The Challenge
4B Braime was asked for technical advice on the manufacture of a new bucket & belt elevator to be installed at an Asphalt plant in South Wales. The bucket elevator would elevate RAP (Recycled Asphalt Planings), and use a belt instead of a chain, and standard 4B pressed buckets instead of fabricated buckets commonly used in the construction industry.
4B Braime were asked to provide a design proposal detailing suitable speed, power requirements, shaft & casing sizes, and component specifications to achieve the desired capacity of 250 tph.
Due to the abrasive and slow-moving nature of the product, special care was to be taken to ensure the correct selection of elevator buckets and elevator speed/discharge characteristics.
The solution
4B offered a detailed engineering proposal along with the supply of all the mechanical components according to the customer requirements.
The SPS style buckets were selected due to their versatility across different speeds, and optimized design which maximized capacity. The SPS500-215’s offered sufficient volumetric capacity comparable to bigger fabricated buckets and were more economical.
3mm mild steel versions were chosen to maximize the abrasion resistance. The elevator speed was based on gravity discharge to accommodate the non-free-flowing nature of the product.
Based on the tonnage, the absorbed power requirement of the elevator was calculated along with the minimum strength rating of the belt. The NBR EP800/4 2+2mm offered an adequate 20:1 safety factor, along with 2+2mm nitrile covers offering both abrasion and oil resistance.
4B were able to supply components “off the shelf” which greatly reduced the lead-times involved.
Results
The elevator has been running for 2 years with the original components installed with no issues with the design or discharge.
The customer was easily able to achieve 250 tph based on 4B’s recommendations and with a few minor adjustments, is in a position to upgrade the output even further if required.
4B’s Bucket Elevator Design Service
4B engineers have designed hundreds of bucket elevators for all industries, from Feed and Grain through to Cement, Coal, and other heavy industries.
4B’s bucket elevator design and calculation service is offered free of charge. Using key technical data, 4B engineers can give a detailed technical recommendation for the ideal bucket elevator with the ideal capacity and discharge characteristics. This can be for the design of a new bucket elevator or for the upgrade of an existing bucket elevator.
Founded in 1971 as a subsidiary of The Braime Group, 4B Braime Components has been an industry leader in developing high quality, innovative, and dependable material handling components for the agricultural and industrial sectors.
4B’s product line ranges from elevator buckets, elevator bolts and drop forged conveyor chain to level monitors, speed switches and hazard monitoring systems. With offices in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia along with a worldwide network of distributors, 4B can provide practical solutions for applications in any location.
