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Power Transmission Products Explained

Power transmission is the movement of energy from its source to where it’s needed and it’s essential to choose the correct power transmission products for your bearing application. According to the world’s leading bearing manufacturer SKF, ‘Power transmission products play an important role in overall bearing performance. They are the vital link between moving parts in equipment, and industry as a whole spends about twice as much on these products as it does on the actual bearings.’

Bearings and power transmission products work together in a number of industries such as food and beverage, pulp and paper, textile, mining and quarrying, mineral processing and cement, agriculture, material handling, oil and gas, amongst many others and many problems with bearings can be identified through knowledge of power transmission which is why it’s so important to understand both concepts.

Power transmission products can broadly be divided into the following categories. See below for their application..

  • Belts and pulleys are used together to aid power transfer and would include products such as v belt pulleys, v drive belts and timing belt pulleys amongst many others. According to leading bearing suppliers Acorn Industrial Services Ltd, ‘Belts and pulleys are typically found in applications with high speeds and low torques such as pumps, fan and speed reducers for gearboxes’.
  • Chain applications tend to be relatively low speeds and higher torques in comparison to belt drives. These include applications such as conveyor drives and forklifts.
  • Couplings are used to connect two shafts that turn in the same direction and on the same centreline. They are used in applications where two axles meet. According to ACORN®, ‘Low-torque couplings, for example, are used in electric motors for driving pumps. High torque couplings are typically used on the output side of gearboxes.’
  • Bushings and hubs are used to secure components such as pulleys, sprockets or couplings onto a shaft and can be found in gearboxes, pumps and conveyor belts.

It’s important to ensure that you have the correct power transmission products for your bearing application so make sure that you talk to an experienced company who can advise you on the right products for your requirements.