The history

In 1917, John Gates invented the V-belt, which was a major invention in transmission. Where a flat belt had previously been used, now came the V-belt, which with its wedge shape provided a better power transmission.

In 1946, Gates launched the timing belt. With this belt, you got a better degree of efficiency and you got the possibility that the application could run more precisely - synchronously.

In the following years, more types of V-belts and timing belts were added.

What is a belt?

We know the V-belt from cars. The V-belt in your car is the belt that makes the fan in the engine rotate. If your V-belt breaks, it will not be able to drive the fan, and the car's engine risks overheating and breaking down.

A belt transmits mechanical power from A to B.  A parallel is a bicycle which has a chain. When you step on the pedals, power is transferred to the hub of the rear wheel, thereby driving the wheel forward. Same with a belt.

Where are belts used?

In all applications where there is a desire to transfer power from A to B.

Types and materials

There are generally two types of belts: V-belts and timing belts.

V-belts
Are belts made of rubber, where the force is transferred via friction between the belt and the metal in the pulley.

Timing belts
Are belts made of rubber or PU (polyurethane), where the force is transferred via the teeth of the belt when they engage the teeth of the pulley.

Accessories for belts

You can see our range of accessories here.

Need help for calculation?

Gates Design IQ is a free belt design software. With the program you can:

• Calculate voltage, length, axle pressure and much more
• See the recommended installation voltage
• Get offered drive geometry output
• Calculate belt widths or number of tracks

Read more and download the program here.

We are happy to help with the calculation of widths and dimensions - either ourselves or together with Gates.

Did you know…

that we cut Gates timing belts from /sleeves in-house at Brd. Klee on our own cutting machine? We stock most timing belts in sleeves and then cut to the desired width, which means we would often be able to deliver from day to day. This provides flexibility for both you as a customer and for us.

Need help?

If you do not find the right belt for your application here on the pages, or if you need guidance with caulculation please feel free to contact us.