A grooved pulley with V-shaped ribs prevents belt slipping and damage to machinery. Sheaves are used in various industries, with a letter and number denoting groove configuration and number. Ribbed pulleys are used in automobile engines and conveyor belts. A smooth belt can be used with a grooved pulley for added traction.
A grooved pulley is used to keep a belt from slipping as it goes around the pulley. The rib takes the form of grooves which are machined into the surface of the pulley. Ribs are usually matched to a specific belt, made with ribs that fit into grooves. This prevents the belt from slipping off the pulley and destroying or damaging other parts of a machine or work area. Sheaves are used in a variety of different industries including mining, transportation and automotive industries.
Most of the time, the ribs in a ribbed pulley are V-shaped, which is why these pulleys are also known as V-ribbed pulleys. The surface of the pulley is machined such that one or more grooves run around to the surface that will contact the belt. Deeper ribs make the belt less likely to slip off the pulley while it is spinning.
A typical sheave will be denoted by a number and a letter. The letter specifies the configuration and spacing of the grooves in the pulley. The number is used to determine how many grooves run around the circumference of the pulley. When determining what type of belt to use with a ribbed pulley, the letter designation, the number of grooves, and the width of the pulley are all important factors. The belt should have the same letter and number and be slightly smaller in width than the pulley to fit properly.
In most automobile engines, a ribbed belt known as a serpentine belt is fitted to a ribbed pulley connected to the crankshaft. This belt and pulley system is used to power many different parts of the car, including the stereo and power steering. Ribbed pulleys are also often used on conveyor belts in transportation or mining, when large or heavy material needs to be moved along a conveyor belt without the risk of the belt falling off the pulley, damaging equipment and causing delays.
In some cases, a ribbed pulley is used in conjunction with a smooth belt. While this doesn’t offer the security of using a matching ribbed belt and pulley, it can provide a little more traction to a carrying system. A grooved pulley could be used for added safety, especially when the risk of the belt slipping off is low. The opposite configuration is also used, using a ribbed belt and a non-ribbed pulley.
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