Thursday, August 1, 2019

Useful And Essential Facts About Screw Conveyors

By Diane Perry


Mechanical devices which are used to move materials from one point to another are called conveyors. The application of conveyors is mostly in production plants and other areas where there is need to handle bulk materials. The systems are relied upon since they use little effort to move materials. As such, a lot of time and effort are saved which would have otherwise been used on moving materials. This is worth knowing about Screw Conveyors.

For many years, there are numerous types of conveying systems which have been made and are being used. The various types of conveying systems in existence have different modes of operation. This implies that a conveyor will be deemed suitable for a particular application depending on the kind of work to be done. Also, the working mechanism of the system will determine how it is applied.

Even though the various types of conveying systems are designed differently, some of the basic components tend to remain the same. For instance, the various kinds of systems have a frame that provides support to the belt, wheels, or rollers upon which materials are moved. Also, these systems are usually powered through various means. Some common mechanisms of powering them include use of a motor, gravity, or through manual means.

The kind of conveyor system to be used may be determined by the kind of material being moved. It can also be influenced by the working environment of the machine. One should have several factors properly considered before purchasing a conveyor system. For instance, one needs to consider the specifications of the system.

Maximum load per unit length of a machine is the first specification one should consider. This specification normally specifies the amount of material which can be transported on the conveyor per unit length. In case the weight is exceeded, the system can be damaged. This value is normally written in the manual provided by the manufacturer or indicated on the device itself. The load capacity is closely associated with the maximum load per unit length.

Another useful specification to learn about is the belt speed also referred to as the rated speed. The units used to describe the rated speed usually depend on the type of system being discussed. In the case of screw and belt conveyors, the speed is calculated in feet per minute. This speed specifies the distance that the material can be moved per unit time.

Screw conveying systems normally handle bulk and powdered materials. As such, they have a specified throughput. Normally, the throughput is calculated as volume per unit time. For example, the throughput may be specified in terms of cubic feet per minute. Apart from screw conveying systems, there are other kinds of conveying systems which have a specified throughput value. Bucket, walking beam, vacuum, and vibrating conveying systems are examples.

Also, when purchasing a conveyor one should be keen about the frame configuration. Frames may be designed like letter Z, straight, or curved. The location of the drive mechanism is another important factor to consider. The drive mechanism is at times located at the center, or it can alternatively be placed at the discharge end. However, there are rare instances where the propulsion mechanism can be placed at end where materials are fed into the system.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment