BELT-CONVEYORS

ADVANTAGES
Range of
capacities

Reliability Versatility Low Labor Low energy

COMPONENTS
Carrying Idlers Belt
Head Pulley

Tail Pulley

Return Idlers
Page 300, Fig 11-3

BELT WIDTH
The size of materials that can be conveyed is limited by the width of the belt. Crushing plants may be required to reduce lump size for handling on a belt conveyor.

BELT WIDTH
Belt width is expressed in inches. Common US widths are:

18 42 72

24 48 84

30 54 96

36 60

Material Characteristics Angle of repose of a

material is the angle the surface of a freely formed pile makes with a horizontal plane.

Material Characteristics
Angle of surcharge is the
angle to a horizontal plane that the surface of a material assumes while at rest on a moving conveyor belt. This angle is usually 5O to 15O less than the angle of repose.

BELT SPEEDS
Recommended maximum speeds.
Material Clay Overburden Fine crushed stone Course crushed stone Speed, fpm 400 600 800 1000 350 500 600 Belt Width 18 24-36 42-60 72-96 18 24-36 over 36

CAPACITY
With a uniform feed the cross-sectional area of the load on the belt determines the conveyor capacity. Fig. 11-5 depicts the crosssectional area for a troughed belt. Page 302

SLOPE
Conveyors follow existing terrain on grades to 35%. Capacity does drop as the angle increases, however, truck haulage is limited to less than 10% in most cases.

BELT MAGNETS
Metal objects can be removed from material during conveying.

DESIGN
Factors affecting design: Lump size

Bulk density Angle of repose Abrasiveness

CONVEYOR BELT
The belt is a large portion of the initial cost of a system and it is a major operating cost.

CONVEYOR BELT
Improper loading will result in accelerated belt wear, spillage, and reduced capacity.

BELT TAKE-UPS
Weighted pulley, uniform tension take-up.
Page 317

IDLERS
Carrying idlers support the loaded run of belt, two configurations. Trough, with the two outer rollers inclined upward and the center roller horizontal. Flat, a single horizontal roller.

IDLERS
Idlers influence capacity, belt life, and operational success of the conveyor. 20O trough idlers

Page 306

IDLERS

Sliding resistance
between the belt and idler rolls is generated when the idler rolls are not exactly 90O to the belt movement.

SLIDING RESISTANCE

Return idlers contact the dirty side of the belt, resulting in abrasive wear to the idler surface.

RETURN IDLERS

IDLERS
Self-Cleaning return idlers

IDLER SPACING
Belt weight, material weight, idler rating, belt rating and belt tension effect idler spacing. See Table 11-5 for recommended maximum spacings. Spacing is normally varied in 6-in. increments.

POWER REQUIRED
Power required is calculated from belt tension. The force required to drive a belt conveyor must be transmitted from the drive pulley to the belt. This is accomplished by friction between their two surfaces. Page 314