At the heart of every combustion engine or timing-based machine is a timing belt keeping everything in sync. From fuel-burning cars to heavy machinery, these components are essential to ensuring engines stay on the proper circuit to operate. However, as crucial as these parts are to the function of many important pieces of equipment, many people are still unsure about what they are. Read on to learn what a timing belt is and how it works to keep these machines operating correctly.
The Purpose of a Timing Belt
Before we can discuss how a timing belt functions, it’s important to have a fundamental understanding of what it does. In essence, timing belts allow engines to work because they control the pistons that regulate the opening and closing of fuel and exhaust valves. For combustion engines to properly move fuel, compress it, ignite it, and release the fumes, each valve must open and close in the right sequence with precise timing. Otherwise, these machines simply won’t run as they should. As such, timing belts certainly live up to their name and are vital to keeping equipment on the move.
Timing Belt Applications
As mentioned briefly earlier, timing belts are a crucial component in any type of machine that runs via a combustion engine. This includes heavier devices like modern cars and construction equipment like cranes and skid steers. It’s important to mention that timing belts aren’t limited to these larger machines. In fact, they can also help operate systems that require regulated movements, such as household sewing machines and treadmills. Even though these smaller products don’t run on combustion engines, timing belts can still help control their movements and overall operation.
How Timing Belts Work
Now that you know what timing belts are and what their function is, we can delve into the specifics of how they work. As a reinforced rubber band with notches along its inner side, these components fit snuggly into the grooves of an engine’s gear system. Attached to these gears is the timing belt, which rotates with the camshaft and systematically rotates the pistons as it does so. With the right sized timing belt, even the most complex of machines can carry out actions in a precise order and operate as it needs to.
Understanding what a timing belt is and how it works is crucial to keeping many essential machines running. If you’re experiencing trouble with one of your pieces of equipment, it might be time for a new timing belt. As premium belting suppliers, Texas Belting and Supply goes above and beyond to provide some of the best models for your needs. We even gather our selection from a variety of top-notch manufacturers to ensure you have a diverse selection to choose from.