Different Types of Transmission Belts

What does a transmission belt do?

Belts are mechanical elements used for power transmission without phase shift. They are rings of flexible material used to mechanically link several axes of rotation, usually in parallel. Belts can be used as transmission elements to efficiently transmit power or motion. The main function of a belt is to simply transfer rotation from a drive pulley to one or more drive pulleys. Belts must be designed and capable of transmitting this torque efficiently and reliably. Generally speaking, the belt is the most economical part of the system, and it also acts as a "safety fuse" that slips or breaks during peak or shock load situations, such as when a drive gets caught by debris, it protects the more expensive parts of the system components.

Different types of transmission belts

Transmission belts are generally made of rubber and can be divided into different types according to different uses. Typically, they are often used in industrial production and mechanical equipment like transmission belt gt37401 for Husqvarna rs800.

V-belts

V-belts, shaped like the cross-section of an isosceles trapezoid, are responsible for driving so-called secondary or auxiliary accessories. A few years ago, the auxiliary drive system activated elements such as generators and water pumps, but now others are added, such as power steering pumps or air-conditioning compressors.

These belts are characterized by being thinner and smaller and usually drive only one periphery. So, it's very common to find multiple V-belts on an engine, but only one serpentine belt. These types of belts address alignment and torsion issues with an emphasis on the pulley grooves. What's more, they offer more grip than previous auxiliary the drive belt because of their essentially wedge shape.

Synchronous belts

The synchronous or timing belt is a positive meshing device, which is an efficient power transmission system. synchronous belts are not allowed to slip, as synchronization with the drives is necessary, and any slip could cause damage. For example, the valve train of an internal combustion engine. If the drives are not kept running in sync, the piston can contact and damage the valve.

Poly V-belts

Poly-V-belts (also known as auxiliary ribbed belt, poly belt and poly vee belt) are a type of belt that has played a vital role in delivering greater power to vehicles and overcoming the challenges posed by today's increasingly complex systems. This type of belt is a further development of the V-belt and has several longitudinal grooves in its design. As tension increases, this type of belt fits tightly against the grooves, increasing friction and thereby transmitting torque with minimal loss of power.

Due to their flexibility and high efficiency, Poly V-belts have become one of the most popular choices for car manufacturers. It has many advantages, such as supporting higher loads, more flexible, allows wrapping angles in small spaces, improving system performance, supporting for higher speeds and so on. Unlike other drive belts, it has its teeth or grooves parallel to the direction of the belt. Therefore, at present, most modern applications of V-belts have been replaced by the ribbed or poly-V belts.