A supercharger pulley is made of cast iron or alloy metal and uses a spoke design to cool the pump. It has multiple belt grooves for non-slip operation and is commonly used with an electric motor. The spoke design reduces frictional heat and keeps air moving through the compressor intake filter. An electric clutch drive pulley design is used in automotive applications to engage the supercharger when needed.
A supercharger pulley is a device used to supply power to a pump from an engine. Commonly created from a cast iron or alloy metal, the supercharger pulley also uses a spoke design from the pulley’s center hub to the outer ring which acts as a fan to cool the supercharger pump. Many manufacturers use the compressor pulley to balance the compressor in order to get a smooth running pump. Another typical feature of this pulley is the multiple belt grooves to provide non-slip operation under extreme loads.
Many compressors use an electric motor to power the pump. These machines commonly use a drive pulley set which consists of an engine and compressor pulley and drive belts. Designed to operate in pairs, the motor pulley is usually smaller in diameter than the compressor pulley and is commonly made of the same material as the compressor unit. V-belts or timing belts are the most commonly used style of belts and when in use, V-belts are usually driven in multiples of two or three. The use of multiple belts provides the maximum contact area between the pulleys and the belts, thus eliminating slippage under heavy resistance.
A frequently used supercharger pulley design is a spoke treatment that resembles fan blades. As the pulley rotates, the blades push cool air through the compressor’s cooling fins, reducing the frictional heat inside the compressor’s cylinders. Heat is a common byproduct of air/gas compression and this heat can damage the compressor if left untreated. When used in some dirty environments, such as a paint shop and auto body shop, the fan also keeps air moving through the compressor intake filter, reducing filter clogging and reducing drain intervals.
When used in an automotive application that causes the supercharger to be driven by engine operating accessories, the supercharger pulley routinely uses an electric clutch drive pulley design. This type of pulley allows the belt to rotate the friction pulley at engine speed without engaging the supercharger. When the supercharger is needed, as in the case of an air conditioning compressor pump, the electric clutch apparatus can be activated by operating a control switch on the vehicle’s dashboard. The clutch is engaged, effectively driving the compressor at engine speed and powering the air conditioning unit to cool the vehicle cabin. When no longer needed, the switch is turned off, thus cutting power to the clutch, disengaging it and allowing the drive belt to once again run freely on the rotating supercharger pulley.
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