Selection and maintenance of conveyor belts for transportation

of coal in mines

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Authors Pundari, Nagubandi, 1933-

Publisher The University of Arizona.

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SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF CONVEYOR BELTS
FOR TRANSPORTATION OF COAL IN MINES

by
N agubandi P u n d arl

A T h e s is S u b m itted to th e F a c u lty o f th e
DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
In P a r t i a l F u lf i llm e n t o f th e R equirem ents
For th e D egree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

In th e G rad u ate C o lleg e

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
1962
 STATEMENT BY THE AUTHOR

T h is t h e s i s has been su b m itte d i n p a r t i a l f u l ­

f i l l m e n t o f re q u ire m e n ts f o r an advanced d e g re e a t th e
U n iv e r s ity o f A rizo n a and i s d e p o s ite d in th e U n iv e r s ity
L ib ra ry to be made a v a i l a b l e to b o rro w ers u nder r u l e s o f
th e L ib r a r y .
B r ie f q u o ta tio n s from t h i s t h e s i s a r e a llo w a b le
w ith o u t s p e c i a l p e rm is s io n p ro v id e d t h a t a c c u r a te acknow­
ledgm ent o f so u rc e i s made. R e q u ests f o r p e rm is s io n f o r
ex ten d ed q u o ta tio n from o r r e p r o d u c tio n o f t h i s m a n u sc rip t
in whole or i n p a r t may be g ra n te d by th e head o f th e
m ajor d e p a rtm en t o r th e Dean o f th e G rad u ate C o lle g e when
in t h e i r judgm ent th e p ro p o sed u se o f th e m a t e r i a l i s in
th e i n t e r e s t s o f s c h o la r s h ip . In a l l o th e r in s t a n c e s ,
how ever, p e rm is s io n must be o b ta in e d from th e a u t h o r .

SIGNED:

APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR

T h is t h e s i s has been ap proved on th e d a te shown below :

H. Ev. KRUMLAUF // f Dat e

P ro f e s s o r o f M ining E n g in e e rin g
 SELECTION AND1MAINTENANCE OF CONVEYOR BELTS
FOR TRANSPORTATION OF COAL IN MINES

r ' By •. ‘ r o . - ; :',c
' N. P u n d a rl - f

v.: ;■ c ' :/ • 1 • .. : :" \o:', c. " J' ; .

ABSTRACT

The f a c t o r s t h a t a f f e c t th e s e l e c t i o n o f p ro p e r
b e l t i n g f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of c o a l i n m ines a r e d is c u s s e d
in d e t a i l . The c o r r e c t d e s ig n in g o f b e l t s to g e th e r w ith
c a r e f u l i n s t a l l a t i o n and m ain ten an ce o f conveyors a r e
s tre s s e d . •' ' ■" - ■:; • .■ .: ,

Model te c h n iq u e s of s e l e c t i n g p ro p e r b e l t i n g under
th e s p e c i f i e d c o n d itio n s and o f e s tim a tin g c o s ts o f owning
and o p e r a tin g b e l t h a u la g e equipm ent a r e d ev elo p ed and
i l l u s t r a t e d th ro u g h th e u se o f sample p ro b le m s. A lso ,
t y p i c a l c o s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c c u rv e s f o r c o n v e n tio n a l b e l t
h au lag e system s a r e c o n s tr u c te d ; and m ethods f o r re d u c in g
conveyor h au lag e c o s ts a r e en u m erated . C o n c lu sio n s r e ­
g a rd in g c h o ic e o f i n s t a l l i n g b e l t con v ey o rs and t h e i r
econom ical f e a t u r e s a r e draw n. S u g g e stio n s f o r f u t u r e
stu d y o f d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f conveyor h au lag e system s a r e
lis te d .

i i
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The a u th o r ta k e s t h i s o p p o r tu n ity to e x p re s s h is
deep se n se o f g r a t i t u d e to th e fo llo w in g members o f th e
f a c u l t y o f ; th e U n iv e r s ity o f A riz o n a , T ucson, A riz o n a , f o r
s ti m u la tin g r s u g g e s tio n s and c o n s tr u c tiv e c r i t i c i s m s d u rin g
th e c o u rse of-, t h i s • stu d y and i n th e p r e p a r a t io n of t h i s
m a n u s c rip t:

