Patent Publication Number: US-11644293-B2

Title: Sizing tool for belt

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/538,362, filed on 2019 Aug. 12, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/682,317, filed on 2017 Aug. 21, the contents of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     The various embodiments and aspects discussed herein relate to a sizing tool for determining a correct belt (e.g., V-belt, flat belt, timing belt, or round belt) which transmits power between two rotating shafts from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths. 
     In an automobile engine, construction equipment, or industrial machinery, pulleys mounted on shafts are commonly used to transfer rotational motion, power, etc. between the shafts via one or more belts. For example, in a simple belt and pulley system, a driving pulley may be connected to a driven pulley by a V-belt or other belt, such that the rotation of the driving pulley causes the driven pulley to rotate. After a period of time, belts used in pulley systems need to be replaced due to wear. For customized pulley arrangements in custom cars, equipment and machinery, the length of the belt can be approximated but it would be difficult to correctly select the one belt from a plurality of belts having different lengths. 
     It is preferable that the belt length be appropriately sized for the particular customized pulley arrangement. A person replacing a belt can only approximate the needed belt length and so will purchase multiple belts of varying lengths and try each of them, discarding or returning the unused ones. This is not ideal because it wastes time, money and resources. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure contemplates various devices and methods for overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the related art. A person wants to choose an appropriate belt for a system of pulleys from a plurality of prefabricated belts rather than ordering multiple belts of approximately the same size to try them on and determine if one of them is the right size by trial and error. Using the tool described herein, the person can wrap a non-continuous measurement belt around the system of pulleys along the same belt path that the belt will follow. With the measurement belt disposed around the system of pulleys, the measurement belt may be overlapped and a measurement marking on the measurement belt may be read in order to determine the correct belt to order from a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths. 
     By way of example and not limitation, a first end portion of the measurement belt may be secured to a belt track. The opposite end of the measurement belt referred to as a second end portion of the measurement belt may have a plurality of measurement markings with each of the measurement markings corresponding to one of the plurality of prefabricated belt. With the measurement belt wrapped around the system of pulleys, the second end portion of the measurement belt may be placed adjacent to the belt track. The belt track, the first end portion of the belt or some other part of the tool may have a reference indicator that is fixed with respect to the belt track or the first end portion of the measurement belt. When the second end portion of the measurement belt is overlapped and placed adjacent to the belt track, the reference indicator will be aligned to one of the measurement markings. The measurement marking that is aligned to the indicator indicates the correct prefabricated belt from the plurality of prefabricated belts that the user should order for that particular system of pulleys. 
     More particularly, a tool for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths is disclosed. The tool may comprise a belt track; a measurement belt may be configured to engage with the system of pulleys and may have a first end portion attached to the belt track and a second end portion, the measurement belt may have a plurality of measurement markings at premeasured positions along its length at the second end portion, the plurality of measurement markings may correspond to the plurality of prefabricated belts; a second end portion clamp may be adapted to attach the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track with the measurement belt disposed around the system of pulleys to test whether a tensioner of the system of pulleys is capable of placing sufficient tension on the measurement belt, wherein a measurement marking of the plurality of measurement markings that is aligned to a reference indicator on the tool identifies the correct belt to order for the system of pulleys from the plurality of prefabricated belts. 
     The first end portion of the measurement belt may be removable from the belt track; and the tool may further comprise a first end portion clamp adapted to attach the first end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track. 
     The belt track may have a mark signifying at a designated position for positioning the first end portion of the measurement belt on the belt track. 
     The first end portion clamp may be formed as a plate and may be disposed substantially parallel with a clamping surface of the belt track that presses the first end portion of the measurement belt against the belt track, the second end portion clamp may be formed as a plate and may be disposed substantially parallel with the clamping surface of the belt track that presses the second end portion of the measurement belt against the belt track, and the first and second clamps may be separated on the clamping surface by a space through which the measurement belt is pulled to adjust the measurement belt. 
     An interior edge of the second end portion clamp that borders the space and contacts the measurement belt may include a chamfer, bevel, or roller to reduce a coefficient of friction and facilitate traversal of the measurement belt between the second end portion clamp and the belt track. 
     The second end portion clamp may be formed as a plate and may be disposed substantially parallel with a surface of the belt track that presses the second end portion of the measurement belt against the belt track. 
     The second end portion clamp may be transitionable between a locked position in which the second end portion clamp presses the second end portion of the measurement belt against the belt track to attach the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track and an unlocked position in which the second end portion clamp moves away from the belt track to allow the second end portion of the measurement belt to slide between the second end portion clamp and the belt track. 
