Vacuum cleaner belts are made in numerous styles and a few hundred sizes. The cleaners use them to drive the brush roller which helps pull up dirt out of the carpet. Nearly all vacuums use flat, round, or gear style belts. There are a few exceptions, however these aren’t that common.
The proper operation of the brush roller will probably be about seventy percent of the function of your vacuum. The type of belt you have and the shape it’s in will have major impact on this. It will also determine the lifespan of the belt.
The amount of suction the vacuum has is also very important. Beyond the brush roller this is what does the rest of the work. It brings the dirt out, and puts it where the vacuum stores the dirt it collects. This airflow is very important when vacuuming hard surfaces and when using attachments. Without, the dirt might get to the surface, but it would be left on the carpet. Both the airflow and the brush roller are very important for the proper function of your vacuum cleaner.
Nearly all brush rollers are made of wood, metal, or plastic. While some are also driven by the suction, as mentioned above most are belt driven.
Round Belts are the oldest type. They are easy to produce and engineer. This style has its faults though, since it runs in the same part of the vacuum cleaner as the dirt and other debris being sucked up. The leads to early wear and tear on the belt due to cuts, nicks, scratching, and beyond, as a result of anything sucked or kicked up by the brush roller.
In many vacuum cleaners, the belts have to stretch a noticeable distance, which puts more friction on the roller, and motor bearings. The round belt is still found often in new vacuum cleaners.
Flat belts are usually run in a circular manner, different from the twisted route that round belts take to deliver drive in the right direction. This style usually runs off the side of the brush roller and leads to less wear and tear. Unlike the round belt offerings which have the belt in the middle of the roller with the dirt and everything else. It’s a major improvement.
The geared belt which is the newest design is considered to be the greatest in the business. While there are differences, geared belts provide a very competent way to drive the brush. They are also called a positive brush system, as the force from the brush motor is connected straight to the brush.
Both brush and motor are locked by teeth that are connected by the belt without tension. This lends to longer belt, brush, and motor life as there is less stress in the design. It will also move faster for the same reasons. These belts will live to an old age.
Flat style belts stretch when they get warm and lose tension, and slip. This is one problem that is a little less in round belts, and nearly non-existent in geared belts.
The one downside of geared belts, is the cost of the vacuum cleaner. These belts are used in 2 motor units. The suction and brush are on separate motors, and they have sensory systems to detect something erroneous with the belt(s).
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