Hiya!
I'm trying to step-up a low RPM device to a higher RPM to create electricity using a pulley setup.
Having never done a build with a proper pulley setup ? I?m a noob with this aspect.
What is the best/most efficient way to do the pulleys?
A) V belt, flat belt or cable style pulleys? (I vote Vbelt)
B) Ratio. 1:4 ? 1:8 ? 1:12 (1:4 is the cheaper/more manageable option ? but is it enough?)
Is there some kind of performance loss the larger the ratio?
C) Mounting:
1) fixed shaft with a bearing in the pulley ? like an idler pulley.
You (I ) can?t (seem to) get a 12? idler ? so can you properly mount a bearing inside a 12? pulley?
If the pulley has a 3/4" bore with a fix screw - will a 3/4" outer diameter bearing fit properly?
2) rotating shaft with pulleys fixed to shaft. Then what kind of bearings at the support ends? Press fit? Pillow block? Self-aligning needle roller? Flange mount?
What about a bushed pulley?
And which option between 1 and 2 would be the most efficient?
Option 1 uses 1 bearing x 2 pulleys= 2 total bearings
option 2 uses 2 bearings x 2 pulleys= 4 total bearings.
Will option 1 be better because there is 1/2 the bearing friction?
And option 1 you don't have to worry about perfect shaft alignment. With option 2, an out of whack shaft (even barely) will seriously compromise performance. (difficult to get it perfect) but then again - self-aligning bearings could solve this - but which bearings offer this?
And what about a bicycle wheel for the large pulley ? Or will slippage/tracking be a problem compared to a real V belt pulley? (I vote V belt better - but costs more - especially over 12")
MSC has a great selection/prices for all types of components. I?ve spent considerable time finding this supplier and searching/specing these.
Here are links to pulleys and bearings I?ve considered:
(links to items don't always seem to work - goto the site and search the item # if not)
12? v belt pulley:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=1647617&PMT4NO=0 Item # 00053686
3? v belt idler pulley:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/GSDRVSM?PACACHE=000000056592053Item # 35428341
Single bearings:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/GSDRVSM?PACACHE=000000056591686 Item # 35433374
Mounted bearings list:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVSH?SISECT=0002007308&SIS0NO=00000853358 Mostly ? what is the best/most efficient way to mount the pulleys?
Fixed shaft? Or fixed pulleys?
And if fixed shaft ? what kind of bearing ? press fit, pillow block, etc?
Any help/comments/insight would be greatly welcomed.
I will post pics of the setup once I get it figured, parts ordered, and built
Attached is a pic of a hack plywood setup for testing....
and a pic of my coil setup in 3phase star...
CH