Flexible Connectors

and Gear Trains

12/2/2015
 Learning Objectives
LO46: Define flexible connector and enumerate the different flexible connectors. (CO3)
LO47: Analyze flat belts for open belt and crossed belt connections. (CO3)
LO48: Analyse stepped pulleys for both open and crossed belt connections. (CO3)
LO49: Solve problems involving flat belts and steeped pulleys. (CO4,CO5)
LO50: Define power transmission chains. (CO3)
LO51: Analyse the power chain drive. (CO3)
LO52: Define wire rope and enumerate the different types of wire ropes. (CO3)
LO53: Define chains, their types and applications.(CO4)
LO54: Solve problems involving power chain and wire ropes. (CO4,CO5)
LO55: Define gear train and enumerate the different types of gear trains. (CO3)
LO56: Define train value. (CO3)
LO57: Define and analyse an ordinary gear trains. (CO3,CO5)
LO58: Solve problems involving ordinary gear train. (CO4,CO5)
LO59: Define and analyze planetary or epicyclic gear train. (CO3,CO5)
LO60: Determine the train value of an epicyclic gear trains. (CO3,CO5)
LO61: Solve problems involving epicyclic gear trains. (CO4,CO5)
LO46: Flexible Connectors
These are machine
elements that are
used when the
distance between
the driving and
driven shaft is too
great to be
connected.
 LO46: Flexible Connectors
Functions of Flexible Connectors
1. Used in conveying systems
Example: Transportation of coal, mineral ores etc. over a long
distance
2. Used for transmission of power.
Mainly used for running of various industrial appliances using
prime movers like electric motors, I.C. Engine etc.
3. Replacement of rigid type power transmission system.
A gear drive may be replaced by a belt transmission system
 LO46: Flexible Connectors
Classification of Flexible Connectors
Belts- made of leather, rubber or woven fabric
- connect shafts as much as 30 ft apart
- run as high as 4500 fpm
V belts are used for connecting less than 15 ft apart with speed
ratio up to 7:1 with belt speed up to 5000 rpm
 LO46: Flexible Connectors
Classification of Flexible Connectors
Ropes- made of manila, hemp, cotton
- connect shafts as much as 100 ft apart
- run at speed less than 600 fpm
 LO46: Flexible Connectors
Classification of Flexible Connectors
Chains- made of metallic links jointed together and run either
by sprockets or drums
- connect shafts less than 15 ft apart
- run at speed less than 2500 fpm
 LO47: Open and Crossed Belts
Classification of Belts
Open Belt Crossed Belt
 LO47: Open and Crossed Belts
Open Belt
 LO47: Open and Crossed Belts
Crossed Belt
LO47: Open and Crossed Belts

Mass of belt per unit length, m

where, b is the width, t is the thickness and

ρ is the density of the belt material.
 LO47: Open and Crossed Belts
Belt Tension V= peripheral velocity T1= Tight side T2= Slack side, T1>T2
 LO47: Open and Crossed Belts
Velocity ratio of belt drive

Power transmission of a belt drive

12/2/2015
 LO49: Belts
Problem: A pump is driven by an electric motor through a
open type flat belt drive. Determine the belt specifications
for the following data.
Motor pulley diameter(dS) = 300 mm, Pump pulley
diameter(dL) = 600 mm
Coefficient of friction (μS) for motor pulley = 0.25
Coefficient of friction (μL) for pump pulley = 0.20
Center distance between the pulleys=1000 mm;
Rotational speed of the motor=1440 rpm;
Power transmission = 20kW; density of belt material (ρ)=
1000 kg/m3 ; (b) width of the belt=240mm; (t) thickness of
the belt = 5mm.
12/2/2015
LO49: Belts
LO49: Belts
LO49: Belts
LO49: Belts
LO49: Belts
LO48: Stepped Pulleys- Open
and Crossed Belts
 V-belts
Construction of V-Belts

Rubberized
Woven Jacket
Tensile Layer
Load carrying
tension members
Fabric or resilient
cushion or
compression
membrane

12/2/2015
 V-belts
Belt Length, Center Distance and Arc of Contact
(𝐷 − 𝑑)2
Belt Length,L: 𝐿 = 2𝐶 + 1.57 𝐷 + 𝑑 +
4𝐶
−𝑏 + 𝑏 2 − 32(𝐷 − 𝑑)2
Center Distance, C: 𝐶 =
16
b = 4L-6.28(D+d)
Arc of contact of
𝐷−𝑑 60ᵒ
small sheave, θ: θ=180ᵒ -
𝐶

D= pitch diameter of large sheave

d= pitch diameter of small sheave
12/2/2015
 V-belts
Horsepower rating for V-belts

𝑌𝑆
𝐻𝑃 = 𝑋𝑆 0.91 − − 𝑍𝑆 3
𝑑𝑒

HP= recommended Hp
X,Y and Z= constants
S= belt speed in thousands of fpm, πDN/1000
de= equivalent diameter of small sheave which is equal
to the pitch diameter multiplied by small diameter factor

12/2/2015
 V-belts
Design of V-belts

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝐻𝑃
𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑠 =
𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑃

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝐻𝑃 = (transmitted HP) x service factor

𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑃 = 𝐾θ𝐾L (rated HP)

Transmitted HP= is the nameplate rating Hp

𝐾θ= correction factor for the arc contact
𝐾L= correction factor for the belt length
12/2/2015
 V-belts
Design of V-belts

.09
103 13.962 𝑉2 𝑉
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐻𝑃 = 4.737 − − 0.0234 6
𝑉 𝑑𝐾𝑑 10 103

Transmitted HP= is the nameplate rating Hp

𝐾θ= correction factor for the arc contact
𝐾L= correction factor for the belt length
𝐾d= correction factor for the small sheave diameter
12/2/2015
 LO49: Belts
A slurry pump is to be driven by a 50 HP, 2400
rpm diesel engine and operating under
moderate shock load with service factor of 1.2.
The pump will operate at 800 rpm and using type
B V-Belt. The available small sheave diameter is
5.4” and having factor of 1.14. The arc of contact
factor is 0.89 and length of belt factor is 0.97.
Find the no. of belts used.

12/2/2015
 LO50, LO51, LO52: Chains
and Ropes
Roller chains
Can connect two parallel shafts
Similar to gears
Suitable for very long and short distances
More compact
Power transmission efficiency is 98 to 99%
Regular lubrication is required.
Better at lower speed because of the inertia
No back force is required like belts, but a
slack
is normally used.
 LO50, LO51, LO52: Chains
and Ropes
Roller chains
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
Roller chains
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
Chain Length and Center Distance
Chain Length,L: T  t (T  t ) 2
L  2C  
2 40C
Center Distance
between sprockets,
C: P
C
8
2L  T  t  (2 L  T  t ) 2  0.810(T  t ) 2 
C=center distance,in mm/in(however if used in
the formula for solving L, C must be in pitches)
P= pitch of chain, in mm/in
L= length of chains, in pitches, if C is Given
T= no. of teeth of large sprocket
12/2/2015
t= no. of teeth of small sprocket
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
The center distance between sprockets is 16”. The
pitch is 5/8”. Determine the chain length required for
these sprockets given that the number of teeth of the
larger and smaller sprockets are 42 and 21,
respectively with angle of 60 ͦ between pitches.

12/2/2015
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
Wire ropes

Flexible connectors used for elevators, hoists, cranes,

drilling, conveyors, tramways, haulage devices,
suspension cables and quy wires.

12/2/2015
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
Wire ropes
Design Calculations EDw
Equivalent bending
Sb 
Ds
stress, Sb:
Equivalent bending F  Sb Am
b
load, Fb:
Fu  Fb
Service Factor, N:
N
Am=cross sectional area of metal Ft
Dw=diameter of the wire
Ds=diameter of the sheave or drum
E=modulus of elasticity=30 x 106 psi
Ft=tensile force due to load
Fu=breaking strength of the rope
12/2/2015
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
Wire ropes
Design Calculations-Service Factors
Service Factor of Safety

Elevators 8-12

Mine hoists 2.5-5

Cranes, motor driven 4-6

Cranes, hand powered 3-5

Derricks 3-5

12/2/2015
 LO50, LO51, LO52,LO53:
Chains and Ropes
The cross sectional area of a steel wire rope(E=200
Gpa) is 10cm2. The diameter of the wire is 4 cm
while the drum is 15cm. If the tensile strength of the
wire rope is 20 Mpa, find the maximum breaking
strength of the rope when used in elevator
application.

12/2/2015
 LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains
A gear train is combination of gears that is used for
transmitting motion from one shaft to another.
LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains
LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains
LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains
LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains
 LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains

12/2/2015
 LO54, LO55, LO56, LO57,
LO58, LO59, LO60 –Gear
Trains

12/2/2015
 Learning Objectives
LO46: Define flexible connector and enumerate the different flexible connectors. (CO3)
LO47: Analyze flat belts for open belt and crossed belt connections. (CO3)
LO48: Analyse stepped pulleys for both open and crossed belt connections. (CO3)
LO49: Solve problems involving flat belts and steeped pulleys. (CO4,CO5)
LO50: Define power transmission chains. (CO3)
LO51: Analyse the power chain drive. (CO3)
LO52: Define wire rope and enumerate the different types of wire ropes. (CO3)
LO53: Define chains, their types and applications.(CO4)
LO54: Solve problems involving power chain and wire ropes. (CO4,CO5)
LO55: Define gear train and enumerate the different types of gear trains. (CO3)
LO56: Define train value. (CO3)
LO57: Define and analyse an ordinary gear trains. (CO3,CO5)
LO58: Solve problems involving ordinary gear train. (CO4,CO5)
LO59: Define and analyze planetary or epicyclic gear train. (CO3,CO5)
LO60: Determine the train value of an epicyclic gear trains. (CO3,CO5)
LO61: Solve problems involving epicyclic gear trains. (CO4,CO5)