Flexible Power-Transmitting Elements

Flat Belts:

Open Belt Arrangement Crossed

General Belt Equation:

 12  v s2  e f  1
F1 – F2 = b t  s -  f , eq (1)
 e
 g 
F1 = tension at the tight side of the belt; lb
F2 = tension at the slack side of the belt; lb

550 hp
F1 – F2 = , eq (2)
vs
hp = power input to the belt drive
vs = pitch line velocity of the belt; ft/sec

vs = π D1n1 , eq (3)

D1 = pitch diameter of small pulley; in

n1 = rpm of small pulley
D2 = pitch diameter of large pulley; in
n2 = rpm of large pulley
b = width of belt; in
t = thickness of belt; in
f = coefficient of friction between belt and pulley
θ = angle of contact between belt and pulley; rad.

D 2  D1
θ=π  , eq (4)
C
c = distance between shaft centers; in
g = gravitational acceleration
= density of belt; lbs/in3
= 0.035 lbs/in3 for leather
= 0.045 lbs/in3 for rubber
S = allowable tensile stress in the belt; psi
S = (250 – 400) η psi, eq. (5)
= joint efficiency

1
The effective belt pull (F1 – F2) depends upon the initial tension, ie, the tension in the belt when
the drive is standing idle. The value of the initial tension may be found approximately from
the relation.

Fi = ¼  F11/2  F21/2  , eq. (6)

2

Initial tensions should range from 200 to 240 psi for leather belts and from 10 to 12 lbs
per ply per inch of width for rubber belts.

Required Belt Length:

Open belt: L = 2 C + 1.57 (D2 + D1) +

 D 2  D1  2
4C

Crossed belt: L = 2 C + 1.57 (D2 + D1) +

 D 2  D1  2
4C

Rated Capacity of Leather Belts

HP = (hp/in) b Cm Cp CF1 CF2 …eq. 7)

HP = nominal power that the belt can transmit

Hp/in = rated hp/in of belt width; T.17.1/450, Faires.
b = belt width; in.
Cm = correction factor for the type of drive
Cp = correction factor of the size of small pulley
CF = service factors

Rubber Belts:

F1 – F2 = 13.75 b Np, eq. (8)

b = belt width
Np = number of plies

2
Example 1:

A 5 hp, 900 rpm high torque squirrel cage motor is to drive a plate shear by means of a
light double ply leather belt. The drive is a horizontal with a 915 mm center distance using 230
mm driving pulley and a 115 mm driven pulley both made of cast iron a) What is the required
initial tension? (b) What should be the width of the belt with wire laced ends if the stress in the
belt is 2 N/mm2? (c) What is the bending pull of the belt on the motor shaft?

Solution:

(a) vs = πDn where; D = 230 mm = 0.7546 ft

n = 900 rpm = 15 rps
= π x 0.7546 x 15 = 35.56 ft/s

F1 – F2 = 550 hp / vs = 550 x 5 / 35.56 = 77.3 lb

D 2  D1 230 - 115
θ1 = π -   =3.0159 rad
C 925

For cast iron pulley and leather belt, f = 0.30

F1
 e f , F1 = F2 x e0.3 x 3.0159 = 2.4714 F2 eq (1)
F2

Substitute in eq (1) above, F2 = 52.5 lb and F1= 129.8 lb

Fi = ¼ (F11/2 + F21/2)2 = ¼ (129.81/2 + 52.51/2)2 x (9.81 N/2.2 lb) = 387.3 N

(b) using belt equation,

 12  v s2  e f  1
F1 – F2 = b t  s -  f , where;
 g  e

s = 300 x η = 264 psi, for wire laced ends; η = 0.88

for light double ply; t = 18/64 in

 12 x 0.035 x 35.56 2  e 0.30 x 3.0159  1

129.8 – 52.5 = b x 18/64 in  264   0.30 x 3.0159
 32.2  e
b = 1.865 in or, b = 50 mm
θ1= 3.0159  180/π  = 172.8° , θ2 = 187.2° ; 180 - θ2 = 7.2°

(c) Belt pull on shaft;

Fb = (F1+F2) Cos θ/2 = (129.8 +52.5)Cos 7.2/2 x 9.81N/2.2lb = 811.3 N

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Example 2

A 1020 mm diameter pulley drives a 500 mm diameter pulley by means of a medium

double ply leather belt which has a width of 375 mm. the distance between centers is 4 meters.
The coefficient of friction between the belt and the large pulley is 0.25 and 0.32 between the belt
and the small pulley. If the maximum stress in the belt is 2 N/mm 2, (a) what maximum
horsepower can this belt transmit? (b) What is the rotational speed of the small pulley?

