Force on Pulley Shaft - What is the Shaft Load?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on understanding the forces acting on a pulley shaft driven by torque, particularly the confusion surrounding the direction of the shaft load vector. Participants clarify that the shaft load includes both the tension from the belt and the reaction force from the bearing support, which are equal and opposite. The green force vector represents the reaction force on the shaft, while the actual shaft load is directed differently, as indicated in mechanical texts. The conversation also touches on the implications of belt tension and the necessity of a difference in forces for motion, emphasizing that constant RPM does not equate to zero net force. Overall, the participants seek clarity on how to accurately calculate shaft loads and the dynamics of belt tension in practical applications.
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hello,

I have some trouble understanding the force vector of a loaded pulley shaft:
the pulley is driven by the shaft with a torque T, the pulley on his turn is driving a belt.
because of Newton 3th law there's tension in the belt as shown,

ok, now the question: many books state that the green force is the shaft force => how can this be true:

the shaft load is de resultant force : adding those 2 red force vectores , so the shaft load must be a vector that is oriented toward right instead of that green force.

the green force is de reaction of the pulley support = reaction of the shaft

in shaft calculation they use the green force vector as shaft load...

do not understand it !
krachten.jpg


grtz
 
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Put a diagram up of the problem and make some form of attempt at the solution, then I will take a look.
 
oké, a better explenation:

riem.jpg


we see a pulley with a shaft; it is driving a belt because the shaft has a torque, the power tis transmitted because of a difference in belt force , logic

now: suppose I want to calculate the diameter of the shaft, first I have to know the shaft load,
I say it's the green force vector, but official mechanical books say that the shaft laod is a vector that has an opposed direction, it's pointed tot the secand quadrant

how could the shaft load be a vector opposed to the green one in the picture ?

thank you
 
The shaft load is all the forces acting ON the shaft. So you have the tension from your belt that is pushing on your shaft but there is also the bearing support that is pushing on your shaft. In your particular case, it just happens - from basic statics calculations - that the belt tension and the bearing support reaction are equal and opposite.
 
for my example, an electromotor is driving the pulley, so where the shaft is connected to the pulley, it's a fixed connections

to in this case there's just the shaft reactions that is opposed to the the green force vector,
but for deflection calulation/shaft diameter, I must use the green force vector...

I can't see another explenation.

thank you
 
someone who wants to confirm my ideas...

thank you
 
The force ON the shaft is acting in the green-line direction. The force that the shaft is applying is in the opposite direction. To calculate the deflection of the shaft, yes, use the line you drew. The book likely put it in the opposite direction to maintain force-balance convention.

Though, I don't see how a belt can have two different tensions on it if it is a single belt...
 
I assume also that the book might mean that the oppsite force is the one give the belt e preload to there is enough friction with the pulley. Otherwise it wouldn't be able to transmit power.

In rotation mode there's a different tension in de belt, that''s rather logic, how would the power be transmitted otherwise...

thank you

grtz
 
I doubt that. If there is tension in the belt, there will be power transmission. If it was preload, they would tell you. It doesn't matter though. They tell you the tensions in the belt, so that is all you need.
 
  • #10
difference in tension I mean: different forces in the belt,
if those forces would be equal, why would there be motion...
I have learned and understood that there only wille be motion if there's a difference in forces

grtz
 
  • #11
Yea. That was a misunderstanding on my part. Its the initial acceleration that you are studying. And the resulting deflection.
 
  • #12
what about initial acceleration ?
if the shaft is rotating at constant RPM, there also will be difference in belt forces...
If that isn't true I have a major problem in understanding physics !

grtz
 
  • #13
If you are talking real world, yea, there will be because nothing is completely inelastic and nothing is frictionless.

Newton's laws: F=m*a Force is a direct correlate to acceleration. Zero acceleration means zero net force. If you have a force difference, you have an acceleration. Constant RPM means constant velocity, which means zero net force. I.e. The pulley should be pulling the feed side with the same force that it is pushing the other side.

Someone chime in if I am wrong, but I don't believe I am.
 
  • #14
conclusion: constant RPM doens't excist and therefore will be a difference in belt force ?

grtz
 
  • #15
Hold...
 
  • #16
what do you mean with 'hold' ?

grtz
 
  • #17
VTC - sorry, but please could you re-size your picture to 800 wide or smaller. It has forced the text on all the entries in the thread to the same width and it's forcing scrolling to read the replies.

At least on my Firefox and XP.

Thanks.
 
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