V-Ribbed Belts Drive Cooling Units

Optimal smoothness during operation of refrigeration systems: In order to drive cooling units in the truck models Actros and Atego of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler relies on V-ribbed belts of ContiTech with low friction. The Conti Unipower Tough Grip ensures a reliable and quiet drive, dynamic force peaks are reduced by up to 70 percent.

The cooling generators, which produce around 36kW, are operated as ancillaries in the Actros and Atego engines. “The generators have a high rotating mass,” explains Guido Grande, Key Account Manager Commercial Vehicles Europe at ContiTech Power Transmission Group. “A standard V-ribbed would resonate very strongly due to its higher coefficient of friction. This would cause unacceptably high movements of the tensioner arm, whereby the belt could jump off the drive.”

The proposed solution is using the Unipower Tough Grip V-ribbed belt, which has a very low coefficient of friction. “During force peaks, which result from the interaction of the high rotating mass and the rotational irregularity of the crankshaft, the belt is able to slip shortly”, says Grande. Belt vibrations and movements of the tensioner arm can thus be reduced. The drive runs much smoother, and furthermore, the lifetime of the accessory drive is increased.

The Unipower Tough Grip owes its low coefficient of friction to its special surface on the rib side, which is coated with a highly abrasion-resistant, dynamically extremely stable special fabric, therefore providing optimum grip for maximum smoothness. By using the V-ribbed belts, the noise level during operation of ancillary units is particularly minimized under difficult conditions, as they may occur due to moisture and misalignment.