H. E.i K rum lauf , P r o f e s s o r o f M in in g •E n g in e e rin g ;

and E. R. D rev d ah l and J . C. D o tso n , A s s o c ia te P r o f e s s o r s
of Mining E n g in e e rin g .
r;.7
The a u th o r i s g r a t e f u l to h is b r o t h e r , Mr. N.
R anganayakulu, D o rn a k a l, I n d i a , . f o r , f i n a n c i a l a s s is ta n c e
to u n d e rta k e t h i s G rad u ate Study a t th e U n iv e r s ity of
,J
A riz o n a .

. U.
.

i'ii
 T A BLE OF CONTENTS

C hapter ! ; •- “ Page

I INTRODUCTION - - 1
II REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE '" v . . b_
E v o lu tio n o f conveyor b e l t h au lag e system
i n c o a l m ines 4
A dvantages o f b e l t h au lag e system 10
F u tu re t r e n d s i n b e l t h au lag e sy stem s * 13

III SELECTION OF BELT WIDTH AND SPEED ... . . . l8

IV DETERMINATION OF BELT HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS 24
Power to d r iv e th e empty b e l t . . . . 24
k «•

Power to move m a t e r i a l h o r i z o n t a l l y
alo n g th e conveyor . . . . 28
Power to e le v a te o r low er m a t e r i a l or power
t o be g e n e ra te d i n lo w erin g i t 31
Power to d r iv e th e t r i p p e r . . . . 32
A c c e le r a tio n horsepow er . . . . 35
Summary o f b e l t horsepow er c a l c u l a t i o n s 36
P e r m is s ib le a n g le s o f i n c l i n a t i o n f o r
h a u lin g c o a l on b e l t s . . . . « 39

V SELECTION OF PROPER BELT . . . . 4l

D e te rm in a tio n o f b e l t s t r e s s e s . . . . 42
D e te rm in a tio n o f maximum number o f p l i e s
o f b e l t s f o r p ro p e r tro u g h in g and
s tiffn e s s . . . . 5l

iv
C h a p te r Page

•- _j

D e te rm in a tio n o f s iz e of d r iv in g drums
and p u lle y s ; , . 53
S e le c ti o n o f p ro p e r b e l t c o n s tr u c tio n
" : m a te ria l • - . . . 5^
S e le c tio n o f p ro p e r co v er q u a l i t y and
th ic k n e s s . 59
r -: . . .
B e lt s e l e c t i o n problem s . . . 62

VI DISCUSSION ON BELT HAULAGE ECONOMICS AND -

COST ESTIMATION . . . . 69
E s tim a tio n o f b e l t h au lag e c o s ts . . . . 72
Problem on c o s t e s tim a tio n o f b e l t •
h au lag e system . . . . 77
C ost c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f b e l t h au lag e
system ' . •. 81
How to re d u c e conveyor h au lag e c o s ts 82

VI I INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CONVEYOR

BELTS FOR EFFICIENT OPERATION . . . 89
I n s t a l l a t i o n p ro c e d u re . . . 89
P r o te c ti o n o f b e l t s . . . . 92
B e lt m ain ten an ce g u id e s . . . . 93

V III CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS'FOR FUTURE STUDY 100

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SELECTED REFERENCES 105

v
 LIST OF TABLES
T able Page
I Recommended b e l t sp eed s and a llo w a b le
lu m p -s iz e s o f ru n -o f-m in e c o a l . . . . 23
II V alu es o f co m p o site f r i c t i o n f a c t o r , C
and c o n s ta n t, L0 . . . . 27
III V alu es o f horsepow er to d r iv e empty
conveyor . . . . 28
IV V alu es o f h o r i z o n t a l horsepow er to convey
coal . . . . 30
V V a lu e s o f horsepow er t o e le v a te m a t e r i a l 32
VI V alu es o f c o n s ta n t , AI . . . . 3^
VI I A verage t r i p p e r l i f t s . . . . 34
V III Maximum p e r m is s ib le a n g le s o f conveyor
in c lin a tio n . . . . 40
DC V alu es o f c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n o f b e l t s 45
X V alu es o f , F* f a c t o r . . . . 46
XI Maximum p e r m is s ib le te n s io n r a t i n g s f o r
d iffe re n t b e lts . . . . 49
XI I Minimum p l i e s to su p p o rt lo a d and maximum
p l i e s f o r p ro p e r tro u g h in g . . . . 52
X III Recommended conveyor to p cover th ic k n e s s 62

LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u re Page
1 Ropenframe conveyor s t r u c t u r e . . . . 6
2 C a b le - b e lt conveyor d riv e h e a d arran g em en t 9
3 C r o s s - s e c tio n of a lo a d e d b e l t . . . . 22
4 B e lt te n s io n s i n a ru n n in g b e l t . . . . 43
5 &6 T y p ic a l c o s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c c u rv e s o f con­
v e n t io n a l b e l t h au lag e s y s te m (rig id -fra m e 83 &
ty p e ). . . . . 84
v i
 - . •» '
.................
■ ..
CHAPTER I
- , ,, INTRODUCTION

..In any b e l t h a u la g e system th e conveyor b e l t i s sub­

j e c te d to th e g r e a t e s t s t r a i n , i s th e most e a s i l y damaged, i s
th e .m o s t e x p e n s iv e , and has th e s h o r t e s t l i f e o f any p a r t of
th e w hole sy stem . The b e l t i s th e o n ly p a r t o f th e conveyor
w hich a c t u a l l y h a n d le s th e m a t e r i a l , and i s p r a c t i c a l l y th e
o n ly ite m w hich has t o be renew ed. The l i f e o f th e b e l t , and
hence th e h a u la g e c o s t , depends on th e b e l t b ein g c o r r e c t l y
s p e c if ie d f o r th e jo b and th e c a re and m ain ten an ce t h a t i t
re c e iv e s . B e ltin g o f im proper d e s ig n to sav e f i r s t c o s t w i l l
have s h o r te r l i f e and g iv e s r i s e to h ig h e r h a u la g e c o s t s . It
sh o u ld be n o te d i n t h i s c o n n e c tio n t h a t a v e ra g e conveyor
b e l t r e p r e s e n t s a p p ro x im a te ly h0% o f th e e n t i r e b e l t h au lag e
in s ta lla tio n .

The p u rp o se o f t h i s s tu d y i s t o d is c u s s a l l th e
f a c t o r s t h a t a f f e c t th e s e l e c t i o n o f c o r r e c t b e l t i n g f o r a
g iv e n d u ty and i t s good m a in te n a n c e . P ro p e rly d e sig n e d and
w e ll m a in ta in e d b e l t s g iv e good p erfo rm an ce a t low u n i t
. • • - ••• ■ ■ ’ ‘ — *■' •"! V ’ * ’l

c o s ts . The m ajor f a c t o r s e n te r in g i n t o p ro p e r s e l e c t i o n of
conveyor b e l t s such a s b e l t w id th , sp e e d , c a p a c ity , c a r c a s s
q u a l i t y , te n s io n and horsepow er r e q u ir e m e n ts , cover q u a l i t y
and t h ic k n e s s , econom ics and o th e r im p o rta n t f a c t o r s a r e

1
 2
d is c u s s e d I n d e t a i l , i n t h i s t h e s i s . No a tte m p t has been .
made t o compare th e u n i t c o s ts o f c o a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n by
b e l t co n v ey o rs w ith t h a t o f . any o th e r sy stem . I t i s con­
s id e r e d i n t h i s s tu d y t h a t under c e r t a i n c irc u m s ta n c e s b e l t
co n veyo rs a r e e f f i c i e n t means o f u n derground h au lag e when
p r o p e r ly d e s ig n e d and m a in ta in e d . . I t i s w ith t h i s assu m p tio n
t h a t a l l o th e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e m ade.and im p o rta n t con­
c lu s io n s a r e draw n.

