Engineering a notched belt can be a balancing act between flexibility, tensile cord support, and stress distribution. Precisely formed and spaced notches help evenly distribute tension forces as the belt bends, thereby helping to prevent undercord cracking and extending belt life.
Like their synchronous belt cousins, V-belts have undergone tremendous technological development since their invention by John Gates in 1917. New synthetic rubber substances, cover materials, construction methods, tensile cord advancements, and cross-section profiles have resulted in an often confusing selection of V-belts that are highly application specific and deliver vastly different degrees of performance.
Unlike flat belts, which rely solely on friction and may track and slip off pulleys, V-belts possess sidewalls that match corresponding sheave grooves, providing additional surface and greater stability. As belts operate, belt tension applies a wedging push perpendicular to their tops, pressing their sidewalls against the sides of the sheave grooves, which multiplies frictional forces that allow the drive to transmit higher loads. How a V-belt fits in to the groove of the sheave while operating under stress impacts its performance.
V-belts are made from rubber or synthetic rubber stocks, so they have the flexibility to bend around the sheaves in drive systems. Fabric materials of various types may cover the stock material to provide a layer of safety and reinforcement.
V-belts are manufactured in a variety of industry standard cross-sections, or profiles
The classical V-belt profile dates back to industry standards created in the 1930s. Belts produced with this profile can be found in several sizes (A, B, C, D, E) and lengths, and are widely used to replace V-belts in older, existing applications.
They are used to replace belts on industrial machinery manufactured in other parts of the world.
All the V-belt types noted above are typically available from manufacturers in “notched” or “cogged” versions. Notches reduce bending stress, allowing the belt to wrap easier around small diameter pulleys and enabling better temperature dissipation. Excessive warmth is a major contributor to premature belt failing.
Wrapped belts have a higher resistance to oils and severe temps. They can be utilized as friction clutches during set up.
Raw edge type v-belts are better, generate less heat, allow for smaller pulley diameters, boost power ratings, and provide longer life.
V-belts appear to be relatively benign and basic devices. Just v belt china measure the top width and circumference, find another belt with the same sizes, and slap it on the drive. There’s only 1 problem: that strategy is approximately as wrong as you can get.