Originally Posted by
hjl4
I agree.
Here are some facts about different belt configurations which the US Energy department has provided.
"The majority of belt drives use V-belts, which use a trapezoidal cross section to create a
wedging action on the pulleys to increase friction and improve the belt’
s power transfer capability. Joined or multiple belts are specified for heavy loads. V-belt drives can have
a peak efficiency of 95% or more at the time of installation. Efficiency is dependent on
pulley size, pulley wear, V-belt alignment, transmitted torque, under or oversizing belts
for load requirements. Efficiency can deteriorate by as much as 5% over time if slippage
occurs because the belt is not periodically retensioned.
The most important operational and maintenance issue in a V-belt drive is its tension. If
belts are too loose, they tend to vibrate, wear rapidly, and waste energy through slippage.
If belts are overtightened, they will show excessive wear. An increased belt load may
shorten bearing life through excessive lateral loading and could possibly result in shaft
failure. The proper tension of a V-belt is the lowest tension at which the belt will not slip
at peak-load conditions. After the break-in period, belt tension should be checked every
3 to 6 months.
A notched belt has grooves or notches that run perpendicular to the belt’s length, which
reduces the bending resistance of the belt. Notched belts can use the same pulleys as
cross-section standard V-belts. They run cooler, last longer, and are about 2% more
efficient than standard V-belts.
Synchronous belts (also called cogged, timing, positive-drive, or high-torque drive
belts) are toothed and require the installation of mating grooved sprockets.
These belts operate with a consistent efficiency of 98% and maintain their efficiency over a wide
load range.
In contrast, V-belts have a sharp reduction in efficiency at high torque due
to increased slippage. Synchronous belts require minimal maintenance and retensioning,
operate in wet and oily environments, and run slip-free. However, synchronous belts are noisier than V-belts, less suited for use on shock-loaded applications, and transfer more vibration due to their stiffness"
So there you have it.