Power Transmission Technology

In any industrial facility, turbines and motors are used to create rotating mechanical movements to perform different types of work. The market for industrial power transmission works with basic products of open transmission of the drive train, such as belt drives, chain drives and gear drives, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of these components of energy transmission technology.

1.Belt Technology:-

Belt drive, one of the most common devices, is used to transfer movement from one axis to another by a thin, non-extensible band that runs on two pulleys. It is basically an annular strip of flexible material that mechanically connects the rotating shaft.

Various types of belt transmissions are available, such as flat belts, V-belts, cable transmissions and timing belts. It is important to select the correct type of belt drive as follows.

·         Power to be transmitted
·         Direction of belt motion
·         Shaft’s velocity and Velocity ratio
·         Service conditions
·         Distance between shafts, and space available

Regardless of the type of belt drive in use, this technology provides smooth and effective transfer between axles, even at considerable distances. This technique is used when it is necessary to transmit a rotation movement between two parallel axes. They are the cheapest way to transfer energy.

The advantages of the belt drive are:

·         The transmission belts are profitable. The new belt drive efficiency can be up to 95-98%.
·         They are easy to use.
·         Belt drives do not require parallel axles.
·         They have low maintenance costs.
·         It has function to prevent overloads and jams.
·         Different speeds can be achieved using stepped or conical pulleys.
·         If the distance between the axles is too large, the belt drive is the most economical option
·         Protection against noise and vibrations.
·         The fluctuation of the load is absorbed by blows, which increases the life of the machine.
·         Belt tension can be released to activate clutch operation.

The disadvantages of belt technology are as follows:-

·         Belt drive is not compact.
·         Speed ​​limit of about 35 meters per second.
·         Compared to other mode power transmission devices, the service life is short.
·         Normally, the operating temperature is limited to -35 to 85 ° C
·         The angular speed of the belt drive is not constant. This results in stretching, sliding and belt wear.
·         Increased heat production due to limited power delivery of up to 370 kW
·         Belt drives generally have a heavy load on the shaft and bearings.
·         For wear and height compensation, they also require some adjustment of the idler pulley or center distance.
·         The speed ratio varies due to belt slippage.

2.Chain Technology:-

As the name implies, chain transmissions consistently have chain links with a series of sprockets. Unlike belt transmissions, there is no slippage in chain technology. However, they are more suitable for small center distances of up to 3 meters. In special cases, the transmission chain can cover distances of up to 8 meters.

This technique is used to perform three basic functions. These are:

Transmission power: Can deliver power (speed and torque) from one component to another using a connected chain and sprockets. Chain drives can provide a large torque even in tight spaces.

Conveying material: They can move, transport, push, push and pull various materials joining cubes, frames, pockets or meshes to the chain. It is often used to rotate the roller to move the conveyor belt.

Timing purposes: Many industries use it for synchronization or time change.

Chain drives have several advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages are:-

·         Positive boost without slippage or slippage
·         Unlike the belt drive, the angular speed remains constant in the chain transmission.
·         High speed ratio up to 8: 1
·         It allows high speed ratios from 8 to 10 in one step.
·         High efficiency chain drives provide more power than belts.
·         It can be used for small and large center distances.
·         Chain units have low maintenance costs.
·         They offer a high transfer efficiency of up to 98%.
·         It can work even when wet.
·         It is more compact and easier to install than belt drives.
·         The chains of transmission are not aggravated by sunlight, oil, oil or age.
·         Lower axle load than belt drive

The disadvantages of chain drives:-

·         The initial installation cost is higher than the belt.
·         The cost of production is also relatively high.
·         Transmission chains require regular lubrication.
·         The drive and drive axes must be perfectly aligned and parallel.
·         They may have speed fluctuations when overloaded.
·         It is not suitable for where the unit needs to slide.
·         Transmission chains are noisy and can cause vibrations.
·         Compared to gear drives, the load capacity and service life are longer.

3.Gear Technology:-

 In the world of mechanical power transmission, gear transmissions are a very special and remarkable place. This is the technology of choice when you need to transmit significant power over short distances at a constant speed. The mechanism of the transmission by gears is very simple. The teeth that are cut from the gear part of the sprocket are forced together. To prevent slippage, the protuberance of one disk is coupled to the groove of the other disk in the gear unit.

This technology uses several types of gears for power transmission. It can deliver power between practically parallel axes, as well as between non-parallel, co-planar and transverse axes.

The advantages of gear drives:-

·         They are positive and anti-slip units.
·         A large and constant speed ratio of 60: 1 can be achieved using gear columns with minimal space.
·         The gears are mechanically strong, so they can lift higher loads
·         Longer life compared to belt and chain transmissions
·         They can deliver great power.
·         Gear drives have high transfer efficiency.
·         They can deliver movement at a small central distance from the axis.
·         This unit is ideal for low, medium and high power transmissions.
·         The gears can also transmit movement between non-parallel transverse axes.
·         They are the most compact compared to belt and chain transmissions.

Disadvantages of Gear Drives:-

·         The gears cannot be used on shafts with large central distances.
·         It is not ideal for high speeds.
·         These drives require periodic lubrication and complex application processes.
·         Increased noise and high speed vibration.
·         It is economical compared to the belt and the drive chain.
·         The use of multiple gears increases the total weight of the machine.
·         There is no flexibility.
·         It is not suitable for transferring movement over long distances.
·         Parts of the machine can be permanently damaged by teeth. This is more common in the case of excessive loads.

Conclusion:- Energy is essential to drive machines and equipment for a variety of purposes. In different industries, different power transmission products are used, sometimes in combination to meet every need. So, if you ask which is the best  power transmission technology, this unit will have little or no difficulty because it has its own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the decisive factor must be the work that must be done using the power transmission technology.