Patent ID: 6131435
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of estimating remaining life of a power transmission belt, said method comprising the steps of:providing a power transmission belt having a) a body comprising a rubber material with a length and laterally spaced surfaces to engage a cooperating pulley and b) a plurality of fibers embedded in the rubber material and projecting in a lateral direction so that a plurality of the fibers have a portion that is exposed at one of the laterally spaced surfaces;magnifying the one laterally spaced surface to identify certain cracks in the rubber material with at least one of the nature and quantity of the certain cracks being undetectable to the naked eye without magnification; andbased on at least one of the nature and quantity of the certain cracks in the rubber material identified through magnification, estimating the remaining life of the power transmission belt.