The most common systems for transmitting power from a drive to a driven shaft are belt, gear, and chain drives. But V-belt drive systems, also called friction drives (because power is transmitted as a ...

Over-tensioning shortens not only the life of V-belts but also that of the sheaves, electric motor, and driven equipment bearings. In extreme cases, it can even bend or break a motor shaft.

About one-third of the electric motors in the industrial and commercial sectors use belt drives. Belt drives provide flexibility in the positioning of the motor relative to the load. Pulleys (sheaves) ...

Pulsating loads, such as those generated by internal combustion engines and compressors, present special problems for V-belt drives. Intermittent forces tend to produce a whipping motion in the belts ...