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 known as friction drives (because power is transmitted as a result of the belt’s adherence to the pulley) are an economical option for industrial, automotive, commercial, agricultural, and house appliance applications. V-belt drives are also easy to install, need no lubrication, and dampen shock load.
Here’s the catch: Standard friction drives may both slip and creep, resulting in inexact velocity ratios or degraded timing precision between insight and output shafts. Because of this, it is essential to select a belt appropriate for the application at hand.
Belt drives are one of the earliest power transmission systems and were widely used through the Industrial Revolution. Then, smooth belts conveyed power over large distances and were created from leather. Later, demands for more powerful machinery, and the growth of large V Belt markets such as the automobile market spurred new belt designs. V-belts, with a trapezoidal or V shape, manufactured from rubber, neoprene, and urethane synthetic materials, replaced smooth belts. Now, the increased overall surface material of contemporary belts adheres to pulley grooves through friction pressure, to reduce the tension required to transmit torque. The very best section of the belt, called the tension or insulation section, includes fiber cords for increased strength since it carries the strain of traction pressure. It can help hold tension members in place and works as a binder for greater adhesion between cords and additional sections. In this manner, heat build-up is reduced, extending belt life.
We’ve designed our V-belts for wear, corrosion, and heat resistance with OE quality match and building for reliable, long-long lasting performance.
V-Belts are the most common kind of drive belt used for power transmitting. Their primary function can be to transmit power from a primary source, like a engine, to a second driven unit. They offer the best mixture of traction, velocity transfer, load distribution, and extended service life. Most are unlimited and their cross section is certainly trapezoidal or “V” shaped. The “V” form of the belt tracks in a similarly designed groove on a pulley or sheave. The v-belt wedges in to the groove as the load boosts creating power distribution and torque. V-belts are generally manufactured from rubber or polymer or there might be fibers embedded for added strength and reinforcement.
V-belts are generally found in two construction groups: envelope (wrapped) and raw advantage.

Wrapped belts have an increased resistance to oils and extreme temperatures. They can be used as friction clutches during set up.
Raw edge type v-belts are better, generate less heat, allow for smaller pulley diameters, increase power ratings, and provide longer life.
V-belts appear to be relatively benign and basic pieces of equipment. Just measure the top width and circumference, discover another belt with the same dimensions, and slap it on the drive. There’s only one problem: that strategy is about as wrong as possible get.