Thursday, October 12, 2017

Fixed Tensioners Vs Spring Tensioners

It is common with industrial belt drive applications to implement a tensioning idler. This can either be in situations where there are multiple components being driven, space constraints, or if shaft locations are at fixed positions. Either method is acceptable but there are situations where one may be preferred over the other. When dealing with synchronous belt systems it is typically unnecessary to use a spring tensioner. A spring tensioner in certain situations can over-complicate the design and possibly cause more issues.  Once a synchronous drive is installed and tensioned correctly the system will not need re-tensioned.  For this reason a fixed idler bracket would be more than acceptable.

On systems where V-belts have been installed or space constraints are an issue then a spring tensioner may be the preferred option.  The physical properties of a V-belt will cause it to naturally stretch over time throughout its operating life. If the drive is also located in an area where it’s difficult to re-tension the system manually a spring tensioner could then be used. This will allow the system to continuously operate at the correct tension as the V-belt stretches, leading to reduced intervals for preventive maintenance. 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Search This Blog