V-belt pulleys for industrial drives

No drive without the right pulley

V-belt pulleys are drive elements that connect one shaft to another using a V-belt. Like V-belts, they are essential components of V-belt drives and transmit forces through static friction. V-belt pulleys are sometimes also referred to as motor pulleys, wedge pulleys or groove pulleys. The pulleys are mainly made of cast iron or grey cast iron. Grey cast iron is extremely abrasion-resistant and thus provides good static friction for the V-belts over a long period of time. Other materials used to manufacture V-belt pulleys include aluminium and plastic. When aluminium and cast iron are used together in manufacturing, the result is a bimetallic pulley. In this case, the pulley is made of aluminium and the hub is made of cast iron.

Features of the pulley

A pulley is an essential component in many mechanical systems and is frequently used in machines, vehicles and industrial plants. It serves to enable power transmission between different components, such as a motor and a shaft. Pulleys come in various designs, including simple, flat models and wedge-shaped pulleys that have been specially developed for use with V-belts. They are made of robust materials such as steel, aluminium or plastic to ensure a long service life and high load-bearing capacity. Choosing the right pulley is crucial for the efficient and long-lasting operation of machines and equipment.

Consistently stable manufacturing methods

V-belt pulleys for V-belt drives are available in several designs. First, there is the solid pulley, which is usually only common for small, single-groove pulleys. It is made of solid material without any recesses and offers very high stability. In the case of the base pulley, the hub is connected to the groove profile by means of a disc. Its design is narrower than the overall width between the shaft mount and the running surface for V-belts. This has the advantage that it is relatively light, but still extremely stable. Base pulleys are often found among medium-sized V-belt pulleys. The arm pulley is the most common type of pulley. Here, the hub is connected to the grooved profile by webs. It is manufactured in the lightest possible design and is mainly found on large V-belt pulleys. It also offers a high degree of stability, which is ensured by the arms.

Available belt profiles

The V-belt pulley is available with various V-belt profiles that are specially tailored to different application requirements. The pulleys with the most common profiles include the SPA, SPB, SPC and SPZ V-belt pulleys. These profiles vary in width and height and ensure an optimal fit and efficient power transmission. There are also the American profiles 3V, 5V and 8V. Choosing the right V-belt profile is crucial for the performance, service life and wear protection of drive systems. Precise design between the V-belt and V-belt pulley optimises efficiency and minimises maintenance.

Bores with standard fit or taper bush

Another important component of pulleys for V-belt drives is the hub bore. This is either provided with a centring, i.e. a pilot hole, a finished bore with H7, a finished bore with keyway or a bore for a tapered clamping sleeve. The latter is being used more and more frequently, as it eliminates the need for finished boring and promises easy installation.