Standard Calculations

Table 18 Required, Given, and Formula Information
REQUIRED GIVEN FORMULA
Speed ratio (R) Shaft speeds (rpm) R = rpm(faster shaft speed) / rpm (slower shaft speed)
Pulley diameters (D & d) R = D (larger pulley diameter) / d (smaller pulley diameter)
Number of pulley grooves (N&n) R = N (larger pulley groove no.) / n (smaller pulley groove no.)
Horsepower (hp) Torque (T) in in-lbs
Shaft speed (rpm)
hp = (T x rpm) / 63,025
Design horsepower (Dhp) Rated Horsepower (hp)
Service factor (SF)
Dhp = hp x SF
Power (kw) Horsepower (hp) kw = 7457 x hp
Torque (T) in in-lbs Shaft horsepower
Shaft speed (rpm)
T = (63,025 x hp) / rpm
Torque (T) in N-mm Torque (T) in in-lbs T = 112.98 x T
Peak Torque (T) Torque (T)
Service factor (SF)
T = T x SF
Effective tension (te) in pounds Shaft horsepower (hp)
Belt speed (BS)
Te = (33,000 x hp) / BS
Effective tension (Te) in Newtons Te = 2248 x Te
Effective tension (Te) in pounds Torque (T) in in-lbs
Pulley pd in inches
Te = (2 x T) / pd
Effective tension (Te) in Newtons Torque (T) in N-mm
Pulley pd in mm
Effective tension (Te) in Newtons Effective tension (Te) in pounds Te = 4.4484 x Te
Centrifugal tension loss (Tc) Smaller pulley pd
Smaller pulley rpm
Tc constant Kc
Tc = Kc x pd2 x rpm2
Allowable working tension (Ta) Te, Tc & SF Ta = (Te + Tc) x SF
Service factor (SF) Belt width
Rated Ta for given belt width
Calculated Te & Tc
SF = Rated Ta / (Te + Tc)
Belt speed (BS) in fpm Pulley pd in inches
Pulley speed in rpm
BS = 262 x pd x rpm
Belt speed (BS) in m/s Pulley speed in mm
Pulley speed in rpm
BS = 0.000524 x pd x rpm
Belt length (BL) Center distance (C)
Pulley diameters (D & d)
BL = (2 x C + (D - d)^2 + 1.57 x (D + d)) / (4 x C)
Arc of contact on smaller pulley (A/Cs) Pulley diameters (D & d)
Center distance (C)
A/Cs = 180 - ((D - d) x 60) / C

If TIM is less than 6, correct peak totque by value shown in table below.

Teeth in Mesh (TIM) calculations

Determine arc of contact on smaller pulley (A/Cs) using the formula in the above chart. Determine teeth in Mesh (TIM) using the formula below

TIM = (A/Cs * Smaller pulley groove no. (n)) / 360​

Drop any fractional part and use only the whole number, as any tooth not fully engaged cannot be considered a working tooth.

Teeth in Mesh Factor Table
TM Design Peak Torque
Multiplication Factor
5 1.2
4 1.5
3 3 2.0
2 Suggest alternate drive
1 Suggest alternate drive