Design Considerations
Several important factors are considered for the selection and design of the belt used in this application:
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Cost
Cost should be kept at a minimum and is a significant design parameter. |
Strength
The load which the belt is subjected to is relatively low (121 lbf) and
therefore strength does not play a huge factor in this application. |
Speed
The belt is operating at a relatively low speed (2.5 m/s) and therefore
we would select a belt which operates well at low speeds. |
Elongation/Alignment
Due to the abnormally long length of the belt needed for this
application elongation is somewhat of a concern and should be kept to a
minimum. Also due to this long length, a belt may be more prone
to misalignment and therefore it is preferable to select a belt in
which alignment is not a factor.
Durability
The belt should be durable and wear resistant. It is desired to
keep belt replacement to a minimum especially if it is an expensive
belt to replace.
Corrosion Resistance
Due to the damp environment that this belt will be subjected to
corrosion resistance is a very important design parameter. Often
corrosion resistance is based on the material used for the belt,
however, due to formation some belt types are more prone to corrosion
than others.
Lubrication
We would like to select a material that requires minimal lubrication as
the tow tank can become very quickly contaminated by a small amount of
oil. For most belt types, some lubrication is required to extend
wear life.
Efficiency
The tow tank is used very infrequently and therefore efficiency is not a huge concern in the belt design.
Maintenance
The belt should require no more maintenance and upkeep than it does currently, which is a minimal amount.
Installment
It is preferred that the belt be relatively easy to install, however is not considered as a defining design parameter.