Page 22 - ConveyorBeltMaintenanceManual2010

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INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE & TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
i n s t a l l a t i o n
Curved chutes
Engineered loading chutes to reduce abrasion, cut/gouge and impact
Curved chutes are engineered chutes that allow the material to come in contact with the belt at a matching speed, with
minimal drop height and with less turbulence. Curved chutes minimize abrasion, as well as cut/gouge and impact damage.
Curved chutes may cost more than conventional chutes, but help reduce wear and cut/gouge damage tremendously and will
typically pay for themselves in a short time. Curved chutes are definitely recommended for new conveyors and for existing
conveyors. Special material flow modeling techniques are used to design curved chutes (Fig. 29). Typically, the chute is
designed by consultant companies who have developed specialized software for studying the material flow inside the chute.
With this software, they can easily compare the effectiveness of one chute design against another. The customer should go
through the exercise of cost vs. return to see if a specialized curved chute design can be justified.
PULLEY LAGGING
Lagging is recommended for drive pulleys for the following reasons:
1. Improved co-efficient of friction. This permits a belt to be driven by lower slack side tension and sometimes results in lower
total tension.
2. Reduction of slippage due to wet conditions, if grooved lagging is used.
3. Increased life for pulley and pulley cover of belt.
Other pulleys in the system, especially those contacting the carrying side of the belt, are often lagged to prevent buildup of
material. Grooving improves cleaning action on the lagging and the belt.
Fig. 29
Conventional vs Curved Chute