Fiber-Graded Drive Belt Structure to Reduce Base Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive belts experience high wear and cracking issues, particularly at the lower end of the belt base due to the dissipation of tensile forces, leading to a reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A drive belt with varying fiber concentrations along its length, where the upper area has a higher concentration of reinforcing fibers than the lower area, reducing the transfer of forces to the lower area and minimizing cracking, and optionally featuring a central area with intermediate fiber concentration and a lower area with minimal or no fibers, guiding power flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If tensile forces are transferred via the belt wedge to the belt base, then power transmission is achieved, but cracking occurs at the lower end of the belt base reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the fiber concentration in different regions of the belt base. The upper region has a higher fiber concentration (first fiber concentration) while the lower region has a lower fiber concentration (second fiber concentration). This localized differentiation allows the upper region to effectively transfer tensile forces from the belt wedge while the lower region remains flexible enough to avoid cracking, thus resolving the contradiction between power transmission and service life.
2Reliability
If the belt base is made uniformly strong throughout, then cracking resistance improves, but force transfer efficiency from belt wedge to belt base decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire belt base uniformly strong, the patent implements local quality by creating a gradient in fiber concentration. The upper region with higher fiber concentration provides effective force transfer from the belt wedge, while the lower region with lower fiber concentration maintains flexibility and cracking resistance. This localized approach optimizes both force transfer efficiency and cracking resistance simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the tendency for cracking at the lower end of the belt base, enhancing the drive belt's service life and power transmission efficiency by distributing tensile forces more effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The drive belt is formed from a flexible base material in which a plurality of reinforcing fibers are embedded
Implementation Method 2
cracks regularly form at the lower end of the belt base, from which a belt wedge extends. This occurs especially when tensile forces acting on the drive belt are transferred via the belt wedge(s)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to a self-contained drive belt (1) for power transmission in a belt drive (2), comprising a belt base (3) and at least one belt wedge (4) extending from the belt base (3), wherein the drive belt (1) comprises a flexible base material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers (5) embedded in the base material, wherein the reinforcing fibers (5) are aligned at least substantially parallel to a central axis (6) of the drive belt (1) and each extend - viewed in the direction of the central axis (6) - only along a partial length of the drive belt (1).In order to provide a drive belt whose service life is improved compared to known drive belts, it is proposed according to the invention that the drive belt (1) - viewed in a longitudinal section parallel to the central axis (6) and parallel to a vertical axis (7) of the drive belt (1) - has at least one upper region (8) and a lower region (10) arranged below the upper region (8), wherein a fiber concentration of reinforcing fibers (5) embedded in the base material is greater in the upper region (8) than in the lower region (10).