O ther d e s ig n c o n s id e r a tio n s o f b e l t h au lag e sy stem ,

such a s ty p e o f d r i v e s , ta k eu p d e v ic e s , lo a d in g a rra n g e m e n ts,
ty p e of i d l e r s and t h e i r s p a c in g , and o th e r a u x i l i a r y eq u ip ­
ment r e q u ir e d have n o t been I n v e s ti g a te d i n t h i s s tu d y . A ll
of th e s e ite m s a r e w e ll s ta n d a r d iz e d f o r any s p e c i f i c d u ty ,
and - i t i s o n ly i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f c o s t l y b e l t s w h ere•m is­
ta k e s a r e o f te n made. These m is ta k e s r e s u l t i n i n e f f i c i e n t
b e l t o p e r a tio n and in c re a s e d h a u la g e c o s t s . Hence th e im -
p o rta n c e of p ro p e r b e l t s e l e c t i o n to g e th e r w ith p ro p e r i n ­
s t a l l a t i o n and good m a in ten an ce a r e . s t r e s s e d i n t h i s s tu d y .
........ - r ' - - - - * ' - — 'v 1 ,■ r ■ , , .» v -■ . l v ,

More em phasis i s g iv e n to s im p le , q u ick ' and c o r r e c t

m ethods o f e s tim a tin g th e m ain s p e c i f i c a t i o n s o f b e l t con­
v e y o rs f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f ru n -o f-m in e c o a l i n m in e s. As
f a r a s p o s s i b le th e u s e o f c o m p lic a te d c h a r t s and t a b l e s
have been a v o id e d . Most o f t h e fo rm u la e u sed f o r d e te rm in in g
v a r io u s b e l t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s a r e n o t in te n d e d a s a b a s is of
d e s ig n in g new i n s t a l l a t i o n s w ith o u t r e f e r e n c e to th e
 3
m a n u fa c tu r e r , s su g g e ste d m ethod. The m a n u fa c tu re r may p re ­
f e r to work o u t th e re q u ire m e n ts of th e system by a n o th e r
m ethod. The m ethods u sed i n t h i s s tu d y f o r d e te rm in in g
c o r r e c t b e l t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s a r e v e ry h e l p f u l i n o rd e r t o
d e c id e i f conveying i s p o s s i b le or s u i t a b l e or eco n o m ical
under c e r t a i n s p e c i f i e d c o n d itio n s . These m ethods a r e a l s o
h e lp f u l to e n a b le ch an g es to be made ec o n o m ic a lly i n th e
e x i s t i n g conveyor h a u la g e system w ith o u t c a u sin g undue b e l t
fa ilu re s . The method o f c a l c u l a t i o n s a r e k e p t a s fu n d a m e n ta l
a s p o s s i b l e , and a l l s im p lif y in g a ssu m p tio n s and a p p ro x i­
m a tio n s have b een c l e a r l y s t a t e d , so t h a t th e s e c a l c u l a t i o n s
can be m o d ifie d to s u i t c o n d itio n s and ty p e s o f equipm ent
n o t s p e c if ie d i n t h i s s tu d y .

I t i s hoped t h a t t h i s t h e s i s w i l l d e m o s tra te th e
e a se w ith w hich r e l i a b l e m ethods o f e s tim a tin g b e l t s p e c i­
f i c a t i o n s a r e made a v a i l a b l e t o th e r e a d e r . P ra c tic a l
exam ples o f d e te rm in in g c o r r e c t b e l t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s and c o s t
e s tim a tio n o f a com plete b e l t h au lag e system a r e g iv e n to
a s s i s t i n a b e t t e r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e p ro p e r d e s ig n o f
b e l t c o n v e y o rs.
 CHAPTER I I

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

EVOLUTION fig Tgg CONVEYOR BELT HAULAGE SYSTEM IN COAL

The t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l by b e l t co n v ey o rs was
f i r s t e x p lo re d i n th e m id d le o f th e n in e te e n th c e n tu r y . By
1905 b e l t co n v ey o rs w ere b ein g used underg ro u n d i n England
b u t w ere n o t i n u se i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s u n t i l ab o u t 1930.
They w ere o r i g i n a l l y u se d in th e U n ite d S t a t e s i n p a n e l
rooms to convey c o a l fro m th e f a c e to th e e n tr y and th e n to
c o l l e c t c o a l i n e n t r i e s from c h a in to sh a k er c o n v e y o rs .

