Belt Devices

Conveyor-Belt Devices The metal-belt type (Fig. 11. 55) is the only device in this classification of material-haudhug equipment that has had serious effort expended on it to adapt it to indirecl heat-transfer seiwice with divided solids. It features a lightweight construction of a large area with a thin metal wall. ludirect-coohiig applications have been made with poor thermal performance, as could be expected with a static layer. Auxihaiy plowlike mixing devices, which are considered an absolute necessity to secure any worthwhile results for this seiwice, restrict applications. 

The Lord General finally drew back from the painting. The belts are lightweight Transit Belts, devices I developed myself by adapting and modifying recovered technology. ... 

Fig. 8.5. Filter belt device for sludge dewatering the Flocpress . (Courtesy Infilco Degremont Inc.)...

Process industries frequently need to weigh and control the flow rate of bulk material for optimum performance of such devices as grinders or pulverizers, or for controlling additives, eg, to water suppHes. A scale can be installed in a belt conveyor, or a short belt feeder can be mounted on a platform scale. Either can be equipped with controls to maintain the feed rate within limits by controlling the operation of the device feeding the material to the conveyor. Direct mass measurement with a nuclear scale can also be used to measure and control such a continuous stream of material. 

Some drawbacks to the weigh belt are that it is a zero-reference device and thus needs frequent caHbration (re-zeroing). Buildup on the belt and roUers affects accuracy and operation, as does belt tension and dusty or floodable materials. Flexible connections are required to isolate the feeder from upstream and downstream equipment, unless the belt feeder/weigh idler concept is used. 

Fig. 2. Rigid foam laminating line 1, material tank 2, agitator 3, metering pump 4, heat exchanger 5, bottom facet toU 6, bottom facet alignment device 7, top facet toU 8, top facet alignment device 9, mixing head 10, traverse assembly 11, top nip toU 12, bottom nip toU 13, take-up conveyor top belt with adjustable height 14, take-up conveyor bottom belt 15, curing oven 16, laminate 17, side-trim saws 18, cutoff saw (traversing) 19, laminated-panel stack...

Manually adjusted screw or ratchet take-ups that adjust the position of the tail pulley to control belt tension can be used on relatively short, light duty conveyors. Automatic take-ups are used on conveyors over about 25 to 30 m long. The most common is the weighted automatic gravity take-up (see Fig. la). Other types of automatic take-ups have hydrauHc or pneumatic powered devices to adjust a snub pulley position and maintain a constant belt tension. The requited take-up movement varies according to the characteristics of the belt constmction and the belt length. Typically, take-up movements for pHed belts are 2% to 3% of the center distance between head and tail pulley, and about 0.5% for steel cable belts. The take-up movements requited for soHd woven belts are usually shorter because of the lower elastic stretch. Take-up requirements for a particular situation should be confirmed by the belt manufacturer. 

Backstops. A backstop is a device that permits rotation of the pulley in the forward direction but automatically prevents rotation in the opposite direction. A backstop should be installed at the headshaft of an inclined belt to prevent the belt from moving in reverse if the power to the motor is intermpted or if there is a failure in the mechanical drive system. 

Conveyors may be of parallel-chain, mat, slat, woven wire-mesh belt, or cast-alloy type. Automatic tensioning devices are used to maintain belt tension during heating and cooung. The product may rest directly on the conveyor or on special supports built into it. RoUer-conveyors are used for large pieces. Flame curtains are provided for sealing the ends and for protection of special treating atmospheres. 

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