Kamlesh:

Depending on the lift height, a steel joiner plate should work. However, these belts are extrmely heavy and if the clamp should fail you are likely to cause severe damage. Because of this potential, splicing the ends together without using the cross-rigid material is preferable (not that you can strip the new belt's temporay splice end and the use it for the final splice.

One mechanical clamp system that would work is to do an oil field splice. I believe Scandura has the splice plates for sale. These consist of three plates and bolts. The belt ends are bent up and clamped. A variation of this is to clamp the bent ends together and then pour hot lead over the ends to for a slip resistant end box.

Another possibility is to expose cable ends on the old and new belts; loop the ends so the belts are connected; and use cable clamps in the same manner you would for take-up cables. Using cable clamps to directly connect old belt cables to new belt cables would also work. Clamping 15 to 25 cables together should work well.

Hope this helps. ■

Kamlesh:

Straight pulling plates are somewhat dangerous for the vertical weight involved - you are relying solely on clamping pressure, with the danger of the clamping bolts "combing out" between the steel cord strands of the belt. To provide greater clamping force, thicker plates should be used, or use an oil-field type clamp arrangement.

Regards, ■

Dear Kamlesh:

Several of the suggestions that Mr. Miller gave to you suggested that you strip, expose and use the steel cords to assist in the attachment and pulling in the new belt.

If you strip and use the cords, you will have to remove the parts that were exposed and used for the attachment. If you use these exposed cords, it may cause premature aging/corrosion of the cables. This would probably void the manufacturer's warranty.

Also, due to this, you should be aware that you will need an excess of new belt due to this "waste". Therefore, carefully measure first!

Please verify these details with Flexowell to protect your interests. ■

Ron,

None of the methods suggested allow for the use of exposed cables for the final splice, nor suggest it. Your comment on excess belt length for the pull-on, however, is valid and the belt manufacturers normally allow for this.

As a point of interest, what method would you propose?

Regards, ■

Kamlesh:

Well done!.

There are always a multitude of methods to accomplish a given task.

Best regards, ■

Dear all,

When a belt is pulled on the conveyor using by the plate clamps, the clamp length will be the width of the conveyor ( especially for the steep angle conveyors ).

The clamp width depends on the minimum diameter of the pulley on which the clamp has to travel atleast quarter of the pulley's circumfrance. If the plate width is more than required, it may not turn smooth around the curves of the ( smaller ) pulleys.

My query is what is the relation between the above pulleys diameter and the plate clamps's width? Should we consider the belt rating and belt thickness also?

Thanks and regards, ■