     The first end portion of the measurement belt and the second clamp may be separated on the clamping surface by a space through which the measurement belt is pulled to tension the measurement belt, and an interior edge of the second end portion clamp that borders the space may include a chamfer, bevel, or roller. 
     The second end portion clamp and/or a clamping surface of the belt track may include a one-way directional roller, gate, or friction coating that allows a length of the measurement belt from the first end portion clamp to the second end portion clamp to be reduced but not increased when the second end portion clamp is in a locked position. 
     The measurement belt may include grooves or protrusions, and the belt track may include grooves or protrusions corresponding to the grooves or protrusions of the measurement belt. 
     An exterior edge of the belt track that contacts the second end portion of the measurement belt as the second end portion clamp attaches the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track may include a chamfer, bevel, or roller. 
     The reference indicator may be a reference mark on the belt track, on the second end portion clamp, or on the first end portion of the measurement belt. The reference indicator may additionally or alternatively be an edge of the belt track, an edge of the second end portion clamp, or an extreme end of the first end portion of the measurement belt. 
     The first end portion of the measurement belt may be permanently attached to the belt track. 
     In another aspect, a tool for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belt having different lengths is disclosed. The tool may comprise a measurement belt having a v-shaped or trapezoidal cross section for engaging with the system of pulleys and having a first end portion and a second end portion, the measurement belt may have a plurality of measurement markings at premeasured positions along its length at the second end portion, the plurality of measurement markings may correspond to the plurality of prefabricated belts, wherein a measurement marking of the plurality of measurement markings that is aligned to a reference indicator on the tool identifies the correct belt for the system of pulleys from the plurality of prefabricated belts. 
     In another aspect, a method for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths is disclosed. The method may comprise disposing a measurement belt around the system of pulleys with a first end portion of the measurement belt attached to a belt track, the measurement belt may have a plurality of measurement markings at premeasured positions along its length at a second end portion of the measurement belt, the plurality of measurement markings may correspond to the plurality of prefabricated belts; and disposing the second end portion of the measurement belt adjacent to the belt track, wherein the correct belt for the system of pulleys from the plurality of prefabricated belts is identified by a measurement marking of the plurality of measurement markings that is aligned to a reference indicator on the belt track, on the second end portion clamp, or on the first end portion of the measurement belt. 
     The method may further comprise attaching the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track with a second end portion clamp. 
     The method may further comprise tensioning the measurement belt with a tensioner of the system of pulleys while the second end portion of the measurement belt is attached to the belt track with the second end portion clamp. 
     The method may further comprise disengaging the second end portion clamp from the belt track; shortening a length of the measurement belt while the second end portion clamp is disengaged from the belt track; and engaging the second end portion clamp to reattach the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track; tensioning the measurement belt with a tensioner of the system of pulleys while the second end portion of the measurement belt is attached to the belt track with the second end portion clamp. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a tool for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic representation of a belt track, a measurement belt, a first end portion clamp, and a second end portion clamp of the tool as the tool is being used to identify a correct belt for a system of pulleys from a plurality of prefabricated belts; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic representation of the belt track, the measurement belt, the first end portion clamp, and the second end portion clamp of the tool as the tool is being used to identify a correct belt for another system of pulleys from a plurality of prefabricated belts; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a schematic representation of a first part of a belt selection procedure; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a schematic representation of a second part of a belt selection procedure; 
         FIG.  4 C  is a schematic representation of a third part of a belt selection procedure; 
         FIG.  4 D  is a schematic representation of a fourth part of a belt selection procedure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic top view of the belt track of the tool with the measurement belt clamped at the first end portion and the second end portion by the first end portion clamp and the second end portion clamp; 
         FIG.  6 A  is a schematic bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp of the tool; 
         FIG.  6 B  is a schematic bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp of the tool; 
         FIG.  6 C  is a schematic bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp of the tool; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of another tool for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic bottom view of a first end portion clamp of the tool and an attached measurement belt; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of another tool for identifying a correct belt for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic top view of a belt track of the tool and an attached measurement belt; and 
         FIG.  11    is an example operational flow that may be followed by a user of a tool for identifying a correct belt length for a system of pulleys. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a tool  100  for identifying a correct belt of a belt to be ordered for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths. The tool  100  may include a belt track  110  having a first belt receiving end portion  112  and a second belt receiving end portion  114  and a measurement belt  120  having a first end portion  122  and a second end portion  124 . The tool  100  may further include a first end portion clamp  130  and a second end portion clamp  140 . During use of the tool  100 , the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  may be clamped or attached to the belt track  110  using the first end portion clamp  130 . The measurement belt  120  may be wrapped around the system of pulleys. The second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  may be clamped or attached to the belt track  110  using the second end portion clamp  140 . To do so, the second end portion  124  of the belt  120  may be fed through a gap between the second belt receiving end portion  114  of the belt track  110  and the second end portion clamp  140 . Measurement markings  160  on the measurement belt  120  may correspond to the plurality of predetermined belts. The tool  100  may have a reference indicator which aligns to one of the measurement markings. The measurement marking that is aligned to the reference indicator is read to determine the correct belt from a plurality of prefabricated belts. In this manner, the purchaser can purchase the right belt and does not need to order a number of different size belts around the approximate size to determine the correct size of the belt by trial and error. 
     The belt track  110  and/or clamps  130 ,  140  may be made of a durable material (e.g. metal, plastic, wood, etc.) sufficient to withstand the strain associated with the ordinary use of the tool  100  as described in more detail below. The belt track  110  and/or clamps  130 ,  140  may be produced by any combination of known manufacturing processes appropriate for the material, including forging, machining, and/or injection molding. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the first end portion clamp  130  may be formed as a plate and be disposed substantially parallel with the upper surface of the belt track  110 . The first end portion clamp  130  may press the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  against the belt track  110  and holding or fixing the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110 . The first end portion clamp  130  may be removably engageable with the belt track  110  by means of screws or bolts  150  as shown or by any other fastener such as a clip or latch (e.g. a draw latch such as an over center latch). Similarly, the second end portion clamp  130  may be formed as a plate and be disposed substantially parallel with the upper surface of the belt track  110 . The second end portion clamp  140  may press the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  against the belt track  110  and hold or affix the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110 . The second clamp  140  may be removably engageable with the belt track  110  by means of screws or bolts  150  as shown or by any other fastener. The removed/disengaged state of the first end portion clamp  130  or the second end portion clamp  140  from the belt track  110  may be a completely detached state in which the clamp  130 ,  140  is separated from the belt track  110 . Alternatively, the removed/disengaged state may be a state in which the clamps  130 ,  140  are not completely detached from the belt track  110  but is, for example, raised or moved away with respect to the belt track  110  which allows movement of the measurement belt  120  between the belt track  110  and the respective clamps  130 ,  140 . For example, the engaged state may be a state in which the clamp  130 ,  140  and the belt track  110  clamps on the belt sufficiently hard to prevent slipping of the measurement belt  120  with respect to the belt track. In lieu of or in combination with bolts for removing the clamps  130 ,  140 , it is contemplated that a push-button, release lever, or other mechanism may be provided to transition the clamps  130 ,  140  to an unlocked state in which the clamp  130 ,  140  is allowed to move away from the belt track  110  so that the measurement belt  120  can slide in a gap between the clamp  130 ,  140  and the belt track  110 . It is also contemplated that the push-button, release lever or other mechanism may be provided to transition the clamps  130 ,  140  to a locked state in which the clamp  130 ,  140  is allowed to move closer to the belt track  110  to attach the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110 . In the locked state, the gap between the clamp  130 ,  140  and the belt track  110  is fixed. The push-button, release lever, or other mechanism may function to bias the clamps  130 ,  140  toward the locked state, requiring a user operation to transition the clamps  130 ,  140  to the unlocked state. It is contemplated that there may be one push-button, release lever or other mechanism per clamp  130 ,  140  in order to transition the clamp  130 ,  140  to the locked or unlocked states. 
     The measurement belt  120  may be made of any known belt material, including rubber (e.g. ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber), synthetic polymers, fabric, leather, etc., with or without embedded fibers. Preferably, the measurement belt  120  does not stretch. The measurement belt  120  may have various grooves or protrusions, such as the longitudinal grooves separating the two or more sub-belts of a banded belt, the longitudinal ribs of a ribbed belt, the lateral ridges of a timing belt, or other features characteristic of belts. The measurement belt  120  may have a v-shaped or trapezoidal cross section characteristic of a V-belt. The measurement belt  120  may be designed to be “universal” and fit a variety of sheaves and pulley systems for a variety of belt types including V-belts, flat belts, timing belts, and round belts having various belt features. Alternatively, or additionally, the tool  100  may include a plurality of measurement belts  120  to be used with different types of pulley systems, and the belt track  110  may be designed to be “universal” and fit all of the measurement belts  120 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the upper surface of the belt track  110  includes multiple grooves or protrusions corresponding to the grooves or protrusions of the measurement belt  120 . Thus, the belt track  110  may be designed to fit one or more banded or ribbed measurement belts  120  (e.g. different measurement belts with different numbers of bands or ribs). 
     The measurement belt  120  may further include measurement markings  126  at premeasured positions along its length at the second end portion  124 . The measurement markings  126  may correspond to typical belt lengths in the industry or brand of belts (e.g. Gates) or may simply be length markings in metric or imperial units, or may correspond to a combination of typical belt lengths and metric/imperial length markings. The measurement markings  126  may run for the entire extent of the measurement belt  120  or may be omitted from regions unlikely to be used, e.g. an initial length at the first end portion  122  corresponding to the length of the belt track  110  (as the measurement belt  120  must loop from one side of the belt track  110 , around a pulley system, and back to the other side of the belt track  110  before the measurement markings  160  will typically be used). The measurement markings  160  may be made by paint or dye or may be notches or holes in the measurement belt  120 . 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic representation of the belt track  110 , measurement belt  120 , and clamps  130 ,  140  of the tool  100  as the tool  100  is being used to identify a correct belt for a system of pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  from a plurality of prefabricated belts. The system of pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  may be any system of pulleys including but limited to a system of pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  which may be part of an automobile or other vehicle engine or part of construction equipment or industrial machinery. For example, the original belt used by the system of pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  may have become worn, needing to be replaced. The system of pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  may include a tensioner  220 . The tensioner  220  may be an idler pulley that serves to increase the tension on the belt either by manual operation or automatically by being biased (e.g., spring bias) in a direction that increases tension. As shown, for example, the tensioner  220  may be movable in the direction of the arrow between an installed position shown by dashed lines and a tensioned position shown by solid lines. In the case of an automatic tensioner, the tensioner  220  may be biased in the direction of the arrow, e.g. by a spring. In the installation position, the tensioner  220  is moved out of the way so that the belt to be installed or the measurement belt of the tool can be wrapped around the pulleys (i.e., driven and drive pulleys) without the use of a tool. In the tensioned position, the belt to be installed or the measurement belt of the tool may be wrapped around the pulleys and the tensioner  220  places tension on the belt so that the belt remains on the pulleys. 
     The user of the tool  100  tightens the first end portion clamp  130  to fix the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  at the first belt receiving end portion  112  of the belt track  110  with the measurement belt  120  positioned on a clamping surface of the belt track  110  (i.e. the upper surface of the belt track  110  in  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). Alternatively, the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  may be already fixed to the first belt receiving end portion  112 , i.e. permanently. The user may then wrap the measurement belt  120  around the pulleys  310 ,  320 ,  330  according to the specifications of the pulley system, i.e. along the same path that the belt to be purchased as a replacement will traverse, and brings the second end portion of the measurement belt  120  back to the belt track  110  so that the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  passes along the clamping (upper) surface of the belt track  110  at the second belt receiving end portion  114 . The first end portion clamp  130  holds the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  in place. The measurement belt  120  is disposed around the system of pulleys  310 ,  320 ,  330 . The second end portion of the measurement belt may be attached to the second end portion of the belt track with the second end portion clamp  140 . 
     The user may place tension on the belt by engaging the tensioner. If the tensioner bottoms out, then the user must disengage the second end portion clamp  140  and manually pull the second end portion of the measurement belt  120  through the belt track and the second end portion clamp  140  a bit more. This shortens a length of the measurement belt  120  between the first end portion clamp  130  and the second end portion clamp  140 . The user then tests whether the tensioner can place a sufficient amount of tension on the measurement belt. This process is repeated until the tensioner  220  can place the proper amount of tension on the measurement belt. Once the tensioner  220  can place the proper amount of tension on the belt, the user can read the measurement marking  126  aligned to a reference indicator that indicates the correct belt to be ordered from among a plurality of prefabricated belts having different lengths. This is discussed further below. 
     As noted above, the user can read the measurement marking  126  that indicates the correct belt to be ordered from a plurality of prefabricated belts. For example, the correct belt for the system of pulleys can be identified by a measurement marking  126  of the plurality of measurement markings  126  that is aligned (e.g. immediately adjacent) to a reference indicator  160  on the tool  100 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the reference indicator  160  may be an interior edge of the second end portion clamp  140  (i.e. an edge of the second end portion clamp  140  that borders the space between the clamps  130 ,  140 ). More generally, the reference indicator  160  may be an edge of the second end portion clamp  140  or an edge of the belt track  110 , or may be the extreme end of the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  (i.e. the beginning of the measurement belt  120 ). The reference indicator  160  may also be a reference mark (e.g. paint, dye, etc.) on the belt track  110 , on the second end portion clamp  140 , or on the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  (e.g. a zero position). The measurement markings on the second end portion of the measurement belt may each refer to one of a plurality of prefabricated belts. For example, a belt manufacturer may have a plurality of V-belts of various lengths. The various lengths may be 10 inches, 12 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, etc. up to 40 inches. Each measurement marking of the plurality of measurement markings may correspond to one of the various lengths of predetermined belt lengths. Other codes for the various belt lengths from a manufacturer may be used by the manufacturer. However, each of the measurement markings on the second end portion of the measurement belt may correspond to the manufacturer&#39;s codes for the various belt lengths that it manufactures. 
     In a case where the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  is not permanently fixed with respect to the belt track  110 , the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  must be aligned to the belt track  110  properly so that the measurement markings on the second end portion of the measurement belt correctly correspond to specific predetermined belt lengths or belt sizes of a manufacturer It is important for the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  to be clamped to the belt track  110  at the same place so that the reference indicator points to the right measurement marking to indicate the correct belt of the manufacturer. To this end, the extreme end of the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  may begin at a designated positon  170  on the belt track  110  such as the position corresponding to the interior edge of the first end portion clamp  130  as shown (i.e. the edge of the first end portion clamp  130  that borders the space between the clamps  130 ,  140 ). After looping the measurement belt  120  around the pulleys  210 ,  220 ,  230  and back above the belt track  110  at the second end portion  114 , the user may then adjust the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  so that it  124  crosses the reference indicator  160  as shown. The measurement marking which is aligned to the reference indicator  160  may indicate the correct belt from a plurality of prefabricated belts. When the user of the tool  100  reads the value of the measurement marking  126  that is nearest or aligned to the reference indicator  160 , (e.g. 72 inches), that measurement marking will correctly correspond to the correct belt that should be ordered for the pulley system from the plurality of prefabricated belts. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic representation of the belt track  110 , measurement belt  120 , and clamps  130 ,  140  of the tool  100  as the tool  100  is being used to determine a correct belt for another system of pulleys  310 ,  320 ,  330  from a plurality of prefabricated belts.  FIG.  3    differs from  FIG.  2    in that the system of pulleys  310 ,  320 ,  300  doesn&#39;t include a tensioner  220 . In the example of  FIG.  3   , the user of the tool  100  may achieve the correct tension for the system of pulleys  310 ,  320 ,  330  by pulling the measurement belt  120 , e.g. through the space between the clamps  130 ,  140 . Once the proper tension is achieved in the measurement belt  120 , the user may read the measurement marking aligned to the reference indicator to determine the correct belt from among the plurality of prefabricated belts. 
       FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  are a schematic representation of a clamping procedure of the tool  100 . First, in  FIG.  4 A , the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  is positioned on the clamping surface of the belt track  110  at the designated position  170 . As noted above the designated position  170  may be marked with a line or other visible marking (not shown) on the belt track  110  or may simply be the interior edge of the first end portion clamp  130  as shown. To further improve the usability of the tool  100 , the designated position  170  may further include a tactile feature, such as a notch or wall in the belt track  110  that the measurement belt  120  can easily be pushed up against to properly align the first end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track. Then, in  FIG.  4 B , the first end portion clamp  130  clamps the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  at the first belt receiving end portion  112 . After disposing the measurement belt  120  around the system of pulleys, the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  is passed along the clamping surface of the belt track  110 , as shown in  FIG.  4 C . As shown in  FIG.  4 C , the measurement belt  120  may be pulled through a gap between the belt track  110  and the second end portion clamp  140 . Lastly, as shown in  FIG.  4 D , the second end portion clamp  140  attaches the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110  at the second belt receiving end portion  114 . As described above, the correct belt for the system of pulleys may be identified through a trial and error procedure with the tool. More particularly, a length of the measurement belt around the system of pulleys is adjusted. The tensioner is adjusted to apply pressure to the measurement belt to determine if a sufficient amount of tension on the measurement belt can be achieved. Once this is achieved, the measurement marking that is aligned to the reference indicator is read. That measurement marking indicates the correct belt from the plurality of prefabricated belts. 
     In the example of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D , the tool  100  includes a reference indicator  160  (see  FIG.  4 D ), namely the inner edge of the second end portion clamp  140 . When the user pulls the measurement belt  120  up through the space between the clamps  130 ,  140  (see  FIG.  4 D ), the part of the measurement belt  120  that crosses the reference indicator  160  can easily be observed through the space between the clamps  130 ,  140  (or from the side). The measurement marking  126  that is immediately adjacent to or aligned to the reference indicator  160  informs the user the correct belt to choose from a plurality of prefabricated belts for the system of pulleys. 
     Also shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  are chamfered edges of the belt track  110  and the clamps  130 ,  140 . Sliding the measurement belt  120  between the clamp  140  may cause the measurement belt  120  to dig into the edges  131 ,  132  and make adjusting the measurement belt  120  between the second end portion clam and belt track more difficult. By forming chamfers or bevels or placing rollers at these places, the tool  100  may be used more easily and with less force to adjust the length of the measurement belt. For example, the inner edge  131  of the second end portion clamp  140  (i.e. the edge that borders the space between the clamps  130 ,  140 ) may include a chamfer, bevel, or roller to ease the stress between the second end portion clamp  140  and the measurement belt  120  as the measurement belt  120  is pulled up through the space. As another example, the edge  132  of the second belt receiving end portion  114  of the belt track  110  (i.e. the edge of the belt track  110  that contacts the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  as the second end portion clamp  140  attaches the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110 ) may include a chamfer, bevel, or roller to ease a reaction stress between the belt track  110  and the measurement belt  120  as the measurement belt  120  is pulled up through the space. In some embodiments of the second end portion clamp  140 , a chamfer, bevel, roller, or other feature may also make it easier to thread the measurement belt  120  between the belt track  110  and the clamp  130 ,  140  when the second clamp  140  is in the disengaged state. 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic top view of the belt track  110  of the tool  100  with the measurement belt  120  clamped at the first end portion  122  and the second end portion  124  by the first end portion clamp  130  and the second end portion clamp  140 .  FIG.  5    represents an overhead perspective of the state shown in  FIG.  4 D , with the slack of the free end of the measurement belt  120  having been pulled up through the space between the clamps  130 ,  140  and over the first end portion clamp  130 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  is marked with measurement markings  126  along its length. With the second end portion clamp  140  attaching the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110 , the user may test whether sufficient tension may be applied to the measurement belt with the tensioner and if so, the user may read which measurement marking  126  is aligned to (i.e., at or nearest to) the reference indicator  160 , which in this example is the interior edge of the second end portion clamp  140 . The nearest measurement marking  126  may be the nearest visible measurement marking  126  (the next longest belt) or may be the true nearest measurement marking  126  (an unseen measurement marking  126  covered by the second end portion clamp  140  but understood to be the nearest by the user). 
       FIG.  6 A  is a schematic bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp  140  of the tool  100 . In the example shown in  FIG.  6 A , the second end portion clamp  140  is provided with a one-way directional roller  610  on the underside thereof. The one-way directional roller  610  may be configured to roll in only one direction and not the other by any known means, such as by connection to a ratchet (not shown). 
       FIG.  6 B  is a schematic bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp  140 . In the example shown in  FIG.  6 B , the second end portion clamp  140  is provided with a one-directional gate  620 . The one-directional gate  620  may be configured, by any known means, to open and allow passage in one direction while remaining closed and hindering passage in the opposite direction. In the example of  FIG.  6 B , the one-directional gate  620  may include a hinged surface biased in an open direction, e.g. by a spring (not shown). 
       FIG.  6 C  is a schematic bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of the second end portion clamp  140 . In the example shown in  FIG.  6 C , the second end portion clamp  140  may be provided with a one-way directional friction coating  630 . The one-way directional friction coating  630  may be configured, by any known means, to hinder passage in one direction and not the other. For example, the one-way directional friction coating  630  may include small directed protrusions, e.g. scales, as might be found on a rasp or file. The one-way directional friction coating  630  may have a coarseness that hinders passage of the material of the measurement belt  120  without damaging it. 
     When a second end portion clamp  140  having the one-way directional roller  610 , gate  620 , or friction coating  630  of  FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  clamps the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110  at the second belt receiving end portion  114 , the one-way directional roller  610 , gate  620 , or friction coating  630  may allow movement of the measurement belt  120  in one direction and not the other. For example, the second end portion clamp  140  may be clamped loosely enough to allow rolling by the one-way directional roller  610 , slight movement against bias of the hinged surface of the one-directional gate  620  to open a passage, or sliding with a grain of the friction coating  630 . In this way, the second end portion clamp  140  may include a one-way directional roller  610 , gate  620 , or friction coating  630  that allows an increase but not a decrease in tension of the measurement belt  120  while the second end portion  124  of the measurement belt  120  is attached to the belt track  110  by the second end portion clamp  140 . This may result in increased usability of the tool  100  as the user may not need to worry about achieving the correct tension prior to the clamping of the measurement belt  120  by the second end portion clamp  140 , which may entail some difficulty as the user pulls the measurement belt  120  to increase tension with one hand while engaging the second end portion clamp  140  with the other. By disposing a one-way directional roller  610 , gate  620 , or friction coating  630 , the tool may instead be designed to allow a relatively loose clamping of the second end portion clamp  140  prior to tightening to achieve the correct tension. The correct tension can thus be achieved more easily, especially when one hand of the user is needed elsewhere, such as to traverse a tensioner of the pulley system (e.g. tensioner  220  of  FIG.  2   ) to an installed position. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of another tool  700  for identifying a correct belt to be ordered for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts. Similar to the belt track  110 , measurement belt  120 , first end portion clamp  130 , and second end portion clamp  140  of the tool  100  shown in  FIG.  1   , the tool  700  may include a belt track  710  having a first belt receiving end  712  and a second belt receiving end  714  and a measurement belt  720  having a first end portion  722  and a second end portion  724 , along with a first end portion clamp  730  and a second end portion clamp  740 . However, unlike the first end portion clamp  130  of the tool  100  shown in  FIG.  1   , the first end portion clamp  730  of the tool  700  may be directly attached to the measurement belt  720 . Thus, when using the first end portion clamp  730  to clamp the first end portion  722  of the measurement belt  720  to the belt track  710  at the first belt receiving end  712 , there is no need for the user of the tool  700  to position the measurement belt  720 . The position is already determined by the attachment position of the measurement belt  720  to the first end portion clamp  730  and the position at which the first end portion clamp  730  engages with the belt track  710  (e.g. by means of screws or bolts  750  as shown or by any other fastener). The measurement belt  720  can then be wrapped around the system of pulleys for which a correct belt length is to be identified and attached to the second belt receiving end  714  of the belt track  710  with the second end portion clamp  740 . A measurement marking  726  may be read in the same way as described above with respect to the tool  100 . Because the position of the measurement belt  720  with respect to the belt track  710  is fixed upon the engagement of the first end portion clamp  730  with the belt track  710 , the optional visual or tactile features of the designated position  170  described with respect to  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  are unnecessary. The measurement markings  726  of the tool  700  may be arranged according to a known relationship between the fixed beginning end of the measurement belt  720  and a reference indicator  160  as described above. 
       FIG.  8    is a schematic bottom view of the first end portion clamp  730  of the tool  700  and the attached first end portion  722  of the measurement belt  720 . The first end portion clamp  730  may be attached to the measurement belt  720  by any known attachment mechanism, including bonding (e.g. ultrasonic bonding), an adhesive (e.g. glue), one or more fasteners (e.g. bolts), etc. The attachment of the first clamp  730  to the measurement belt  720  may be of a permanent nature. For example, the first clamp  730  may be permanently attached to the measurement belt  720  by the manufacturer or by a user. 
       FIG.  9    is a perspective view of another tool  900  for identifying a correct belt  1   e  to be ordered for a system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts. Similar to the belt track  110 , measurement belt  120 , and second end portion clamp  140  of the tool  100  shown in  FIG.  1   , the tool  900  may include a belt track  910  having first and second belt receiving ends  912 ,  914 , a measurement belt  920  having first and second end portions  922 ,  924 , and a second end portion clamp  940 . However, unlike the measurement belt  120  of the tool  100  shown in  FIG.  1   , the measurement belt  920  of the tool  900  is permanently attached to the belt track  910 . Thus, there is no need to clamp the first end portion  922  of the measurement belt  920  to the first belt receiving end  912  of the belt track  910 , and the first end portion clamp  130  of the tool  100  can be omitted. There is also no need to position the measurement belt  920  at the first belt receiving end  912  of the belt track  910  since the position is already determined by the attachment position of the measurement belt  920  to the belt track  910 . The measurement belt  920  can then be wrapped around the system of pulleys for which a correct belt is to be identified and attached to the second belt receiving end  914  of the belt track  910  with the second end portion clamp  940  (e.g. by means of screws or bolts  950  as shown or by any other fastener). A measurement marking  926  may be read in the same way as described above with respect to the tool  100 . Because the position of the measurement belt  920  with respect to the belt track  910  is fixed by the attachment of the measurement belt  920  to the belt track  910 , the optional visual or tactile features of the designated position  170  described with respect to  FIGS.  4 A- 4 D  are unnecessary. The measurement markings  926  of the tool  900  may be arranged according to a known relationship between the fixed beginning end of the measurement belt  920  and a reference indicator  160  as described above. 
