A pulley (also called a sheave or block) is a wheel with a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A wheel is a circular device that is capable of rotating on its axis facilitating movement or transportation whilst supporting a load ( Mass) or performing labour in machines In Manufacturing or Mechanical engineering a Groove may be A canal cut in a Hard Material, usually Metal. A flange is an external or internal Rib, or Rim (lip for strength, as the flange of an Iron beam or I-beam The circumference is the distance around a closed Curve. Circumference is a kind of Perimeter. A rope, cable or belt usually runs inside the groove. A rope is a length of Fibers twisted or Braided together to improve strength for pulling and Connecting. A cable is one or more Wires or Optical fibers bound together typically in a common protective jacket or sheath A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts Pulleys are used to change the direction of an applied force, transmit rotational motion, or realize a mechanical advantage in either a linear or rotational system of motion. In Physics, a force is whatever can cause an object with Mass to Accelerate. In Physics and Engineering, mechanical advantage (MA is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it
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Belt and pulley systems
A belt and pulley system is characterized by two or more pulleys in common to a belt. A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts This allows for mechanical power, torque, and speed to be transmitted across axes and, if the pulleys are of differing diameters, a mechanical advantage to be realized. In Physics, power (symbol P) is the rate at which work is performed or energy is transmitted or the amount of energy required or expended for A torque (τ in Physics, also called a moment (of force is a pseudo- vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about Speed is the rate of motion, or equivalently the rate of change in position often expressed as Distance d traveled per unit of In Physics and Engineering, mechanical advantage (MA is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it
A belt drive is analogous to that of a chain drive, however a belt sheave may be smooth (devoid of discrete interlocking members as would be found on a chain sprocket, spur gear, or timing belt) so that the mechanical advantage is given by the ratio of the pitch diameter of the sheaves only (one is not able to count 'teeth' to determine gear ratio). Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another
Belt and pulley systems are systems that can be very efficient, with stated efficiencies up to 98%.
Rope and pulley systems
A simple example would be a rope around a tree.
Rope and pulley systems (the rope may be a light line or a strong cable) are characterized by the use of one rope transmitting a linear motive force (in tension) to a load through one or more pulleys for the purpose of pulling the load (often against gravity. ) They are often included in the list of simple machines. In Physics, especially Mechanics, a simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a Force.
In a system of a single rope and pulleys, the mechanical advantage gained is ideally the number of pulleys in the system (if one pulley is used only to change the direction of the load). The tension in the rope is reduced by the mechanical advantage, while the distance (that is, the length of rope) is increased by the same proportion. Since a slender cable is more easily managed than a fat one (albeit shorter and stronger), pulley systems are often the preferred method of applying mechanical advantage to the pulling force of a winch (as can be found in a lift crane). A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up or let out (wind out or otherwise adjust the " Tension " of a Rope or Wire rope A crane is a lifting machine equipped with a Winder, Wire ropes or Chains and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to
In practice, the more pulleys there are, the less efficient a system is. This is due to sliding friction in the system where cable meets pulley and in the rotational mechanism of each pulley.
It is not recorded when or by whom the pulley was first developed. It is believed however that Archimedes developed the first documented block and tackle pulley system, as recorded by Plutarch. Archimedes of Syracuse ( Greek:) ( c. 287 BC – c 212 BC was a Greek mathematician, Physicist, Engineer A block and tackle is a system of two or more Pulleys with a Rope or Cable threaded between them usually used to lift or pull heavy loads Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus ( Greek: Μέστριος Πλούταρχος c Plutarch reported that Archimedes moved an entire warship, laden with men, using compound pulleys and his own strength.
Types of systems
These are different types of pulley systems:
- Fixed A fixed or class 1 pulley has a fixed axle. An axle is a central shaft for a rotating Wheel or Gear. In some cases the axle may be fixed in position with a bearing or Bushing That is, the axle is "fixed" or anchored in place. A fixed pulley is used to change the direction of the force on a rope (called a belt). A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts A fixed pulley has a mechanical advantage of 1. In Physics and Engineering, mechanical advantage (MA is the factor by which a mechanism multiplies the force put into it A mechanical advantage of one means that the force is equal on both sides of the pulley and there is no multiplication of force.
- Movable A movable or class 2 pulley has a free axle. That is, the axle is "free" to move in space. A movable pulley is used to multiply forces. A movable pulley has a mechanical advantage of 2. That is, if one end of the rope is anchored, pulling on the other end of the rope will apply a doubled force to the object attached to the pulley.
- Compound A compound pulley is a combination fixed and movable pulley system.
- Block and tackle - A block and tackle is a compound pulley where several pulleys are mounted on each axle, further increasing the mechanical advantage.
