V-belt

General information

V-belts are an essential element of mechanical drive technology. They are made with a trapezoidal cross section. V-belts are usually made of textile-reinforced rubber vulcanized to standard lengths into an endless shape. Most often, a V-belt is used for a pair of pulleys. If several V-belts are installed in parallel, due to the manufacturing differences of the V-belts, equal belt tension force cannot be achieved for all belt loops, therefore a lower transferable power than nominal must be expected. In the case of V-belt drive, it must be possible to adjust the required belt tension by shifting the wheelbase or a belt tensioning disc shall be used.

The oldest transmission belts used are classic V-belts. For about 50 years, they have been made according to unchanged standards, are inexpensive and quite effective. An improved, modern version of classic profile V-belts are narrow-profile V-belts, which can transfer much more force than their predecessors with the same profile width. V-belts with hexagon profile are used when in the drive system one disc rotates in one direction and another disc in another. Lawn tractor clutch V-belts are used in all places where the belt may loosen and stick back during normal use. The coating and material of these belts can withstand this heat and elongation load well. Automotive V-belts are used outside of vehicles to drive fans and other vibrating shafts, but they are really suitable for all uses. The drive belts for heavy-duty drives causing pulse-like loads are interlaced V-belts.