Types of Power Transmission

There are various types of power transmission devices commonly used in industry today. Among them for example, chains, gears, v-belts and synchronous belts are widely used. The focus of this exercise will be a general introduction to rubber power transmission belts and more specifically, those v-belts and synchronous belts used in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry.

Power Transmission Belting

The primary function of a belt is to simply transfer rotation from the powered driver pulley to one or more driven pulleys. The belt must be designed and capable of transferring this torque efficiently and reliably. Generally, the most economical component in the system, belts can also act as a “safety fuse” by slipping or breaking under a peak or shock load situation, such as when a drive becomes jammed by debris, which can protect the more expensive components of the system.

Advantages of Power Transmission Belts

• Lowest cost means of transmitting power.
• Ability to accommodate a wide range of speeds and center distance between driver and driven shaft.
• Quiet and clean operation.
• Require no lubrication like chains, gears and gearboxes.
• Able to absorb shock loads and pulsations.
• Can be used for special applications such as clutching and variable speed.

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