Solution:

550 hp  12  v s2  e f  1
F1 – F2 =  bt s -  f ,
vs  g  e
 
v bt  12  v s2  e f  1
hp = s  s -  f , get derivative with respect to vs, and equate to zero
550  g  e

bt  36  v s2 dv s 
d(hp) =  sdv s   = 0, (for hp to be maximum)
550  g 
then,
36  v s2 32.2 x 2 N/mm 2
s-  0 , vs = x 1 psi/6.845 x 10 3
g 36 x 0.035
vs = 86.06 ft/s (belt speed to transmit maximum hp)

D 2  D1 1020 - 500
Angle of contact, θ =    
C 4000
θ1 = 3.0116 rad,
θ2 = 3.2716 rad

For small pulley: efθ = e0.32 x 3.0116 = 2.6214

For large pulley: efθ = e0.32 x 3.2716 = 2.2657, (critical)

375 x 20 x 86.06  2 12 x 0.035 x 86.06 2  2.2657  1

max hp    
25.4 x 64 x 550  6.895 x 10 3 32.2  2.2657
max hp = 78 hp

(b) Rotational Speed of Small Pulley:

vs = π D1 n1 = 86.06 = π x (500 mm /25.4/12)( n1/60)

n1 = 1002 rpm

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Example 3:

An electric motor running at 1200 rpm drives a punch press shaft at 200 rpm by means of
a 130 mm wide and 8 mm thick belt. When the clutch is engaged the belt slips. To correct this
condition, an idler pulley was installed to increase the angle of contact but the same belt and
pulley were used. The original contact angle on 200 mm motor pulley is 60”. The original
tension ratio is 2.40 and net tension is 12 N/mm of belt width. If an increase in transmission
capacity of 20% will prevent slippage, what is the new angle of contact?

Solution:

For the original Installation:

F1
 e f = 2.4 eq (1)
F2

ef x 160 x π/180 = 2.4, then, f = 0.3135

F1 – F2 = 12 N/mm x 130 mm = 1560 N eq (2)

Then eq (1) and eq (2) give,

F1 = 2674.3 N and F2 = 1114.3 N

T = (F1 – F2) r = (2674.3 – 1114.3) 100 = 156,000 N-mm

For the new installation; the idler pulley is to be placed on the slack side of the belt. The
tension at the tight side should remain the same but the tension on the slack side should decrease
because of the increase in the angle of contact between the belt and pulley.

F1 = 2674.3 N

T = 156,000 x 1.2 = 187,200 N-mm

T = (F1 – F2) r

187,200 = (2674.3 – F2) 100, F2 = 802.3 N

Also,
F1 2674.3
 e f ,  e 0.3135 
F2 802.3

θ = 3.84 rad or θ = 220°

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Example 4:

A 5 hp squirrel cage, compensator starting, 1750 rpm elactr9ic motor is to drive a blower
in a cement plant. A 5 inch diameter pulley is to be used on the motor and a 7 inch pulley on the
blower shaft. The center to center distance is to be 48 in. and the center drive is to e inclined 50
above the horizontal. Operation is 8 hrs per day, dusty atmosphere. Select the appropriate leather
belt to be used, specify the width and length required. What is the maximum horsepower this belt
can transmit based on the general belt equation if the allowable stress is 300 psi?

Solution:

(a) Using the tables: Hp = hp/in x b Cm Cp CF1 CF2 …

vm = π D n = π 5/12 x 1750 = 2290.7 ft/min

From table 17.1/; Faires; for a small pulley diameter of 5 in, a medium double ply leather
belt can be used. The standard, t = 20/64 in
hp/in = 6.825 hp/in belt width
Cm = 0.67 Cp = 0.60 CF1 = 0.74 CF2 = 1.0

Thus: 5 hp = 6.825 x b x 0.67 x 0.60 x 0.74 x 1.0

Use: b = 2 ½ in
Based on the general belt equation:

550 hp  12  v s2  e f  1
 b t s -  f , where;
vs  g
  e
For steel and iron pulleys with leather belt, f = 0.30

S = 300 psi t = 20/64 in

vs = 2290.7 / 60 = 38.18 ft/s

θ = π – 7.5 /48 = 3.1 rad

efθ = 2.5345

then, hp = 9.2 hp

75
Belt length: L = 2 x 48 + 1.57 (7 + 5) +
4 x 48
= 114.85 in