Because of the higher pressure, the base of an inclined or swan neck conveyor often undergoes greater wear at the point where the conveyor transitions from an inclined to horizontal position. This is because the base of the conveyor ordinarily faces more pressure at this point. By installing wear strips, operators of conveyors can reduce the amount of friction that the chain is subjected to, hence extending the chain’s lifespan and reducing the amount of wear that it undergoes.
Recently, a customer brought us some worn chain to inspect on an inclined-to-horizontal conveyor system that was elevated approximately 20 feet above the ground. Because of this, conducting the inspection of the chain was a challenging operation. When moving from an inclined to a horizontal position, incline and swan neck conveyors frequently have problems with their chains wearing out. This is typically caused by the increased force that is exerted at this point.
On the other hand, the solution is not particularly hard to discover.
Are you able to tell the difference between the two pictures above? In one of the photographs, the chain looks to be protected from wear, however in the other picture, it does not appear to be protected in any way.
You can see how the chain is beginning to wear through the base of the conveyor itself in the photograph that is located on the left. If we did not step in, this chain would eventually wear all the way through the base of the conveyor, which would result in substantial damage. If we did step in, however, we could prevent this from happening. The photograph on the right shows a wear strip protecting the chain that runs the conveyor system. This will not only extend the life of the chain itself but also the life of the entire conveyor system.
Reduce friction to lessen the amount of wear and tear
Wear strips are a straightforward and cost-efficient solution for ensuring that the chain continues to run smoothly and reliably over time. If you reduce the amount of friction present in the system, the chain will have an easier time moving through it, and as a pleasant side effect, the amount of power that is required to run the conveyor will be reduced as well.
There is a large selection of materials and resistance levels available for use in the production of wear strips. The great majority are produced using specialised thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, that are compliant with EU and FDA regulations for use in the food and beverage industry and the pharmaceutical industry, respectively, and are therefore manufactured using thermoplastics. Manganese, Hardox, or steel wear strips are also available to us if an application calls for a higher level of wear resistance than what steel or manganese can provide.
If there is a section of the system that is being subjected to rising pressure, then the wear strip that is already in place will need to be changed to one that is more resistant to wear. When the chain is subjected to heavier weights or impacts, you will need a wear strip that is capable of absorbing the weights or impacts without being worn down or harmed in any way. This will be necessary if the chain is subjected to more severe conditions. Don’t install them too early, as this would result in unnecessary expenses, and not too late, as this would put the chain or other components at risk of being damaged.
A conveyor system is made up of several different parts, each of which plays an important function. If you make sure that you have the product that is created optimally for your application, it will give you with the longest life of the entire system, reduce the amount of maintenance that is required, and provide savings across the board. If you would like to know more about how wear strips can save energy and boost efficiency please click the button to get in touch.