How it works
 Diagram 1 - A basic equation for a pulley: In equilibrium, the force F on the pulley axle is equal and opposite to the sum of the tensions in each line leaving the pulley, and these tensions are equal. In Physics String Tension is the magnitude of the pulling force exerted by a string cable chain or similar object on another object |
 Diagram 2 - A simple pulley system - a single movable pulley lifting weight W. The tension in each line is W/2, yielding an advantage of 2. |
 Diagram 2a - Another simple pulley system similar to diagram 2, but in which the lifting force is redirected downward. |
 A practical compound pulley corresponding to diagram 2a. |
The simplest theory of operation for a pulley system assumes that the pulleys and lines are weightless, and that there is no energy loss due to friction. It is also assumed that the lines do not stretch.
In equilibrium, the total force on the pulley must be zero. This means that the force on the axle of the pulley is shared equally by the two lines looping through the pulley. The situation is schematically illustrated in diagram 1. For the case where the lines are not parallel, the tensions in each line are still equal, but now the vector sum of all forces is zero.
A second basic equation for the pulley follows from the conservation of energy: The product of the weight lifted times the distance it is moved is equal to the product of the lifting force (the tension in the lifting line) times the distance the lifting line is moved. The weight lifted divided by the lifting force is defined as the advantage of the pulley system.
It is important to notice that a system of pulleys does not change the amount of work done. In Physics, mechanical work is the amount of Energy transferred by a Force. The work is given by the force times the distance moved. The pulley simply allows trading force for distance: you pull with less force, but over a longer distance.
In diagram 2, a single movable pulley allows weight W to be lifted with only half the force needed to lift the weight without assistance. The total force needed is divided between the lifting force (red arrow) and the "ceiling" which is some immovable object (such as the earth). In this simple system, the lifting force is directed in the same direction as the movement of the weight. The advantage of this system is 2. Although the force needed to lift the weight is only W/2, we will need to draw a length of rope that is twice the distance that the weight is lifted, so that the total amount of work done (Force x distance) remains the same.
A second pulley may be added as in diagram 2a, which simply serves to redirect the lifting force downward, it does not change the advantage of the system.
 Diagram 3 - A simple compound pulley system - a movable pulley and a fixed pulley lifting weight W. The tension in each line is one W/3, yielding an advantage of 3. |
 Diagram 3a - A simple compound pulley system - a movable pulley and a fixed pulley lifting weight W, with an additional pulley redirecting the lifting force downward. The tension in each line is one W/3, yielding an advantage of 3. |
 Diagram 4a - A more complicated compound pulley system. The tension in each line is W/4, yielding an advantage of 4. An additional pulley redirecting the lifting force has been added. |
 Figure 4b - A practical block and tackle pulley system corresponding to diagram 4a. Note that the axles of the fixed and movable pulleys have been combined. |
The addition of a fixed pulley to the single pulley system can yield an increase of advantage. In diagram 3, the addition of a fixed pulley yields a lifting advantage of 3. The tension in each line is W/3, and the force on the axles of each pulley is 2W/3. As in the case of diagram 2a, another pulley may be added to reverse the direction of the lifting force, but with no increase in advantage. This situation is shown in diagram 3a.
This process can be continued indefinitely for ideal pulleys with each additional pulley yielding a unit increase in advantage. For real pulleys friction among rope and pulleys will increase as more pulleys are added to the point that no advantage is possible. It puts a limit for the number of pulleys usable in practice. The above pulley systems are known collectively as block and tackle pulley systems. A block and tackle is a system of two or more Pulleys with a Rope or Cable threaded between them usually used to lift or pull heavy loads In diagram 4a, a block and tackle system with advantage 4 is shown. A practical implementation in which the connection to the ceiling is combined and the fixed and movable pulleys are encased in single housings is shown in figure 4b.
Other pulley systems are possible, and some can deliver an increased advantage with fewer pulleys than the block and tackle system. The advantage of the block and tackle system is that each pulley and line is subjected to equal tensions and forces. Efficient design dictates that each line and pulley be capable of handling its load, and no more. Other pulley designs will require different strengths of line and pulleys depending on their position in the system, but a block and tackle system can use the same line size throughout, and can mount the fixed and movable pulleys on a common axle.
See also
A block and tackle is a system of two or more Pulleys with a Rope or Cable threaded between them usually used to lift or pull heavy loads In Sailing, a block is a single or multiple Pulley. One or a number of sheaves are enclosed in an assembly between cheeks or chocks A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps The Portsmouth Block Mills form part of the Portsmouth Dockyard at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, and were built during the Napoleonic A sheave (pronounced "shiv" is a wheel or roller with a groove along its edge for holding a belt, Rope or cable. A reel is an object around which lengths of another material (usually long and flexible are wound for storage A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up or let out (wind out or otherwise adjust the " Tension " of a Rope or Wire ropeDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic