V-belts are common consumables not only in the field of air compressors. They find their place everywhere we need to transfer torque from the driving pulley to the driven one. Such a transfer of power has several advantages. That is why we recommend never economising on V-belts, so that these advantages are really put to use. And it is not only about service life. V-belts allow the use of higher speeds and power with lower losses, they have minimal stretching of the belt under load, ensure quiet running and absorb vibrations.
Today we will teach you how to buy and choose these belts correctly. Very often we come across users who have a damaged or broken belt and do not know how to identify it and buy a new one accordingly.
V-belts are usually made of highly resistant and durable rubber (e.g. of SBR rubber), into which a fabric core for maximum tensile strength has been placed. Specialised materials resistant to oils or extreme temperatures are also used. Nothing lasts forever, though, and even the best belts deserve replacement one day, or they snap.
Where do belts find their use?
- Compressors
- Pumps
- Power units
- Car engines
- Alternators
- Saws
- Washing machines, dishwashers
- Various production machines
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Identifying a V-belt
There are a great many kinds of belts. So always take yours in your hand and examine its construction and shape.
It can have one of these constructions:
(some special belts combine several designs)
Finding out the dimensions of the belt
The best situation is when you have a machine with a new belt in front of you. On the outer back of every new belt you will find data about the size and the manufacturer, so we recommend noting this information down as soon as possible, for example in the inspection log or anywhere else where you keep records about the equipment. With some manufacturers of compressors and other equipment there is also the advantage that you can click your way through to the full specification on the internet and find out which belt fits the machine.
It is hard to read anything from a worn belt, so a vernier caliper, a tape measure and a piece of string have to come on the scene. Do not worry, we are not going to do any embroidery. The string is there so that the length of the belt can easily be measured. Simply stretch the string around the circumference of the outer surface. Then all you have to do is lay the measured part of the string against the tape measure and find out the total length of the belt. Do not forget, however, that a worn belt is stretched - lengthened. It can be a matter of up to a few centimetres. Take that into account and find out how much reserve for retensioning the tensioner of the belt has directly on the machine.
The vernier caliper is needed to measure the outer width (the largest width) and the height of the profile precisely. On belts with several Vs it is also advisable to measure the spacing between the Vs. From the centre of one V to the centre of the next one (marked as p). Once you have found out all the data about the necessary dimensions, it is time to look at the range in the shop itself.
Summary of measuring
options for measuring the length
- inner length Li - measured along the inner surface
- outer length La - measured along the outer surface
measuring the cross-section
- width of the belt (b)
- height of the V (h)
- angle of the V (a)
- spacing between the Vs (p) - (applies to multiple belts with several Vs)