FRICTIONAL PROBLEMS IN CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION BELT DRIVES

Abstract

The article describes the results of the research carried out on the evaluation of the influence of friction pairs (rubber belt – belt pulley in belt drive) on the ability to transmit power. In order to determine the characteristics of the belt drive operation, measurements were made on a real belt drive from the drive train of a light two-wheeled vehicle. The measurement was carried out in conditions of changes in the dynamic load. The measurements of the belt slip on the belt pulley within the whole range of the changes of gear ratios and angular speed of the engine were made. During the tests, belts made from various rubber mixtures were compared. The values of the friction coefficients between the surface of belts and the belt pulley were measured. Model analyses of the impact of belt slip on the wheel related to the temperature of Belt drive elements were also made. Generally, one can ascertain that, in belt drive systems, power losses are a combination of speed losses and torque losses. The increase in the efficiency of belt drives is possible by decreasing power losses. It is possible to obtain the high performance of continuously variable transmission belt drives with a V- belt solely with the proper choice of the design parameters, which is possible only after the exact recognition of the operational characteristics unique to this class of belt drive systems.