Maximum RPM for Drive Belt

Talk to the belt manufacturer.

I've a very bad experience of trying to get information from manufacturers!

Well, the manufacturer sold the belt. It does have a sales after-care obligation, particularly if it has a prospect of selling more belts. Be a potential customer and try again.

I tried this already!

But I think that from the material science standpoint that there should be a general rule that will tell me of my idea is in the right direction, or not!

Even my idea is in general good, it doesn't say that it will cover all the rpm range! I think that the more I'll use this belt in extreme high rpm, the wear will be much faster,even exponentially.

Either that or consult the catalog ratings for a belt of this type.

What are the pulley diameters, distance between centers, and hp to be transmitted?

I think that since a washing machines technician told me that the washing machine's motor wouldn't rotate more than 1000 rpm, that all the regular data like what you asked me is irrelevant!

Only the ostrich buries its head in the sand.

Now, go and start digging for relevant information and stop annoying CR4 readers.

Thank you! toda raba in Hebrew!

What are the diameters of the two "pulleys"?

This V belt design guide rates belts up to around 5000 ft per second.

18 m.m. diameter

My design is for flat grooved belt.

My above comment should have read 5000 ft per minute not per second: sorry about that.

18 mm at 7000 rpm is about 1300 ft per minute, so, I'd guess you'd be OK.

But you really should try to get the spec. of the belt you're going to use: both to confirm its speed capability, and, to confirm that it will be OK on such a tight radius.

Thank you very much!

azi [az.native]

Another game of "20 Questions" <sigh>.

Try here for specs.

http://www.globalspec.com/search/products?page=mi#comp=303&vid=114551

Dear Randall- I'm trying to find more about minimum pulley diameter, but in the diagrams there are no indications for which pulley diameter will a certain belt tipe be suitable.

Hi Az,

........ just go to the globalspec home page and do a search for "flat belt".

Then narrow the search by selecting the criteria at the left side of the page

I ended up with this spec from Belt Corporation of America (200 Apache)

Looks as though your requirements can be met fairly easily.

Hi Randall- Is my assumption right, that if the belt thickness is about 4 times the recomended belt, then or the pulley's diameter must be 4 times bigger, or - [what I prefer] is to limit the belt's speed to a quarter, this means in this case to 3750 feet per minute?

Sorry, I am out of my depth. Best to study some of the existing specs.

I AGREE with Lyn, Hey, Ferrari engines hit 11000 RPM's Red line at 13500 RPM's and there are belts on those. Granted, they only have to last for 4-5 hours. Our Hybrids approach 5K RPM's and hold up currently. Only time will tell how long.

So go for it. The belts today are well made.

You might be also well advised to watch the maximum temperature the belt can handle, especially if your driver is an internal combustion engine. Their output shafts can get pretty hot...

J.

Just a thought, but could it be that that part of the wear issue might be the amount of slippage of the belt on the shafts/pulleys ? If so, the amount of belt tensioning and the friction coefficient would be extremely important. Use of a belt dressing compound (such as used to be available for V-belts on automobile cooling systems) would be more beneficial than a water spray to keep the belt cool, be reducing the friction.

The biggest problem with high speed belts is the tendency to flip over at high speed if the main mass in on the inside of the belt. In the 60's when racing engines started to go over 7000 RPM this was the problem with belts but Dayco designed a belt with Ford to have the cords (lightest material) on the inside with the solid rubber on the out side to prevent belt flip. These engines operated in the 7500 RPM range for hours on end.

As suggested the manufacturer should be able to make recommendations to keep things working. The timing belts on modern cars are capable of much more high rpm and have a very good track record most of the time and are quiet and very high efficiency in transmitting power. Cog belts or timing belts are use a lot in high speed applications.

Dear Mr.az-native,

Speed alone will not help to calculate the LINEAR SPEED of the belt, for which the Pulley Dia is to be informed by you.

The centrifugal force of the belt also will decide the real power transmission capacity in the system, because the centrifugal forces also tend to increase the stress in the belt, and has limitations for the capacity.

dhayanandhan.s