1 - Start with CEMA - Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (see web site)

2 - Contact TUNRA Bulk Solids Handling Research Associates (see web site). Prof A.W Roberts and others have done a lot of work.

3 - Try Bulk Solids Handling Trans Technical Publications

4 - ESS Martin Engineering (see web site)

5 - David Charles Morgan, of Keeve Steyn Inc in Johannesburg "Chute Design in a large Coal Handling Facility" 1991 (this is an advanced design paper. Try the South African Insitute of Mechanical Engineers)

6 - Jenike & Johanson Inc (see web site) ■

In addition, see 'Chute Design, Problems, Causes, Solutions' by Bionic Research Institute, S.A. 1992. ■

A copy of the Chute Design Seminar may be difficult to locate. It was a limited edition - only 500 copies were sold in South Africa.

Chute design is not well covered in the conveyor design handbooks. The only book I know on real chute design was written by Dick Stahura of Solid Systems Engineering Co in Colorado USA. Since then the firm traded as Martin Engineering, ESS, and now Compass (ESS Engineering Services Australia is still available on the net).

In concept chute design seems just a matter of applied geometry. But there is a lot more to it than that. You may have to change your whole conveyor layout because the head pulley is too low, how will you deal with dribbling from your belt cleaner, do you need special lining to prevent product hanging up, how will you handle chute blockages, how much air do you need for dust extraction, and so on.

But you are on the right track - the smoother your transfer the less dusting and degradation problems.

This forum is not a design school. Many of the people who could give you pertinent advice don't have the time or inclination to comment on the Internet.

You are about to spend a considerable amount of money which will affect plant production for years. On a related Thread the questioner is calling for help because of problems of spillage, belt tracking, excessive wear of belts and skirting. If you are new to chute design I would recommend your organisation pay for some professional help. It will be worth it - and you will learn a lot from the experience.

https://forum.bulk-online.com/showth...?threadid=7410 ■