M e c h a n i s m s f o r A d j u s t i n g T e n s i o n

o f B e l t D r i v e s
Sketches show devices for both manual and automatic take-up as required by wear or stretch.
Some are for installations having fixed center distances; others are of the expanding center
take-up types. Many units provide for adjustment of speed as well as tension.
Joseph H. Gepfect

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Lock screw Dash pot
Spring
or
weight

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Fig. 1—Manually adjusted idler run on slack side of
chain or flat belt. Useful where speed is constant,
load is uniform and the tension adjustment is not
critical. Can be adjusted while drive is running.
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Plorsepower capacity depends upon belt tension.
Fig. 2—Spring or weight loaded idler run on slack
side of flat belt or chain provides automatic adjust-
ment. For constant speed but either uniform or pul-
sating loads. Adjustments should be made while drive
is running. Capacity limited by spring or weight
value.

Driver

Driver,
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Sheave or
flat putty
Sheave or Spring'
rig

Locknut flat pulley

Fig. 5—Screw type split sheave for V-belts when ten- Fig. 6—Split sheave unit for automatic adjustment
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sion adjustment is not critical. Best suited for instal-
lations with uniform loads. Running speed increases
with take up. Drive must be stopped to make adjust-
ments. Capacity depends directly upon value of belt
tension.
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of V-belts. Tension on belt remains constant; speed
increases with belt take up. Spring establishes maxi-
mum torque capacity of the drive. Hence, this can be
used as a torque limiting or overload device.

Spring

Pivot

Fig. 9—Spring actuated base for automatic adjust-
ment of uniformly loaded chain drive. With belts, it
provides slipping for starting and suddenly applied
torque. Can also be used to establish a safety limit
for the horsepower capacity of belts.
Fig. 10—Gravity actuated pivoting motor base for
uniformly loaded belts or chains, only. Same safety
and slipping characteristics as that of Fig. 9. Position
of motor from pivot controls the proportion of motor
weight effective in producing belt tension.

Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies Retrieved from: www.knovel.com

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Motor base
Fig. 3—Screw-base type unit provides normal tension Fig. 4—Pivoting screw base for normal adjustment
control of belt or chain drive for motors. Wide range of motor drive tension. Like that of Fig. 3, this design
of adjustments can be made either while unit is run- can be adjusted either while running or stopped and
ning or stopped. With split sheaves, this device can will provide speed adjustment when used with split
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be used to control speed as well as tension. sheaves. Easier to adjust than previous design.

Thrust
bearings
Driver
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Thrust Sheave or
bearing
rig

fiat pulley

Beit tension screw

Fig. 7—-Another manually adjusted screw type split Fig. 8—Special split sheaves for accurate tension and
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sheave for V-belts. However, this unit can be adjusted
while the drive is running. Other characteristics simi-
lar to those of Fig. 6. Like Fig. 6, sheave spacing can
be changed to maintain speed or to vary speed.
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speed control of V-belts or chains. Applicable to par-
allel shafts on short center distances. Manually ad-
justed with belt tension screw. No change in speed
with changes in tension.

Shaft mounted Driver

gear reducer shaft Weight
Adjustable
torque arm

Fig. 11—Torque arm adjustment for use with shaft
mounted speed reducer. Can be used as belt or chain
take up for normal wear and stretch within the swing
radius of reducer; or for changing speed while run-
ning when spring type split sheave is used on motor.
Fig. 12—Wrapping type automatic take-up for flat
and wire belts of any width. Used for maximum driv-
ing capacity. Size of weight determines tension put
on belt. Maximum value should be established to
protect the belt from being overloaded.

Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies Retrieved from: www.knovel.com