Hardware component selections for normal belt drives use the
same widths for both the driver and driven sprockets or sheaves. This
looks normal and works well most of the time.
But what if the driven shaft diameter is unusually large and
exceeds the bore range of the selected driven sprocket or sheave? One option is to re-design and select
hardware components with larger bore ranges.
Another option is to consider using a driven component in the same
diameter, but in a wider width than necessary.
For example, an 8MX-140S-12 sprocket uses a 2012 bushing
with a maximum bore of 2.125”. An
8MX-140S-21 sprocket uses a 2517 bushing with a maximum bore of 2.688”. In this case, just using a sprocket with a 21mm
face width instead of a 12mm face width will increase the sprocket bore range from
2.125” to 2.688”, which is considerable.
This principle can apply to other sprocket, pulley and sheave types as
well.
With synchronous belt drives there is no harm in using wider
driven sprockets so long as the driver sprocket is double flanged so the belt
is constrained appropriately on both sides.
A wider driven sprocket may look unusual, but will function just
fine. And the parallel sprocket
alignment isn’t as critical with the wider sprocket face width.
With V-belt drives there is no harm in using wider driven
sheaves. There may be some empty sheave
grooves in the wider driven sheave, but this will not pose any problems. Just be sure to accurately align the driver
sheave grooves with the driven sheave grooves that will contain V-belts.
For questions or further information, contact Gates Product
Application Engineering at 303-744-5800 or at ptpasupport@gates.com
