Belt splicing is a topic that comes up from time to time when it’s needed. There are various ways to add to or splice a belt.
Belts can be spliced in many ways. Let’s get to know the most commonly used ones.
Belt splicing methods can be grouped into three categories:
- Splicing by gluing,
- Splicing by sewing,
- Splicing with metal fasteners.
Splicing Belts by Gluing
Leather belts are cut at roughly a 1/18 taper to increase the bonding surface. After the adhesive is brushed onto the bonding surface, it’s left to dry under a press.
(Plain wood glues can come apart in humid or hot locations. For this reason, a plastic glue with a bit of turpentine and vinegar mixed in — a hot glue can also be used — is used as the adhesive.)
When fitting a glued belt onto pulleys, we need to think about the direction of the pulleys’ rotation. In other words: the belt must be fitted onto the pulleys so that the friction between the belt and the pulley won’t cause the belt’s splice to open up.
Rubber belts are glued under the effect of steam and pressed together.
Belt ends spliced by gluing bend easily on the pulley, don’t make noise, and don’t lose much of their strength.
Splicing Belts by Sewing
For splicing by sewing as well, the belt ends should be cut at an angle. The belt ends are sewn, by machine or by hand, in (2 to 4) rows. String or wire is used for both sewing methods. (When sewing by hand, rawhide lacing can also be used.) In sewn splices, the joint’s efficiency is between 50% and 88%. Especially thin belts are glued first and then sewn.
Splicing Belts with Metal Fasteners
Since metal tools are used in these types of splices, there are various downsides, and the joint’s efficiency is around 30%.
The most commonly used methods for splicing belts with metal fasteners are:
1 — Splicing with staples
2 — Splicing with bolts
3 — Splicing with rivets,
4 — Splicing with hook fasteners
Splicing Belts with Staples
Splicing with Wire Staples
Wire staples are steel wires with sharp ends, bent and mounted onto cardboard, sold in this form. The tools used to fit wire staples onto belt ends are called stapling machines. Simply using a hammer is enough to fasten this type of staple onto a belt.
Splicing Belts with Sheet Metal Staples
Sheet metal staples are obtained by cutting pieces from steel sheet with cutting dies, and then shaping them in a bending die. Since fitting the staple onto the belt is done using a hammer, no special equipment (a stapling machine) is required, so they’re used a lot by technicians.
Splicing with Bolts
Bolted splicing is applied to belts of considerable thickness.
Lap Splicing Belts with Bolts
The downside of the bolted splice shown alongside is that the (xy) sections weaken due to bending. Washer (C) prevents the bolt and nut from crushing the belt. In other words: it reduces the pressure.
Patched and Bolted Belt Splicing
The joining of belt ends (A) using a patch (F) cut from the same belt material and bolts (B) is shown in (Figure: 70). Pins (E) are used to prevent nuts (D) from loosening on their own.
For this type of belt-end joining, a special-headed bolt with a cup washer is often used. If this type of bolt and washer is used, there’s no need to create a recess for the bolt head.
C — Plate and Bolt Belt Splicing:
Plate-and-bolt belt splices have a heavy joint. For this reason, they’re used on belts that transmit large amounts of power at low speed.
Parts and assembly for splicing belts using a plate and bolts (above)
Related videos (above)
Splicing Belts with Rivets
Splicing belt ends using rivets is similar to bolted splicing; rivets are used instead of bolts.
Splicing with Hook Fasteners
Malleable-cast hook fasteners are pressed into the belt ends, and then the parts of the prong tips that extend past the belt are bent back onto the belt to complete the splice.
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