MATERIALS HANDLING
RESISTING DISASTER
Leslie David offers a guide to rip-resistant conveyor belts
C
onveyor belts are critical, surprisingly complex components whose reliability and efficiency has a direct impact on the bottom line,
none more so than when a foreign object or sharp rock becomes trapped. Even the strongest, heaviest multi-ply and steelcord belts can be punctured and ripped apart longitudinally over their entire length in a matter of minutes. Rip, tear and impact damage is highly expensive problem for mine operators, but there are several approaches they can take to minimise risks.
RIP AND TEAR RESISTANCE Trapped objects that rip the belt longitudinally are every conveyor operator’s worst nightmare. Te whole event can be over before anyone has a chance to stop the conveyor. Even if a replacement belt is on standby, the financial consequences are invariably very bad news indeed, not least of which are the costs of lost production. Despite the
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seriousness of the risk, opinions seem to vary regarding the best way to approach the problem.
Te most common misconception is that fitting belts with thicker outer covers and/or an increased number of plies will help. Te harsh reality is that unless the inner carcass is engineered to resist ripping and tearing then using more of the same material will not provide the solution and most likely create other headaches because belts that are too thick for the design of the application can cause troughability, steering and handling difficulties. Te same applies to increasing the tensile strength.
NOT WORTH THE SACRIFICE Another course of action when faced with repeated damage problems is to opt for low-grade, ‘sacrificial’ belts, which are almost invariably imported from Asia. Te sentiment seems to be that it is not worth paying good money for a belt that, sooner or later, will be ripped from end to
Trapped granite buckled the conveyor but the UsFlex belt kept on rolling
end. Tis attitude does not make sound economic sense. Cheap belts are low-priced for a very
good reason, which is that they have been made using poor quality, unregulated raw
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