BELT & ROPE DRIVES

The power or rotary motion from one shaft to another at a considerable distance is, usually transmitted by means of flat belts, vee belts or ropes, running over the pulleys. Figure shows an open belt drive consisting of pulleys A and B. The pulley A is keyed to rotating shaft, and is known as driver. The pulley B is keyed to a shaft, intended to be rotated, and is known as follower.

When the driver rotates , it carries the belt due to grip between its surface and the belt. The belt, in turn, carries the driven pulley which starts rotating. The grip between the pulley and the belt is obtained by friction, which arises from the pressure between the belt and the pulleys. The friction is increased by tightening the belt.

d1

d2

Follower
Driver

SPEEDS OF PULLEYS CONNECTED BY BELT DRIVE : Figure shows the two pulleys of diameters d1 and d2. Let the centers of the two pulleys be l apart. Let the pulley of diameter d1 drive the pulley of diameter d2.Former pulley is called driver and the latter pulley is called a follower, when the belts are provided the pulleys are said to be connected by open belt drive. In this case, the direction of rotation of the follower is the

d2
d1 Follower Driver

When it is desired that the direction of rotation of the follower should be opposite to that of the driver the pulleys will be connected by belts as shown in figure.

In this case the pulleys are said to be connected by cross belt drive.

Angular velocity of the driver = 1 rad/ sec Angular velocity of the Follower = 2 rad/sec There is no slip between driver and belt, linear velocity of the belt = v V = 1 d1/2

Similarly There is no slip between driver and belt, linear velocity of the belt = v V = 2 d2 /2 Linear velocity of the belt , 1 d1 = 1 d2 2 2 1 d1 = 1 d2 1 = 2 N1 /60

2 = 2 N2 60 N1 d1 = N2 d2

VELOCITY RATIO OF A COMPOUND BELT DRIVE : Sometimes the power transmitted from one shaft to another through a number of pulleys. This arrangement is known as compound belt drive. Let, d1 = diameter of pulley 1 N1 = Speed of pulley 1 in r.p.m. d2,d3,d4,N2,N3,N4 = Corresponding values for pulleys 2,3 and 4

Velocity ratio of the pulleys 1 and2, N2 = d1 N1 d2 (1) Similarly, velocity ratio of the pulleys 3 and 4 N4 = d3 N3 d4 (2) Multiplying equation 1 with 2 N2 x N4 = d1 x d3 N1 N3 d2 d4 N4 = d1 x d3 N1 d2 d4 [ as N2 = N3, being keyed to the same shaft]

Problem 1 : In a workshop, an engine drives a shaft by a belt. The diameter of the engine pulley and the shaft pulley are 500mm and 250mm respectively . Another pulley of 700mm diameter on the same shaft drives a pulley 280mm in diameter on a motor shaft. If the engine runs at 180RPM, Find the speed of the motor shaft.

SOLUTION : N4 = d1 x d3 N1 d2 d4 N4 = 180 X 500X 700 250X280 = 900 R.P.M

POWER TRANSMITTED BY BELT :

Follower
Driver

Driving pulley pulls the belt form one side, and delivers the same to the other. The tension T1 in the former side ( tight side) will be more than tension T2 in the latter side i.e slack side.

V = velocity of the belt in m/s.

Effective driving force at circumference of the follower = T1 T2 Work done = Force x Distance

= [T1 T2] V Nm/s

Power = [T1 T2] V J/s

= [T1 T2] V watt

Problem 2 :Find the necessary difference in tensions in kgf in the two sides of a belt drive, when transmitting 20h.p at 30m/sec.
SOLUTION : Power = [T1 T2] V watt 20 20 = [T1 T2] V 75 = [T1 T2] 30 75

[T1 T2] = 20/0.4 = 50kgf

RATIO OF TENSIONS : Consider a follower pulley rotating in a clockwise direction.

Let T1 = Tension in the belt on the tight side

T2 = Tension in the belt on the slack side

= Angle of contact in radians

Now consider a small portion of the belt PQ, subtending an angle at the centre of the pulley as shown in fig. Belt PQ is in equilibrium under the following forces:

T2

T1

Tension T in the belt at P Tension T +T in the belt at Q, Normal Reaction R And Frictional force F= R Resolving all the forces horizontally , R = (T +T) sin + T sin 2 2 Since is very small, sin = 2 2 R = (T +T) + T 2 2 = T

Now resolving the forces vertically, R = (T +T) cos /2 _ T cos/2 .eq.iii Since angle is very small, substituting cos/2 = 1 in eq. iii R = (T +T) - T R=T/ . (iv) Equating the values of R from equations (ii) and (iv) T / = T T / T =

Integrating both sides from A to B, T1 T / T = T2 0 Loge ( T1/T2) = ( T1/T2) = e 2.3log ( T1/T2) =

Problem 3 :Find the power transmitted by a belt running over a pulley of 600mm diameter at 200r.p.m. The coefficient of friction between the pulley is 0.25, angle of lap 160 and maximum tension in the belt is 2.5kN.
SOLUTION : Speed of the belt v = dN/60 = x 0.6 x 200/60 = 2 rad/sec

2.3log ( T1/T2) = 2.3log ( T1/T2) = 0.25 x ( 160x /180) log ( T1/T2) =0.6975 / 2.3 = 0.3033

2.5/T2 = 2.01
T2 = 2.5/2.01 = 1.24kN Power transmitted by the bellt P P = (T1 T2) v =(2.5 1.24 ) 2 kW = 7.92kW