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CHUTES.
Conveyor belts invariably discharge into a chute for gravitational transport of the ore
onto another conveyor belt or to the next stage in the ore dressing process. The ore is
discharged from the conveyor belt at considerable velocity, resulting in sever chute
wear and/or belt impact. The rate of ore flow impact can be broken by the installation
of a "dead box" in the chute as illustrated below. A layer of ore forms in the bottom of
the "dead box" and breaks the velocity of the flow. In addition, wear is rock on rock.
The chute can also be protected by liner plates.
Fig 1
2. PRINCIPLES OF CHUTE DESIGN
There are five basic design objectives:to guide material on to a conveyor belt, at the speed of the belt, in the direction
of belt travel.
to eliminate material spillage.
to enclose material dribbles.
to enclose material from operating personnel.
to eliminate dust liberation.
3. CURRENT DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Chutes are transfer points in a materials handling plant. They often demand more
attention and can be the source of more downtime than the conveyors or equipment
that precede or follow them. Ideally the chutes are designed first, and then the plant
equipment and structures are placed around them. This is sometimes not possible due
to other constraints. For example, such constraints are the presence of critical
supporting steelwork, space restrictions underground and existing plant where
modifications are required. As a result, chutes may suffer and the final design can be a
compromise (Fig 2 shows how not to design a chute).
The nature and characteristics of the equipment before and after the chute are clearly
defined. If a conveyor belt, what is the belt width, belt speed, loaded I material profile,
material trajectory? What is the height through which the material must fall? Does the
material have a single flow path, or are there alternative flow paths?
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Surface chutes are fabricated from longer, welded, box sections. However due
attention is paid to access to liners and erection between floors of a building.
Chutes must be easy to assemble and install. They must be effective in their job and
require minimal maintenance. Wear resistant liners must be cost effective, strategically
placed and be easily changed.
4. PARAMETERS OF CHUTE DESIGN
The following parameters are used to differentiate between good and bad designs. In
the future, the aim is to produce design guidelines for use as an office standard.
4.1 Chute Angles
The angle of repose for dry, run-of-mine gold ore is generally taken to be 38. The
optimum chute angle in this case has been found to be 50-55. Angles less than this are
avoided. The same angle is true for dry, run-of-mine diamond ore, e.g. kimberlite.
However, the inclusion of large amounts of fines, together with water, renders the
prediction of repose somewhat difficult. In mud-rush situations, the surcharge angle
can be 0. This is, however, an exceptional condition and is not used as a design case.
In diamond plants, a chute angle of 45 is only acceptable in final recovery and sort
house areas where the material is crushed, washed, sized and "guaranteed" to be dry .
Chutes with valley angle geometries need careful attention. In a chute with two
adjacent 55 plates, the valley angle will be 45. Hence there is the danger of material
build-up in the valleys. The valley angle is increased accordingly, or designed out, e.g.
in a vertical sided chute.
In a chute extended to carry the fines from belt cleaners, angles in excess of 700 are
required to prevent build-up of the often sticky, wet, fine material that is removed
from the belt. The fines (or slimes) that stick to the belt have effectively no angle of
repose - they hang upside down. Thus if there is any build-up on the chute plates, it
will rapidly lead to blockages or spillage (Fig 3) .
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for in-line transfers, and 3,5 to 4 times belt width for 90 transfers. This generally
allows sufficient height to enclose dribbles, etc.
Most problems are encountered when conveyors are at a small acute angle. Such small
changes of direction involve awkward chute geometries where there could be
restrictions to the flow of material and problems of build up of material on shallow
plate angles. The capture of dribbles also becomes difficult, since the scraping area is
generally above open space.
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cleaning and rock traps, which could jam the gate, are avoided.
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impact areas.
4.10 De-Dusting
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Figure 17
For in-line transfer the burden should fall centrally onto the receiving belt.
The lower section of the chute may be turned for an angled transfer but the cross
angle of the impinging plate should be adjusted to facilitate central loading.
For abrasive burden it is better that impingement between burden and chute plates be
avoided as much as possible.
Figure 18
Similarly for adhesive burden contact with chute plates should be avoided for both the
main stream of burden and the scrapings.
Trajectories from high speed conveyors will make this type of chute too long.
For angled transfers baffles or rock-boxes will be necessary to centre the burden on
the receiving belt.
Where it is necessary for very abrasive free flowing burden to impinge against chute
linings or hard steel linings are often used.
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Figure 19
Figure 20
Skega rubber wear bars give very good life provided that the burden strikes the rubber
surfaces at near 90. If the wear bar becomes dislodged it will not damage belting as
would a dislodged wear plate of steel.
With the type of chute shown in Figure 21 belt damage due to the impact of large
lumps is reduced by allowing the fines to fall through a grizzly onto the belt thus
forming a protective bed of fines on the belt for the lumps to fall onto.
Figure 21
If used for an angled transfer the grizzly bars should be in the same plan direction as
the receiving belt and some kind of baffling will be necessary to centre the load.
For high speed belts particularly with angled transfers it is necessary to destroy the
forward velocity in order to1. make the chute compact.
2. facilitate the collection of scrapings from the belt.
3. transfer the burden at run-up speeds as when starting a loaded belt.
Impact plates are usually made with a slightly concave surface to the burden, to
reduce sideways splash. They can be skewed to the oncoming burden and are
adjustable for position at top and bottom independently.
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Figure 22
When handling fragile burden impingements and changes of velocity should be
avoided.
Figure 23
For this purpose the chute should collect the burden at the point where the "trajectory"
leaves the pulley.
Over the top and centre section of the chute angles will be chosen to slightly
accelerate the burden while the lower part of the chute will retard the burden and lay it
onto the receiving belt at belt speed.
Angled transfers can be arranged by suitable banking the "slide" on the bend.
The slide plates must be inspected frequently for abrasive wear.
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