Apparatus and method for controlling rubber flow in positive drive belts
A new and improved positive drive belt is provided which comprises a tension section and a tooth section, which has a cushion section, and a load carrying section. A fabric layer is disposed between the tension section and the load carrying section. The tension section may be a first compound and the load carrying section may be a second compound. The fabric layer is adapted to prevent intermixing of the first compound and the second compound during an associated cure cycle. As such, a positive drive belt may be formed with two different compounds and formed in a single curing cycle.
1 . A positive drive belt, comprising:
a tension section;
a cushion section;
a load carrying section disposed between said tension section and said cushion section;
and
a fabric layer disposed between said tension section and said load-carrying section.
2 . The positive drive belt of claim 1 , wherein said tension section is a first compound;
said load carrying section is a second compound, wherein said fabric layer is adapted to prevent intermixing of said first compound and said second compound during an associated cure cycle.
3 . The positive drive belt of claim 2 , wherein said first compound has a first modulus of elasticity and said second compound has a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity.
4 . The positive drive belt of claim 2 , further comprising a coated fabric layer disposed on said cushion section.
5 . The positive drive belt of claim 2 , wherein said belt has one driving surface.
6 . The positive drive belt of claim 3 , wherein said first modulus of elasticity is about 100-1500 psi.
7 . The positive drive belt of claim 3 , wherein said second modulus of elasticity is about 1000-4000 psi.
8 . The positive drive belt of claim 1 , wherein said fabric layer is 0.3 oz/square yard spun-bond Nylon.
9 . The positive drive belt of claim 1 , wherein said fabric layer is 0.1-2.0 oz/square yard spun-bond Nylon.
10 . The positive drive belt of claim 2 , wherein said cushion section further comprises a plurality of cords disposed in said cushion section.
11 . A positive drive belt, comprising:
a tension section made from a first compound,
a tooth section made from a second compound; and
a barrier positioned between said tooth section and said tension section, said barrier adapted to prevent intermixing of said first compound and said second compound during an associated cure cycle.
12 . The positive drive belt of claim 11 , wherein said barrier is a fabric layer.
13 . The positive drive belt of claim 12 , wherein said tooth section further comprises a load bearing section and a cushion section.
14 . The positive drive belt of claim 13 , wherein said fabric layer is bonded between said tension section and said load-bearing section.
15 . The positive drive belt of claim 12 , wherein said first compound has a first modulus of elasticity and said second compound has a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity.
16 . A method for forming a positive drive belt, comprising the steps of:
providing a mold to form said positive drive belt;
providing a first compound, a second compound, and a fabric layer disposed between said first compound and said second compound;
simultaneously curing said first compound and said second compound;
preventing intermixing of said first compound and said second compound;
forming a tension section of said belt with said first compound;
forming a tooth section of said belt with said second compound; and
removing said cured belt from said mold.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of simultaneously curing said first compound and said second compound further comprises the step of curing a coating layer on said second compound.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said fabric layer is 0.3 oz/square yard spun-bond Nylon.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said fabric layer is 0.1-2.0 oz/square yard spun-bond Nylon.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said first compound has a first modulus of elasticity and said second compound has a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity.