Flat Belt Drive System

Ingersoll-Rand ‘Flat Belt Drive System

Put some extra-efficiency into your transmission
It's easy not to notice when your V-belt transmission becomes
inefficient over the years. With worn out V-belts and pulleys, it wouldn't
be easy to achieve even 90% efficiency! That's why IR has brought out
the Ingersoll-Rand ‘Flat Belt Drive System' – high-technology flat-belts
to drive your machines more efficiently.
Frequent re-tensioning, uneven wearing of the belt and pulley
sections, low life, wobbling while running are some of the many
problems largely associated with V-belts, which users have learned to
live with. The Flat-belt Drive System does away with these operational
issues. This modern high-
efficiency flat-belt has a traction layer made of oriented polyamide with
two covers of elastomer leather and one intermediate layer of fabric on
each side. The traction layer absorbs the forces exerted on the belt
when power is transmitted. The friction cover ensures that the
peripheral force acting on the belt pulleys is transmitted to the belt and
vice-versa. The end result? Significant savings for you as high as 7-
8% in many older installations. Simple to install and added with more
than double the life of today's V-belts, the flat-belt drive provides
smooth trouble-free solution to your transmission problems.

The high-efficiency IR Flat-Belt Drive System:

• Small bending cross-section, together with even running & absence
of pulley wedge effects - higher transmission efficiency
• Resistant to oil, fats and most chemicals
• Anti-static and comply with stringent safety requirements for operation
in explosive environment
• No frequent re-tensioning as in V-belts
• Significant savings – up to 8% for older installations (2-3% for newer)
• Payback in just about a year!

Advantages of the IR Flat-Belt Drive System over V-belts

V-belt drive
Transmission Efficiency
• Higher bending loss due to larger mass,
thick rigid sections
• Wedging-in & pulling-out action causing
energy loss
• Different effective diameters, thus varying
speeds of individual belt
• Frictional engagement between the lateral
wedge surfaces of the belt profile
• Transmission efficiency < 95%
Flat-belt drive
• Little bending loss as small mass of belt and small cross-section
• Absence of pulley wedge effect, hence higher efficiency
• Precisely defined effective diameters across the
belt width and therefore exact speed
• Frictional engagement on the outer pulley diameter
which helps in better transmission
• Transmission efficiency > 95%. Savings up to 5% or more

Design Properties
• Lower strength & elasticity
• Low velocity ratios possible
• Max. belt velocity of 25 m/s
• High shaft load
Installation, Maintenance, Life
• Often tensioned haphazardly i.e. until the
individual belts no longer wobble
• Frequent re-tensioning required
• Grooved pulley subject to higher wear rate
• Typical life – 1 year
• Oriented Nylon with 4700 kg/cm2 tensile strength and high modulus of
elasticity can transmit very high loads without stretching
• Enables design with short-centered, high ratio drives, with pulley rims almost touching)
• Higher belt velocity of up to 60 m/s
• Able to smoothly absorb pulsating & shock loads, thereby reducing shaft loads
• Simpler installation; tensioning to the calculated initial tension by means of simple
measuring marks to be applied to the belt
• No re-tensioning is required
• Pulleys, being ungrooved, do not wear and practically are everlasting
• Typical life of 2 years or more

Ingersoll-Rand air Compressors & Dryers are not designed, intended or approved for breathing air. Compressed air should not be used for breathing air application unless
treated in accordance with all applicable codes and regulation.
Nothing contained in this brochure is intended to extended any warranty or representation, expressed or implied, regarding the products described herein. Any such warranties
or other terms and contained of sale shall be in accordance with Ingersoll-Rand's standard term and conditions of sale of such products, which are available upon request.
Product improvement is a continuing goal at Ingersoll-Rand. Design and specification are subject to change without notice or obligation.