The modern cable conveyors have several unique and beneficial features that make them superior to the conventional conveyor belt design. They utilize a pair of sturdy steel cables for both driving and supporting the belt and its load. These cables support the belt during carry and return runs. Few other components of this type of a conveyor system are brake brakes, metering belts, inclines, star wheels, pushers, blow offs, tip over units, hangers and leg sets.
These conveyor systems are used for moving heavy loads and materials over long distances. They are primarily used in bottle handling industry. Also, they are used for laying pipes and cables in trenches and tunnels.
The working of a cable conveyor is quite opposite to the working of conventional conveyor systems where the belt is driven by drive rollers and supported by idler rollers along its length. These powered conveyor systems are better than the conventional conveyor systems in many ways and offer a wide range of benefits including increased loads, tighter turn radius and reduced complexity.
Let us discuss why cable conveyors are a better option as compared to the conventional conveyors. The most important difference lies in the conveyor drive system. The pair of steel cables used in cable conveyors puts less strain on the belt. In a conventional system the belt is driven by a series of rollers, which puts considerable strain on the belt resulting in alignment issues and wear and tear.
The conventional conveyor system also requires sets of idler rollers for supporting the belt and the load. However, the cables that drive a cable conveyor only need two guide pulleys in each set. This in turn results in reduced installation and maintenance costs. Moreover, the conveyor system with steel cables uses a performed belt. This provides a larger load bearing area. Also, it means that the belt is less likely to deflect laterally or wander due to alignment issues or center loads resulting in less spillage. Further, the use of support pulleys instead of extra rollers reduces the turn induced belt deflection. This results in increased load bearing capacity of the conveyor system. The maximum load bearing capacity of these cable systems is nearly 6,000 metric tons per hour.
These cable systems are also capable of following a tighter curve radius as compared to the conventional conveyors. These conveyor systems with steel cables are appropriate for conveyor lengths of between 1 to 50Km. The cable conveyors are especially suitable for steep incline installations. The combination of reduced maintenance, reduced costs and route flexibility makes these cable systems an attractive and cost effective option.
