belt drive with idler pulleys. A belt drive with an idler
pulley (also known as jockey pulley drive) is used with shafts
arranged parallel and when an open belt drive can not be
used due to small angle of contact on the smaller pulley.
5. Compound belt drive. A compound belt drive as shown, is
used when power is transmitted from one shaft to another
through a number of pulleys.
6. Stepped or cone pulley drive. A stepped or cone pulley
drive 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.
 Open Belt

D1=small pulley pitch diameter

D2=large pulley pitch diameter
C=center distance
α=angle of inclination of the pulley with respect to the center line
θ1=angle of contact between belt and small pulley
θ2=angle of contact between belt and large pulley
 D2  D1
sin  
2C
1  D2  D1 
  Sin  
 2C 

1  180  2
 2  180  2

From Kinematics :

D1  D2   2C  D2  D1 
2
Lbelt( open) 
2 4C
Cross Belt
 D1  D2
sin  
2C
1  D1  D2 
  Sin  
 2C 
1   2  180  2

From Kinematics :

D1  D2   2C  D2  D1 
2
Lbelt( cross) 
2 4C
Belt Speed and Velocity Ratio of Belt Drive

D
v  r  2N    DN
2
The linear vel ocity at any point on the belt
and at any point along the circumfere nce of
the driver and the driven pulley is constant.
v1  v2
D1 N1  D2 N 2
D1 N1  D2 N 2
N1 D2
  velocity ratio
N 2 D1
Sample Problem:
An engine running at 150 rpm drives a line shaft by means of a belt. The engine
pulley is 750 mm diameter and the pulley on the line shaft is 450 mm. A 900 mm
diameter pulley on the line shaft drives a 150 mm diameter pulley keyed to a
dynamo shaft. Find the speed of dynamo shaft neglecting belt slip.

N1 = 150 rpm ; D1 = 750 mm ; D2 = 450 mm ; D3 = 900 mm ; D4 = 150 mm

N 4 D1 D3 N 4 750900
    10
N1 D2 D4 150 450150
N 4  15010  1500 rpm
Tensions on Belts

F1  tension at tight side

F2  tension at slack side
From M echanics :
F1
 e f ; f  coefficien t of friction between pulley and belt
F2
  angle of contact between pulley and belt in radians

If pulleys are made of different materials :

e f  e f1 or e f 2 , whichever is smaller.
Otherwise : use e f1
 Torque on shaft supportingthe pulley :
T  Fr
 M 0  0
D D D
T  F1    F2    F1  F2  
2 2 2
F1  F2   net belt pull
The effective turning
(driving) force at the
circumference of the driven
pulley or follower
Bending Load on shaft supportingthe pulley :
FB  F1 cos   F2 cos  Power transmitted :
FB  F1  F2 cos P  T
P  F1  F2 v
Sample Problem:
An open-belt drive transmitted 10 hp at 1500 fpm belt speed. The driver pulley
has a pitch diameter of 12 inches. The drive operates on 1.5:1 velocity ratio.
Center distance is 48 inches and the coefficient of friction between belt and
pulley is 0.35. Determine the following:
1. rpm of pulleys;
2. tensions at the belt
3. bending load on the shaft supporting the pulley
 N1 1.5 D2
a.  
N2 1 D1
N1
N2  ; D2  1.5 D1
1.5
v1  D1 N1
 1 ft 
  12in 
ft
1500  N1
min  12in 
N1  477.46rpm
477.46
N2   318.3rpm
1.5
b. F1 and F2
F1
from :  e f1 (belt tension ratio)
F2
f  f1  f 2  0.35
1  180  2
 D2  D1 
  Sin 1
 ; D2  1.5D1  1.512"  18"
 2C 
18  12 
  Sin 1    3.58
 248 
  
1  180  23.58   3.02rad
 180 
F1
 e 0.353.02 ; F1  2.88F2  eq(1)
F2
from : P  F1  F2 v
 
 ft  
10hp  F1  F2 1500
1hp
 
 min  33000 ft  lb 
 min 
F1  F2  220lbs  eq(2)
Substituting eq(1) into eq(2) :
2.88F2  F2  220
F2  117.02lbs (slack side tension)
F1  2.88117.02  337.02lbs (tight side tension)

c. Bending load on the shaft, FB

FB  F1  F2  cos 
FB  337.02  117.02 cos 3.58
FB  453.15 lbs.
HW Problems:
1. Two pulleys, one 450 mm diameter and the other 200 mm diameter, on
parallel shafts 1.95 m apart are connected by a crossed belt. Find the length of
the belt required and the angle of contact between the belt and each pulley.
What power can be transmitted by the belt when the larger pulley rotates at 200
rev/min, if the maximum permissible tension in the belt is 1 kN, and the
coefficient of friction between the belt and pulley is 0.25?
2. A leather belt 9 mm × 250 mm is used to drive a cast iron pulley 900 mm in
diameter at 336 rpm. If the active arc on the smaller pulley is 120° and the stress
in tight side is 2 MPa, find the power capacity of the belt. The coefficient of
friction of leather on cast iron may be taken as 0.35.
3. A flat belt is required to transmit 30 kW from a pulley of 1.5 m effective
diameter running at 300 rpm. The angle of contact is spread over
11/24 of the circumference. The coefficient of friction between the belt and
pulley surface is 0.3. Neglecting centrifugal tension into account, determine the
width of the belt required. It is given that the belt thickness is 9.5 mm, and the
related permissible working stress is 2.5 MPa.
5. A pulley is driven by a flat belt running at a speed of 600 m/min. The
coefficient of friction between the pulley and the belt is 0.3 and the angle of lap is
160°. If the maximum tension in the belt is 700 N; find the power transmitted by
a belt. Ans. 3.97kW
6. Find the width of the belt necessary to transmit 10 kW to a pulley 300 mm
diameter, if the pulley makes 1600 rpm and the coefficient of friction between
the belt and the pulley is 0.22. Assume the angle of contact as 210° and the
maximum tension in the belt is not to exceed 8N/mm width. Ans. 90 mm
7. An open belt 100 mm wide connects two pulleys mounted on parallel shafts
with their centres 2.4 m apart. The diameter of the larger pulley is 450 mm and
that of the smaller pulley 300 mm. The coefficient of friction between the belt
and the pulley is 0.3 and the maximum stress in the belt is limited to 14 N/mm
width. If the larger pulley rotates at 120 rpm, find the maximum power that can
be transmitted. Ans. 2.4 kW