MEPX
Chapter 5 of 10All chapters
  1. 1The simple machines
  2. 2Levers and gears
  3. 3Engines
  4. 4Hydraulics and pneumatics
  5. 5Getting power where it is needed
  6. 6Household machines
  7. 7Electric motors and generators
  8. 8Efficiency and losses
  9. 9Why machines fail
  10. 10Working out an unfamiliar machine

Chapter 5 of 10

Getting power where it is needed

Belts, chains and shafts.

The options

Belts are quiet and slip under overload. Chains carry more force without slipping. Shafts and couplings transmit directly. Each choice trades efficiency, noise and tolerance for misalignment.

  • A slipping belt is sometimes a deliberate safety feature.
  • Every transmission stage loses a few percent of the power.

Bearings

Bearings let parts rotate with minimal friction and carry load at the same time. Their failure is one of the most common reasons machinery stops.