ME221, ME211

Mechanics of Machines
Belt drive system

by
DR J C Rajaguru
Department of Mechanical Engineering
A belt drive in an Automobile
 What is belt drive system
1. A belt is a looped strip of flexible material, used
to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts.
2. They may be used as a source of motion, to
efficiently transmit power, or to track relative
movement. Belts are looped over pulleys.
3. In a two pulley system, the belt can either drive
the pulleys in the same direction, or the belt
may be crossed, so that the direction of the
shafts is opposite.
Operation of a belt drive system
 Different layouts

• Cross Fly
• Open belt drive
with idle pulley
• Multiple belt drive
 Different layouts; cont…

• Quarter turn belt drive

• Compound belt drive
• Stepper/cone pulley drive
 Belts Uses
1. Used in conveying systems
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
Examples
Layout and components of a belt drive
 Advantages of belt drive
• They are simple. They are economical.
• Parallel shafts are not required.
• Overload and jam protection are provided.
• Noise and vibration are damped out. Machinery
life is prolonged because load fluctuations are
cushioned (shock-absorbed).
• They are lubrication-free. They require only low
maintenance.
• They are highly efficient (90–98%, usually 95%).
Some misalignment is tolerable.
• They are very economical when shafts are
separated by large distances.
 Disadvantages of Belt drive
• The angular-velocity ratio is not necessarily
constant or equal to the ratio of pulley diameters,
because of belt slip and stretch.
• Heat buildup occurs. Speed is limited to usually
7000 feet per minute (35 meters per second).
Power transmission is limited to 370 kilowatts
(500 horsepower).
• Operating temperatures are usually restricted to
–31 to 185°F (–35 to 85°C).
• Some adjustment of center distance or use of an
idler pulley is necessary for wear and stretch
compensation.
• A means of disassembly must be provided to
install endless belts.
 References
1. Hamilton H. Mabie and Fed W. Ocvick, “Mechanisms and
Dynamics of Machine”, Second Edition, 1963, John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., New York
2. J.L.M Morrison, B. Crossland, “An introduction to the
Mechanics of Machines”, Second Edition, 1986, Longman
publications, London.
3. G.H. Ryder and M.D. Bennett, “Mechanics of Machines”,
Second Edition, 1990, Industrial press, New York.
4. Reliable sites in WWW