Factors Affecting Torque Loss in Synchronous Belt Drives Under No Transmitted Torque

Abstract

Synchronous belts generally exhibit higher transmission efficiency than frictional transmission belts because of their meshing transmission. However, synchronous belts are subject to torque loss due to flexural rigidity when the belt is wound on a pulley. Torque loss also occurs due to incomplete meshing between the belt and pulley teeth at the beginning and end of meshing. If these torque losses can be reduced, synchronous belts can achieve higher transmission efficiency. In the present study, the torque loss in synchronous belt drives under the no transmitted torque and a pulley speed ratio of 1:1 is experimentally investigated with regard to installation tension, belt width, thickness of the belt back face, pitch difference, number of pulley teeth, and temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the belt. It is found that the torque loss in synchronous belt drives increases with increasing installation tension, belt back face thickness, belt width, and pitch length, and with decreasing pulley teeth number and temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the belt.