The primary function of idler rolls in a belt conveyor system is to support the conveyor belt along its length. Predicting the cumulative resistance of idler rolls is vitally important in calculating the belt tension and therefore power requirements of a system, particularly on long overland conveyors where there are typically more than one thousand idler rolls per kilometer of belt. The rotating resistance occurs due to the friction of the rolling elements in the bearings, the viscous drag of the lubricant, and the friction of the contact lip seals. This paper provides theoretical methods to calculate each component of the rotating resistance and describes an apparatus designed to measure this resistance force under simulated operating conditions.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
Materials handling, Plant engineering, Maintenance
Topics:
Bearings, Belts, Conveyor belts, Conveyor systems, Drag (Fluid dynamics), Friction, Sealing (Process), Stress, Temperature, Torque, Viscosity

References

1.
Antoniak
,
J.
,
2001
, “
Resistances to the Motion in Mining Belt Conveyors
,”
Acta Montan. Slovaca
,
6
(
2
), pp.
150
–
157
.
2.
Gladysiewicz
,
L.
,
Krol
,
R.
, and
Bukowski
,
J.
,
2011
, “
Tests of Belt Conveyor Resistance to Motion
,”
Maint. Reliab.
,
3
, pp.
17
–
25
.
3.
Hager
,
M.
, and
Hintz
,
A.
,
1993
, “
The Energy Saving-Design of Belts for Long Conveyor Systems
,”
Bulk Solids Handl.
,
13
, pp.
749
–
758
.
4.
Palmgren
,
A.
,
1959
,
Ball and Roller Bearing Engineering
,
SKF Industries
,
Philadelphia, PA
.
5.
Vierling
,
A.
,
1956
, “
Investigations on the Resistances to Travel of Belt Conveyors
,”
Fördern Heben
,
6
, pp.
1
–
12
.
6.
Limberg
,
H.
,
1988
, “
Untersuchung der Trumbezogenen Bewegungswidererstände Von Gurtförderanlagen
,” Ph.D. thesis, University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
7.
Lodewijks
,
G.
,
1996
, “
Dynamics of Belt Systems
,” Ph.D. thesis, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
8.
Wheeler
,
C.
,
2003
, “
Analysis of the Main Resistances of Belt Conveyors
,” Ph.D. thesis, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
9.
Wheeler
,
C.
, and
Madden
,
W.
,
2004
, “
Conveyor Idler Roll Rim Drag Prediction and Measurement
,”
8th International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage, Handling and Transportation
, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
10.
CEMA
,
2014
,
Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials
, 7th ed.,
Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association
, Naples, FL.
11.
Churchill
,
S.
,
1988
,
Viscous Flows; The Practical Use of Theory
,
Butterworths
,
Boston, MA
.
12.
Niu
,
L.
,
Cao
,
H.
,
He
,
Z.
, and
Li
,
Y.
,
2014
, “
Dynamic Modeling and Vibration Response Simulation for High Speed Rolling Ball Bearings With Localized Surface Defects in Raceways
,”
ASME J. Manuf. Sci. Eng.
,
136
(
4
), p.
041015
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
13.
German Institute for Standardization
,
1996
, “
Belt Conveyors—Part 3: Belt Conveyors for Underground Coal Mining; Idlers; Testing
,” Report No. DIN22112-3.
14.
South African Bureau of Standards Specification
,
1993
, “
Conveyor Belt Idlers; Part 1: Troughed Belt Conveyor Idlers for Belt Speeds of up to 5.0m/s
,” Report No. SABS 1313-1.
15.
Robins
,
E.
,
2001
, “
New Age Conveyor Rollers
,”
7th International Conference on Bulk Materials Storage, Handling and Transportation
, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
Copyright © 2016 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.