       FIG.  10    is a schematic top view of the belt track  910  of the tool  900  and the attached first end portion  922  of the measurement belt  920 . The measurement belt  920  may be attached to the belt track  910  by any known attachment mechanism, including bonding (e.g. ultrasonic bonding), an adhesive (e.g. glue), one or more fasteners (e.g. bolts), etc. The attachment of the measurement belt  920  may be of a permanent nature. For example, the measurement belt  920  may be permanently attached to the belt track  910  by the manufacturer or by a user. As shown in  FIG.  10   , the belt track  910  may omit some of the receiving holes for screws or bolts  950  (or other features in the case of other types of fasteners) since there is only a second end portion clamp  940  and no first end portion clamp  130  as in the tool  100  of  FIG.  1   . 
       FIG.  11    is an example operational flow that may be followed by a user of the tool  100 ,  700 , or  900 . First, the user may position the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  on the clamping (e.g. upper) surface of the belt track  110  (S 1110 ). In the case of the tools  700  and  900 , this step may be omitted because the positions of the first end portions  722 ,  724  of the measurements belts  720  and  920  are fixed as described above. Positioning the measurement belt  120  of the tool  100  may include simply placing the first end portion of the measurement belt  120  on the belt track  110  and aligning the first end portion to the designated position  170  on the belt track  110  as described above. Positioning the measurement belt  120  may further include using any of a number of pre-clamping mechanisms (not shown) to removably attach the first end portion  122  of the measurement belt  120  to the belt track  110  or to the first end portion clamp  130  so that it does not move prior to the clamping of the first end portion clamp  130 . Such pre-clamping mechanism might include a clip, a hook-and-loop fastening surface such as Velcro, a friction surface, or any other fastening feature. Such pre-clamping mechanisms may be on the belt track  110  or the measurement belt  120 , or may be on the first end portion clamp  130  (e.g. the measurement belt  120  is removably attached to the lower surface of the first end portion clamp  130  as the measurement belt  120  is positioned on the belt track  110 ). 
     With the measurement belt  120  having been positioned in step S 1110  (or with the measurement belt  720  or  920  already positioned with step S 1110  omitted), the user may then use the first end portion clamp  130 ,  730  to attach the first end portion  122 ,  722  of the measurement belt  120 ,  720  to the belt track  110 ,  710  (S 1120 ). In the case of the tool  900 , this step may be omitted because the first end portion  922  of the measurement belt  920  is fixedly attached to the belt track  910  as described above. 
     With the measurement belt  120 ,  720  held in place by the first end portion clamp  130 ,  730  per step S 1120  (or with the measurement belt  920  held in place by its attachment to the belt track  910  and step S 1120  omitted), the user then disposes the measurement belt  120 ,  720 ,  920  around the system of pulleys for which a correct belt is to be identified from among a plurality of prefabricated belts. The second end portion of the measurement belt may be routed back to the clamping surface of the belt track  110 ,  710 ,  910  (S 1130 ). 
     Lastly, the user adjusts the length of the measurement belt and secures the second end portion of the measurement belt to the belt track such as by using the second end portion clamp. The user may then test tension or test whether a sufficient amount of tension can be applied to the measurement belt by using a tensioner of the pulley system. The correct belt for the system of pulleys from among a plurality of prefabricated belts may then be identified by a measurement marking  126 ,  726 ,  926  that is aligned to a reference indicator  160  of the tool  100 ,  700 ,  900 . As described above, the tensioning of the measurement belt  120 ,  720 ,  920  in step S 1140  may precede or follow the clamping of the measurement belt  120 ,  720 ,  920  with the second end portion clamp  140 ,  740 ,  940 , or may partially precede and partially follow the clamping of the measurement belt  120 ,  720 ,  920  with the second clamp  140 ,  740 ,  940 , depending on the design of the second clamp  140 ,  740 ,  940  (e.g. whether it includes a one-way directional roller  610 , gate  620 , or friction coating  630 ) and the design of the pulley system (e.g. whether it includes a tensioner  220 ). Steps  1140  and  1150  may be repeated, alternating between tensioning and clamping as necessary until the correct tension in the measurement belt for the system of pulleys is achieved. 
     By using the tool  100 ,  700 ,  900  to read a nearest measurement marking  126 ,  726 ,  926  of a measurement belt  120 ,  720 ,  920  to a reference indicator  160 , a person can conveniently identify the correct belt for a system of pulleys and choose from among a plurality of prefabricated belts without having to purchase a number of different sized belts from the manufacturer and testing each one by trial and error to see if one of them fits. In this way, the various aspects described herein can help a person avoid wasting time, money, and resources when replacing belts in vehicle engines, construction equipment, or industrial machinery. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.