Engineering a notched belt is certainly a balancing act among flexibility, tensile cord support, and tension distribution. Precisely formed and spaced notches help to evenly distribute stress forces as the belt bends, thereby assisting to prevent undercord cracking and extending belt lifestyle.
Like their synchronous belt cousins, V-belts have undergone tremendous technological development since their invention by John Gates in 1917. New synthetic rubber substances, cover materials, construction strategies, tensile cord advancements, and cross-section profiles have led to an often confusing array of V-belts that are highly application particular and deliver vastly different levels of performance.
Unlike toned belts, which rely solely 
on friction and may track and slide off pulleys, V-belts have sidewalls that match corresponding sheave grooves, offering additional surface and greater balance. As belts operate, belt stress applies a wedging pressure perpendicular to their tops, pushing their sidewalls against the sides of the sheave grooves, which multiplies frictional forces that allow the drive to transmit higher loads. How a V-belt fits in to the groove of the sheave while working under stress impacts its performance.
V-belts are made from rubber or synthetic rubber stocks, so they have the V Belt flexibility to bend around the sheaves in drive systems. Fabric materials of varied types may cover the stock material to provide a layer of protection and reinforcement.
V-belts are manufactured in various industry regular cross-sections, or profiles
The classical V-belt profile goes back to industry standards created in the 1930s. Belts manufactured with this profile come in several sizes (A, B, C, D, Electronic) and lengths, and are widely used to displace V-belts in old, existing applications.
They are accustomed to replace belts on industrial machinery manufactured in other areas of the world.
All the V-belt types noted over are typically available from manufacturers in “notched” or “cogged” variations. Notches reduce bending stress, enabling the belt to wrap easier around small diameter pulleys and allowing better high temperature dissipation. Excessive warmth is a major contributor to premature belt failing.
Wrapped belts have an increased resistance to oils and intense temperature ranges. They can be utilized as friction clutches during set up.
Raw edge type v-belts are better, generate less heat, allow for smaller pulley diameters, boost power ratings, and offer longer life.
V-belts appear to be relatively benign and basic devices. Just measure the top width and circumference, discover another belt with the same dimensions, and slap it on the drive. There’s only one problem: that strategy is approximately as wrong as possible get.