Head Pulley Slipping In Winter
I have never heard of anyone using heated oil in a pulley. I don't see how you would even get it in and having it not leak through the bushings would be almost impossible with a custom designed bushing.
Before I went to all that expense of a tank, pump, lines, heating system & modification to the shaft and pulley, I would look at installing ceramic lagging on the pulley. Capaital cost only and no operating cost.
Ceramic lagging can be install in place by simply slackening the belt until you can freely turn the pulley. Any reputable splicing company will be able to install this for you.
Or if you have a spare pulley, have it lagged with ceramic lagging and change it out with the existing.
We did it on a 36" x 975' yard conveyor at 800 FPM because we were having a problem with slippage during cold weather. It solved the problem immediately.
Rema Tip Top and Flexco are two companies that manufacture good quality ceramic lagging.
Good Luck
Gary Blenkhorn ■
Gary Blenkhorn
President - Bulk Handlng Technology Inc.
Email: garyblenkhorn@gmail.com
Linkedin Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-blenkhorn-6286954b
Offering Conveyor Design Services, Conveyor Transfer Design Services and SolidWorks Design Services for equipment layouts.
Re: Conveyor Head Pulley Slippage
Sorry - typo (cold fingers in Ontario) - That should have read "without a custom designed bushing"
Gary ■
Gary Blenkhorn
President - Bulk Handlng Technology Inc.
Email: garyblenkhorn@gmail.com
Linkedin Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-blenkhorn-6286954b
Offering Conveyor Design Services, Conveyor Transfer Design Services and SolidWorks Design Services for equipment layouts.
Conveyor Head Pulley Slippage
I agree that ceramic lagging will work in most cases. However, I must point out that you must make sure that there is no moisture getting into the drive area. This is very important in freezing weather. The moisture will freeze and make the pulley very slippery. I saw this in person approximately nine years ago in December on Chicago's lakefront. It was very cold, the wind was blowing onshore and the material being conveyed was very moist. Ice formed on the ceramic tiles and we tried everything to get/keep it off including belt cleaners, a heated shed around the pulley and someone assigned to hold a blow torch to the lagging while it ran. Nothing worked so we ended up stripping off the ceramic lagging and installing Flexco 20ND. This worked beautifully and cost a lot less. I wish that we, Flexco, had recommended the 20ND first. ■
Re: Conveyor Head Pulley Slippage
R. Babin
I don't have an outright solution for you but I do have a few commments:
1. We have made oil filled dead-shaft pulleys before. They are rare, but the clients who have them love them.
2. I wonder how much heat would be generated by a fixed amount of oil sloshing around inside the live shaft pulley, possibly stired up by baffles. The oil would create drag, resulting in shear in the oil, resulting in some heat (and noise). Whether this amount of heat would be enough to warm the pulley is another matter.
3. If you really wanted to pump heated oil thorugh, you could pump it into one bearing housing, through grease holes in one end of the shaft, into the shell void, out grease holes in the other end of the shaft, into the other pulley bearing housing. Note that this would require some very special engineering on the housings, bearings, seals and shaft. My gut feel is that you would be have to be facing a very large problem to make it worthwhile. ■
Pulley Slippage
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I will run these by my customer today.
Regards,
R.Babin ■
Re: Conveyor Head Pulley Slippage
We Carry A Bolt On Rubber Laggin Product. It's A New Product For Me.
I Understand That In Dry Applications Bolt On Lagging Provides Increased Grip, However, Like I Said It Is A New Product For Me To Market, And I Have Not Yet Discussed It's Benifits With Our Supplier.
So I Ask You Guys:
Do You Know If Bolt On Lagging Would Be Able To Solve The Grip Issue In Wet Applications???
Thanks
Nathan Phelan
NPhelan@stradaindustries.com ■
Conveyor Head Pulley Slippage
I read a few comments on head pulleys slipping during cold wet weather in winter months.
Has anyone tried re-circulating warm oil inside of head/drive pulleys. I have a customer that is having major problems now with ice build up on drive pulley. 15deg.angle, 500 tons/hour, wood chips, 35deg. idlers, 325fpm.
All comments would be apprecaiated.
Thanks,
R.Babin ■