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PowerGrip® GT® Belt Drives

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Polyflex ® JB ® and Micro-V ® <strong>Belt</strong>s – Engineering<br />

I. Operating Characteristics–continued<br />

Micro-V belts can be prone to slippage when<br />

installed with less than adequate tension, or when<br />

operating on a drive system with flexing centers.<br />

This potential slippage can result in noise. See<br />

Section IV. <strong>Belt</strong> Tensioning on Page 78.<br />

In many cases the belt drive system is not the<br />

primary cause of noise. Undersized, poorly<br />

lubricated, worn or misaligned bearings can cause<br />

significant noise levels. Rotating parts of a total<br />

system can create air movement patterns that<br />

generate noise. A weak structure could flex under<br />

the load and cause misalignment and affect<br />

components in the drive system, thereby creating<br />

noise. Also, make sure that the total system has not<br />

been designed into an echo chamber, amplifying an<br />

otherwise insignificant noise.<br />

D. Static Conductivity<br />

Polyflex JB belts do not meet the static-conductive<br />

requirements specified in RMA Bulletin IP-3-3. This<br />

bulletin describes those belt characteristics<br />

necessary for safe operation in potentially explosive<br />

or flammable environments. However, laboratory<br />

testing confirms that under dynamic operating<br />

conditions, Polyflex JB belts are nonstatic<br />

generating. Under normal operating conditions,<br />

Polyflex JB belts do not build up significant static<br />

charge.<br />

When Polyflex JB belts are used in explosive or<br />

flammable environments, additional steps must be<br />

taken to protect against accidental static spark<br />

discharges:<br />

(1) The entire system must be properly grounded.<br />

(2) A static conductive brush or similar device is<br />

recommended to bleed off any static buildup on<br />

the belt if it should occur.<br />

The nonstatic generating characteristics apply to<br />

new, clean belts. It is the user’s responsibility to<br />

establish an effective preventive maintenance<br />

program to monitor equipment and to replace or<br />

repair components, as needed, for continued safe<br />

operation.<br />

Micro-V belts do meet the static conductive<br />

requirements specified in RMA Bulletin IP-3-3<br />

describing the characteristics necessary for safe<br />

operation in potentially explosive or flammable<br />

environments. This applies to new clean belts. <strong>Belt</strong><br />

conductivity properties can be influenced by age<br />

and environmental debris.<br />

E. Operating Environments<br />

Caution should be used when installing Polyflex JB<br />

and Micro-V belt drives where debris is present.<br />

Debris can damage belts by becoming wedged<br />

between the belt’s strands, causing damage or<br />

separation. Debris can also cause belts to become<br />

unstable and turn over. If the drive must operate in<br />

this type of environment, be sure to provide<br />

adequate shielding.<br />

Since Polyflex JB belts use a 60° angle system, the<br />

coefficient of friction between the belt and sheave is<br />

extremely important. Any substance which<br />

decreases the coefficient of friction can cause belt<br />

slip. If the belt slips excessively, enough heat may<br />

be generated to cause catastrophic failure.<br />

Environmental contamination can also cause Micro-<br />

V belts to slip.<br />

Polyflex JB belt performance is generally unaffected<br />

in ambient temperature environments between<br />

-65°F and +185°F (-54°C and +85°C). Micro-V<br />

belts are capable of operating between -30°F and<br />

+180°F (-34°C and +82°C). Contact Gates<br />

Application Engineering if the drive must operate in<br />

temperatures that exceed these limits.<br />

II. Calculating<br />

Speed Ratio<br />

Nominal pitch is satisfactory for use in speed<br />

calculations on most drives. Most machines do not<br />

require exact driveN speeds to operate efficiently,<br />

and speeds vary because the speed of common<br />

driveR machines usually varies by several percent.<br />

For example, the speed of an ordinary induction<br />

type electric motor varies with load and line voltage.<br />

Speed ratio may be determined by the following<br />

formula:<br />

DriveN Pitch Diameter<br />

Speed Ratio =<br />

DriveR Pitch Diameter<br />

Find the pitch diameters of the sheaves by adding<br />

the appropriate factor listed in Table 32 on Page 71<br />

to the sheave outside diameters.<br />

The World’s Most Trusted Name in <strong>Belt</strong>s, Hose & Hydraulics.<br />

77

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