Goodyear Introduces Carbon Fiber ATV
Drive Belt
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| Goodyear
Carbon Fiber ATV Belt |
Akron, OH (2/22/2007) - Goodyear Engineered
Products is hitting the trail with a "self-healing"
carbon-fiber- loaded ATV drive belt that can reduce
the possibility of a long walk home.
Goodyear Gatorback Sport is the first Continuously
Variable Transmission or CVT belt with carbon fiber
reinforcement in its body construction, according to
Loren Danhauer, Goodyear chief belt engineer.
"Threadlike strands of carbon fiber are strong
and flexible and weigh much less than steel of similar
strength," said Danhauer. "The fiber alignment
in the rubber compound provides added stiffness across
the width of the belt."
Jonathan Cocco, marketing manager for Goodyear aftermarket
products, said a Goodyear survey of quad riders shows
they want precise, immediate throttle response and off-road
durability whether for hunters, ranchers, fire rescue
teams or sport enthusiasts.
A CVT system varies the working ratio of two v-shaped
pulleys linked by the belt, said Cocco. The distance
between pulley flanges can fluctuate, allowing the belt
to ride smoothly up or down the pulley, continuously
changing the gear ratio and varying vehicle speeds.
The pulleys are part of a power sensing drive that
increases tension during acceleration and lowers tension
when power is reduced.
Danhauer explained that conventional CVT belt sidewalls
can glaze and char from heat buildup when engaged with
pulleys under extreme loads. Materials from the top
width of the belt then turn down and inward, creating
vibrations that can quickly destroy the belt.
"Gatorback Sport regulates itself under extreme
events," said Danhauer. "Its carbon fiber
in the rubber compound allows desired edge slippage
without losing top width. When extreme demand subsides,
the belt self-heals and again picks up the load."
Danhauer added that tests he conducted show significantly
improved top width wear and reduced belt weight loss.
Cocco said Gatorback Sport is responsive and durable.
"Its aggressive carbon fiber material maintains
pulley grip without sacrificing belt wear," he
said. "It provides quick, clean throttle response
to help riders conquer steep hills and nasty mud pits,
while withstanding inadvertent abuse, such as spin-and-runs."
Gatorback Sport's performance was born from race technology
introduced last year. Hendrick Motorsports and eventual
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion Jimmy Johnson turned
to Goodyear for help after making mid-season engine
adjustments for added horsepower that increased demand
on cam drive belts by 50 percent.
Goodyear quickly responded by mixing carbon fiber reinforcement
in rubber compounds for the new timing belt. The result
was an advanced composite that withstood the increased
loads and higher temperatures, allowed engines to run
more efficiently, and provided precision timing in a
very harsh environment.
"Buoyed by our success with carbon fiber, we went
to work on the CVT belt for all-terrain vehicles,"
said Cocco. "Its performance earns it the Gatorback
name, joining a growing family of popular Gatorback
automotive belts that are used by all major NASCAR Cup
Series teams and are available in auto part stores and
service centers."
While Gatorback Sport's lateral strength comes from
carbon fiber, its longitudinal strength comes from Goodyear
Flexten aramid cords traveling the circumference of
the belt. Flexten minimizes stretch, stabilizes overall
length and maximizes horsepower transmission. "It
adds up to predictable tension performance," said
Danhauer, "and tension is as important to belts
as air pressure is to tires."
Engineers also took care when designing belt dimensions,
precisely duplicating most major ATV manufacturers'
original equipment profiles and measurements for top
width, length and sidewalls to ensure proper fits.
Gatorback Sport's top width range is 17 to 35 millimeters
or 0.68 to 1.37 inches, while its length range is 679
to 1106 mm or 26.75 to 43.56 inches.
www.goodyearatv.com
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