Timing belts, (timing chains) or cambelts are devices generally fitted to a power transmission system's rotary mechanisms. They’re most often seen playing a highly important role in the proper running of internal combustion engines, where they joint the crankshaft to the camshafts to hold the certain alignments (timings) in between these two main components as they rotate at speed, different, consistent, and relative to one another. Several configurations of timing belts are utilized in a broad variety of products and processes. These might cover,

• Office machinery
• Electronic data processing equipment (EDP)
• Textile machinery
• Wood processing machinery
• Machine tools
• Compressors
• Printing machinery
• Hydraulic gear pumps
• Building machinery

 Timing belt materials

Several materials have been utilized to develop and manufacture timing belts over all these years, and research is constantly ongoing into developing new, more robust, more power-competent, and lower noisy alternatives.

1. Rubber timing belts

Rubber timing belts are the general standard, broadly used in several kinds of environments and applications. Many internal combustion engine cambelts, including those utilized on most of the cars (and specifically any manufactured more than a decade ago), will have utilized a rubber timing belt.

2. Polyurethane timing belts

Polyurethane timing belts provide a long-lasting and greatly energy-effective solution for a broad range of non-similar applications all over a range of sectors and industries in the form of transferring power. They possess more elasticity than rubber and are tailored to different petrol resistance and temperature settings.

Polyurethane timing belts also tend to possess greater load capacities, along with greater tensile strength. Timing belts made from polyurethane are much resistant to oil, chemicals, and abrasion, and can be cleaned and maintained easily, making them a preferable choice for several kinds of power transmissions and roller conveyor systems including line-shaft conveyors.

3. Fabric timing belts

Fabric timing belts are quite preferred for high-performance settings and applications, where very high acceleration forces require to be used, along with the transmission of high torque at lesser speeds.

Timing belt uses

Timing belts are commonly ridged with a circumference of noticeable rubber teeth-like structures. These teeth facilitate the loop of timing belt material in an engine to turn the camshafts through the crankshaft as the other different parts rotate at consistent speeds. Together, these components in an engine work for opening and closing both the intake and exhaust valves.

It’s possible that the engine valves are left attached in an open position if the timing belt is falling or got broken; it can result in serious damage to the mechanism of the interference engines if eventually they repeatedly get struck by the pistons. Non-interference engines avert this specific complication by keeping the valves and pistons confined separately, but still, the engine will be efficiently immobilized without installing a functioning cambelt.

 Bolton Engineering Products Ltd is a specialized engineering company, majoring in supplying bearing, workwear, and power transmissions with a range of bearings and pulley systems with over 75 years of experience across the UK from Bolton.