Vee Belts / Wedge Belts

Vee belts are now the basic standard belt for power transmission. They are usually endless belts, although they can also be jointed and linked. They are manufactured from rubber or polymer, sometimes with fibres added for extra strength. They are trapezoidal in cross section, which is why they are given the name V (or sometimes "wedge") belts. The V shape of the belt fits into a groove on the pulley so it cannot slip. The greater the load, the more firmly the V shape wedges into the groove, improving security and also improving torque transmission. This means they need less width and tension than flat belts, and so they save on space and on energy.