ContiTech’s Power Transmission Group is making things quieter for the OEMs.
The company has developed a special automotive V-ribbed drive belt that puts an end to problems typically associated with cold starts, dampness and pulley misalignment – and is quieter. ContiTech displayed the belt in its booth at AAPEX 2010.
The Conti Unipower Tough Grip multiple V-ribbed belt with textile surface provides the ideal solution in extreme conditions, and greatly minimizes noise buildup when accessories are in operation, the company says. The belt’s special feature is that the pulley side consists of fabric reinforcement, and is thus highly resistant to wear.
The quiet drive belt features convincingly high wear resistance that is required for starter-generator applications.
“The Conti Unipower Tough Grip also solves problems in other components,” says Ralf Berger, head of sales and key account management at ContiTech. “This multiple V-ribbed belt shows itself to be extremely sturdy when having to operate with misaligned components in the drive system.”
The pulley side of the new CONTI® Conti Unipower Tough Grip is covered with a special fabric impregnated to enhance anti-slipping and anti-wearing properties. The warp-knitted fabric on the sectioned side is ultra wear-resistant, capable of absorbing high dynamic stress loads and stretchable longitudinally and traversely. It ensures optimum grip under extreme conditions.
The new multiple v-ribbed belt is guaranteed for quiet operation over the entire service life of the belt – regardless of what the conditions it is subjected to:
Cold Starts
Moisture accumulates on the v-ribbed belt and in the engine compartment, especially during cold, damp weather. Under these conditions, it is possible that a conventional belt no longer catches, resulting in slip and noise buildup.
Automatic Start-Stop Systems
Engines with automatic start-stop systems place special demands on v-ribbed belts. The high torque of the starter generator subjects the material to extreme stress with each start. Because of the high number of starts, the high wear resistance of surface plays an important role.
Extremely Wet Conditions
Water in the engine compartment is an extreme situation for any drive system. In such a situation, common belts lose the necessary grip, and in the worst case, they no longer function properly, resulting in a high noise level.
The Problem Solver for Extreme Conditions
The Conti Unipower Tough Grip multiple V-ribbed belt masters these challenges very well. The special pulley side of the belt reduces the noise buildup to a minimum. “The special coating on the pulley side of the Conti Unipower Tough Grip can expand both longitudinally and laterally, providing the belt with excellent dynamic stability,” says Berger.
