HGRS MASTER - Maintenance

Type of Skill: Specific Technical Skills

Category : Transport Equipment
Module: Belt conveyors
Unit: General terminology 1 of 18
Version: 1.0 06-02-03
Reference: Belt conveyors MTC Training.ppt

General Terminology
Purpose: Belt conveyors are designed to transport large volumes of material mainly in the horizontal
direction. The correct use of terminology and an understanding of the different design possibilities
is needed to ensure understanding of equipment, analysis and maintenance.
Description:
Layout

 side view
A belt conveyor can have different layouts depending mainly on its purpose and the
topography. Main subdivisions are Straight horizontal, Straight up, Straight down, Straight
vertical, One concave inflection, One convex inflection, two inflections concave and convex,
and finally Multiple inflections.
 top view
Most of conveyors are straight from a top view. New design of belts and structures allow small
curvature on long belts
 cross-section
Belts can be flat, in V with angles of 20°- 25°- 30°, troughed with angles of 20°- 25°- 30°- 45°
and finally deeply troughed with specific angles of e.g 60° or 90°. The 2 types of supporting
structures (sliding pan or rollers ) defines also the cross-section., .
 dimensions
Conveyor belt are also defined by their dimensions. The width of the belt is given in
millimeters. The belt length between the drive pulley and the tail pulley is also characteristic
and defined in meters or millimeters. This distance is different from the belt length which
includes take-up length, pulley diameters etc…
 arrangement
Conveyor belts are also defined by the drive location: A belt is pulled when the material is
going toward the drive pulley and is pushed when the product is going away from the drive
pulley. A reversible belt can be alternatively pushed and pulled and a belt can be
simultaneously pulled and pushed in the case of multiple drives.

Main Parts

 Supports_(Idlers_and_sliding_support)
A sliding support is a friction plan on which the belt slides. This solution is seldom used due
to high power consumption but is interesting in transfer points for geometric reasons.
(material choice is important to reduce friction) _
Idlers are of two basic types: Carrying idlers, which support the loaded run of the conveyor
belt; and Return idlers which support the empty return run of the conveyor belt.
 Belts
Belts are composed of the web and the coating. The web assures the resistance to
tension and impact. It can be of single or multiple layers. The rubber between fabric layers
has the purpose to assure the link between layers, and in the case of special thick layers
improve the impact resistance. The coating protects the web against abrasion,
temperature, humidity or chemicals…
 Frame
The frame is the belt conveyor structure, supporting all parts and transported products. Its'
main requirement is to remain dimensionally stable while load and temperature conditions are
changing,…

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  Drive
The drive is mainly defined in terms of power (kW) and speed (rpm). Drives can sometimes
have an electrical motor in the pulley but generally are coupled with a reducer itself linked to
the pulley. The efficiency of the drive is normally 0.9 for a coaxial gear reducer (less with
screw gear reducer). An important option to consider is the type of startup. This can be direct
or progressive and has an impact on the belt strength required. Brakes are considered as a
part of the drive system.
 Take-ups
Take-ups ensure the correct slack-side tension at the drive pulley to prevent slippage of the
belt and adequate belt tension at loading and other points along the conveyor. Take-ups can
be either manual systems, (where there is no take-up displacement during operation
irrespective of the load on the belt) or automatic take-up systems which move according the
belt length during operation (belts are elastic). The take-up systems are applied on long belts
where they compensate temporary or permanent changes of belt length
 Pulleys
The pulleys are cylindrical drums which allow a change in the belt direction. Pulleys are
subject to high load and therefore must be carefully dimensioned. Lagging, shape and
diameter are the most important characteristics influencing the friction coefficient, belt tracking
and the internal belt stress.
 Cleaning_devices
Cleaning devices are used to reduce the amount of carry-back material and therefore
conveyor problems. Cleaning systems typically consist of a pre-cleaner and at least one
secondary cleaner. Carry back can be present on the product face and sometimes on the
underside of the belt. The amount of material to be removed depends typically on the product
properties, the belt condition and the conveyor design. All these influencing factors must be
taken into account to ensure a reliable installation.
Standards:  Proper use of terms, good understanding of training and work instructions
Impact if not  Misunderstandings, errors
correct:

Actions:  Training and information

Unit  Plant visit with description of the different belt conveyor
Completion:
See site specific unit for additional information, respective actions and applicable safety instructions.

SIDE VIEW

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 CROSS SECTION VIEW

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 DIMENSIONS

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 ARRANGEMENT

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 MAIN PARTS

IDLERS

Carrying Idlers

Return Idlers

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 SLIDING SUPPORTS

TENSIONING SYSTEMS

Manual Take Up

Automatic Take Up

Horizontal Vertical

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 PULLEYS

LEANING DEVICES

Product face

10
7 7

Return Idlers
Position recommended
Maintain the blade
out of this area

Secondary Cleaner

Primary Cleaner
Secondary Cleaner

Secondary Cleaner(s) Position Blade angle

Internal face

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