D u rin g .t h i s p e r io d o f e v o lu tio n many changes have

o c c u rre d i n th e g e n e r a l la y o u t o f th e c o n v e y o rs. The f i r s t
conveyor h a u la g e c o n s is te d o f l e a t h e r and can v as b e l t s
s l i d i n g on wooden tr o u g h s . L a te r wooden r o l l e r s r e p la c e d
th e tro u g h and t h e y - i n t u r n w ere r e p la c e d by c a s t ir o n
ro lle rs . T h is l a t e r devlopm ent g r e a t l y en couraged th e u se
o f conveyor h a u la g e o f c o a l and o th e r m in e r a ls . F or many
y e a rs b e l t co n v ey o rs have p ro v ed to be an e f f i c i e n t , eco­
n o m ic al and s a f e method f o r und erg ro u n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f
c o a l. S i g n i f i c a n t d ev elo p m en ts in th e d e s ig n and c o n s tru c ­
t i o n o f conveyor h a u la g e sy stem s have been and a r e b e in g made
to d e a l w ith v a r io u s f a c t o r s t h a t a f f e c t o u tp u t.
 5.
S in c e th e b e g in n in g o f conveyor h a u la g e t r a n s p o r t a ­
t i o n i n m in e s, v a r io u s ty p e s o f b e l t s have been m a n u fa c tu re d ,
o f w hich th e fo llo w in g a r e w o rth n o tin g :
1. C o tto n and s y n th e tic f i b e r c a r c a s s b e l t s .
2. U n ip la n e c o tto n c o rd b e l t s f o r h ig h te n s io n i n s t a l l a ­
t i o n s where o u te r p ly s t r e s s e s may c o n t r ib u t e to th e
u l t i m a t e d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f th e c a r c a s s .
1 ; _ ; ... ■i '

3. U n u su al b e l t w eav es, such a s one w ith a th re a d e d h ig h

m odulus c o tto n f a b r i c ru n n in g le n g th - w is e in th e
c a r c a s s and w ith n y lo n f i l l th r e a d s to d e c re a s e th e
c rim p in g i n th e le n g th -w is e member. ^
4-. S t e e l c a b le b e l t s u t i l i z i n g h ig h te n s io n a i r p l a n e ty p e
c a b le s a s , t h e te n s io n c a r r y in g members.
5. F i r e - r e s i s t a n t , b e l t s u s in g n e o p re n e , te r y le n e and p o ly
v i n y l c h l o r id e ( p .V i c .) p o ly e s t e r s y n th e tic f i b e r
m a te ria ls . . '' ' ,. .-y ' .. .... v ■
6. G la ss c a r c a s s b e l t s f o r o p e r a tin g w ith m a te r ia l s a t
th e te m p e r a tu r e s around 500 d e g re e s F a h r e n h e it. .

Many a tte m p ts have a l s o been made i n th e d e s ig n o f th e

s u p p o rtin g s t r u c t u r e o f th e b e l t h au lag e sy stem . S in ce 195$
th e ro p e -fra m e conveyor s t r u c t u r e s have become alm o st
s ta n d a rd f o r some b e l t h a u la g e i n s t a l l a t i o n s i n u n d er­
ground m in e s. (See f i g . l ) . Lower c a p i t a l c o s t p lu s th e
sa v in g s i n b o th tim e and money t h a t can be r e a l i z e d from
f a s t e r i n s t a l l a t i o n , e x te n s io n , and r e l o c a t i o n make ro p e
s u p p o rte d b e l t h au lag e an a t t r a c t i v e o f f e r in g and have le d
ROPE-:
'6
 7
to i t s r a p id a c c e p ta n c e by th e m ining in d u s t r y . However,
th e u se o f ro p e -fra m e b e l t h a u la g e f o r p erm an en t, m ain- "
h a u la g e i n s t a l l a t i o n s i s uncommon and th e r ig id - f r a m e ,
c o n v e n tio n a l b e l t h a u la g e i s s t i l l p ro v in g e f f i c i e n t and
econom ical in t h i s f i e l d . - .. : v, :

