Thing You Need To Know About V-Belts

The V-belt is a belt with a trapezoidal cross section. Like other types of belts, they are used to transfer power or torque from the driving part to the driven part. They are designed to hold onto the roller parts during operation, reducing the risk of skidding and improving the consistency of the system output.

There are many variations in these components, and each has unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications. Examples include:

• A Type V-belts with a top width of 1/2 inches

• B Type V-belts with a top width of 21/32 inches

• C Type V-belts with a top width of 7/8 inches

• D Type V-belts with a top width of 1 1/4 inches

• E Type V-belts with a top width of 1 1/2 inches

How Do V-Belts Work?

The key components of a standard wrapped V-belt are as follows:

• Base rubber compound. Rubber material forms the main body of V-belt, which plays a role of shock absorption during operation.

• Stretch components. Stretch parts, often referred to as “ropes”, are embedded in the rubber to give the V-belt strength and the ability to transmit power.

• Protective covering. The textile covering ensures the correct grip for power transmission and protects the rubber from friction damage and external contaminants.

Collectively, these components enable the cladding V-belt to perform its intended function, which is to transfer power and torque from one pulley to another in a friction-based manner.

Design and Selection Consideration for V-Belts

When designing and selecting a V-belt for a system, there are a number of factors that need to be considered to ensure that the selected components exhibit the correct performance characteristics. Some key considerations to keep in mind include.

Application

The environment and working conditions in which the V-belt is located have a great influence on which type of belt is ideal. Some factors to consider include operating speed, intermittent or continuous operation, misplaced tolerances, layout (such as serpentine or quarter turn), transmission power, belt efficiency, and exposure to harsh conditions (such as extreme temperatures, abrasivers, ozone, and oil).Depending on which factors are critical, industry experts can choose from a wide range of light or heavy, industrial V-belts.

Profile

The V-shape comes with several contours (i.e. cross-sections) to choose from. Although they all feature a basic trapezoid, each has a different size. The main industry standards are

• Classical. This standard was developed in the 1930s.It now comes in six sizes (A, B, C, D, E and Z).

• Narrow. The side walls of this standard have a greater slope than the classical standard, which enhances the wedge shape and carrying capacity. It comes in three sizes (3V, 5V and 8V).

• Metric. This standard conforms to international standards (for example, ISO and DIN).At the same time, the classic belt has an international standard (DIN 2215), making it suitable for mechanical belts used in other countries. It comes in many sizes (XPZ SPZ, XPA SPA, XPB SPB, XPC SPC, 10X, 13X, and 17X).

• Fractional horsepower. This standard is used for V-shaped belts designed for light load applications. It comes in four sizes (2L, 3L, 4L, and 5L).

These profiles also have primary edge teeth to enhance or add specific performance characteristics.