Idlers:
Conveyor belts are usually supported on idler rollers. In some cases they are supported by solid wood or runway of steel sheet or a combination support comprising of the two types of supports placed alternatively.
There are two basic types of idlers:
- Carrying idlers
- Return idlers
Carrying Idlers:
The most commonly used type of carrying idlers used for handling bulk load consist of three in line idler rolls of equal length. The three equal length roll troughing idlers form the belt into the best troughed shape to carry a maximum load cross section.
For handling unit load or for handling nominal bulk load, or for supporting belt in return side, straight idlers are used, positioned between brackets attached directly to the conveyor frame. Another type of carrying idlers is used at the loading points where the lump size and the weight of the material ma seriously damage the belt if the belt were rigidly supported. Such idlers are called impact idlers. The most frequently used type of impact idlers consist of a three roll assembly, each roll being made of spaced resilient discs. These idlers are also known as cushion idlers.
Return idlers:
The return idlers which carry the weight of the empty belt in the return side or the lower side of the conveyor are mostly single roller straight idler. The main dimensions of the idler are the diameter and length. The diameters in millimeters of carrying and return idlers shall be selected from the following:
63.5, 76.1, 88.9, 101.6, 108, 114.3, 127, 133, 139.7, 152.4, 168.3, 193.7.
Idler spacing:
The spacing of idlers on the loaded run of the conveyor, carrying bulk material, depends on the belt width, the specific weight of the bulk material, the type of the idler. The spacing of the idlers in the loading zone of the belt is about half the normal spacing of idlers in the carrying side.
A set of self aligning idler or training idler should be provided at the carrying side and return side at an interval of 15m on the carrying run and 30m at the return run. It consists of an ordinary troughed three roller idler mounted on swivel frame which is free to swivel within a limit about a vertical pivot. When the belt shifts off the crane the edge contacts on actuating roller with a slight pressure and this makes the idler take a skewed position when a force acts which tends to steer the belt back to its central position. As the belt returns to its central position, it automatically returns the idler to its initial position.
The idlers along the carrying and return side offer rolling resistance to the motion of the belt. It is taken into account by an artificial coefficient of friction, dimensionless, comprising of rolling resistance of the idlers along the carrying and return sides of belt and the belt advancement resistance. This coefficient of friction has a basic value of 0.02 for normally aligned belt conveyors and the same has a basic value of 0.012 for downhill conveyor requiring a brake motor.
The basic value of 0.02 of the coefficient of friction is only applicable to installations used at 70% to 110% of their nominal capacity, equipped with three roll carrying idlers for the upper side of the belt, a 30° side troughing angle, belt speed of about 5 m/s, surrounding temperature of about 20°C, and 108 to 159 mm diameter carrying idlers with ball bearing and labyrinth grease seals, together with idler spacing of 1.0 to 1.5m for the carrying side and 3 m for the return side of the belt.
Under favourable conditions, such as properly aligned installations with properly lubricated ball bearings, the value of the coefficient of friction may be as low as 0.016. For unfavourable conditions, such as poorly aligned belt conveyors with old bearings 'f' may be as high as 0.03.
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