Belt Tension Meter

• Use of a Belt Tension Meter for industrial vbelts
• Benefits of using a belt tension meter to ensure optimum belt tensioning
• When to use a Belt Tension Meter
• Using Belt Tension Meters in conjunction with continuous vbelt monitoring systems
• Continuous vbelt tension monitoring systems
• Vbelt tension monitoring system features
• Vbelt tension monitoring case studies
• Further information about belt tension monitoring

Use of a Belt Tension Meter for industrial vbelts:
The correct tensioning of vbelts is critical to ensure optimum operating efficiency and to prevent failures in service. Poorly tensioned vbelts will reduce output, increase energy costs and dramatically reduce the longevity of the belt and drive.

If the tension is too little, or slack, the vbelt will slip and fail to correctly transmit power between the rotating pulleys. A slack vbelt may also run off of the pulley, or cause vbelt burn-out leading to failure of the belt. If the vbelt is tensioned too tightly, the forces will increase the wear of the pulleys and internal drive components such as bearings and lead to eventual failure in service.

Vbelt monitoring systems are increasingly being utilised to alert maintenance teams to pulleys and belt that require tensioning.

Benefits of using a belt tension meter to ensure optimum belt tensioning:

• Reduced energy losses from slipping belts
• Reduced wear on pulley sheaves
• Reduced wear on pulley drive bearings and components
• Increased longevity of vbelts
• Increased productivity
• Reduced downtime
• Improved safety

When to use a Belt Tension Meter:
Checking vbelt belt tension usually features as part of a site’s preventative scheduled maintenance regime. Typically, the inspection and maintenance is scheduled in accordance with machinery-manufacturers’ recommended intervals based on load and hours-run, but astute maintenance managers will use a criticality index to assess a machine asset’s maintenance and inspection requirements in accordance with factors such as loading, environment, spares inventory, machine redundancy, and criticality of machine to production or process.

Using Belt Tension Meters in conjunction with continuous vbelt monitoring systems:
The inspection and checking of vbelt tension is an onerous and time-consuming maintenance task, particularly if there are numerous vbelt drives to attend to.

A continuous vbelt tension monitoring device such as the SensSystems vbelt monitoring system, provides at-a-glance checking of correct vbelt tension, and can also be configured to send alerts to the plant’s scada/plc system, sound a klaxon alarm or send email and sms alerts, to notify maintenance operatives when a vbelt begins to lose correct tensioning.

Continuous vbelt tension monitoring systems:
SENSSLIP® MAINTENANCE is a cost-effective condition monitoring system that is used for the detection and alert of vbelt slippage. Sensors unobtrusively positioned on the drive continuously monitor the vbelt in operation.

The system is configured to the belt tensioning limits of normal working slippage for the transmission system and once these limits are exceed and belt slippage begins to occur, the LED light display quickly and clearly alerts maintenance engineers that v-belt change is necessary to restore correct belt tension and optimum drive efficiency.

Vbelt tension monitoring system features:

• Suitable for almost all applications, from food factories to steelworks
• Proven reliability in harsh environments
• Suitable for most types of belt drive and conveyor systems
• Optional protection kit for dust and moisture ingress
• Can be configured to provide full analytical data
• Will provide a 4-20 milliamp output for standard control systems
• Can be configured to send wireless output to remote locations
• Can be configured to provide email alerts and text alerts to mobile phones
• Can be wired to a klaxon
• Full installation and support service provided
• Full technical advice available

Vbelt tension monitoring case studies:

• Corus reduce Energy Wastage thanks to V-Belt Tension Monitoring System
• Yorkshire Water Utilise SensSystems V-belt Tension Monitoring System In Pursuit Of Operating Excellence

Download the SENSSLIP® vbelt tension monitoring brochure for further information about the benefits of continuous belt tension monitoring.

Further information about belt tension monitoring:

The SENSSLIP® range of Belt Tension Monitoring systems are designed and manufactured by SensSystems Ltd.

Please contact us for sales, technical and installation information regarding the continuous belt tension monitoring systems, or to discuss the benefits of v-belt monitoring in a specific industrial application. Tel: +44(0) 1142 541241 or alternatively, Email: info@senssystems.com