The o th e r im provem ent i n th e d e s ig n o f b e l t h au lag e

system i s th e developm ent o f th e c a b l e - b e l t co n v e y o r. 3 / 2 /

In t h i s d e s ig n (s e e f i g . 2 ) , two e n d l e s s . s t e e l - w i r e ro p e
lo o p s , one on each s id e o f th e co n v ey o r, a r e a tta c h e d to th e
ru n n in g b e l t by p r e s s e d s t e e l c l i p s . These ro p e s ta k e th e
t e n s i l e s t r e s s in t h e b e l t and in c r e a s e th e l i f e of th e b e l t .
The ro p e lo o p s a r e c a r r i e d on to p and r e t u r n ro p e p u lle y s .
These ro p e s a r e d ise n g a g e d from th e b e l t a t th e te r m in a ls o f
th e conveyor by a p a i r o f skewed or sp la y e d p u lle y s c a r r i e d
in a f a b r i c a t e d s t e e l fra m e . The r o p e s , w hich u n t i l th e n
have been c a r r y in g th e b e l t , p a ss around th e v e r t i c a l p u lle y s
w h ile th e b e l t p a s s e s around th e drum betw een th e p u l l e y s .
The ro p e s th e n p a s s around th e skewed p u lle y s whose to p s a r e
sp la y e d s u f f i c i e n t l y to e n a b le th e ro p e s to p a s s fo rw ard to
th e d r iv in g w h e e ls. They th e n r e t u r n to p ic k up th e b e l t a s
i t le a v e s th e u n d e r s id e of th e b e l t drum. I t is not

1 / T. D. E l l i o t , "Developm ent o f th e c a b l e - b e l t
conveyor" I r o n and C oal T rad es Review. V ol 176. No. 4689.
A p r il h , 19% p p . 3 0 9 :1 3 7 -* —
2 / "T hree y e a rs of h o is tin g w ith th e P rin c e s s C ab le-
B e lt" , C oal Age , V ol 6 3 , S e p t. 1958, p p . 1 0 6 -0 8 .
 8

p r a c t i c a b l e to ex ten d th e c a b l e - b e l t conveyor in s h o r t
le n g th s a s f a s t a s o th e r ty p e s . T h is i s due to th e n e c e s s i t y
o f s p l i c i n g a d d i to n a l r o p e . R egarding econom ics o f such a
ty p e of b e l t h au lag e system no d e t a i l e d stu d y has been made.
However, i t i s claim ed t h a t under s im ila r w orking c o n d itio n s
a sm a ll amount o f sa v in g i n horsepow er i s n o te d in th e c a b le -
b e l t conveyors when com pared t o c o n v e n tio n a l ty p e b e l t con­
v ey o rs. The s ta n d a rd c a b l e - b e l t c o n v e y o rs, i n b e l t w id th s
from 2 4 -in c h t o 4 8 - in c h , u sin g d r iv in g ro p e s from one in c h
to o n e - a n d - h a lf in c h e s d ia m e te r w ith conveyor le n g th s up to
4000 f t . , have been i n s t a l l e d i n a number o f c o l l i e r i e s in
England d u rin g r e c e n t y e a r s .
 JG3BT2
coavsio?-
? 13'
 10
ADVANTAGES OF BELT HAULAGE SYSTEM ' ;

In p la n n in g a h a u la g e sy stem , I t sh o u ld be d e te rm in e d
f i r s t w hether s u f f i c i e n t to n n ag e i s a v a i l a b l e f o r a number
o f y e a rs to j u s t i f y th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f b e l t c o n v e y o rs.
The a r e a sh o u ld be mapped and d eterm in ed by cro p l i n e s ,
p ro p erty " l i n e s , g ra d e s e t c . and th e n a d e c is io n w hether to
i n s t a l l com p lete b e l t conveyor h au lag e or to u se a com-
b in a tio n o f t r a c k h a u la g e , s h u t t l e , c a r s and b e l t s i s made.

The i n t r o d u c t i o n o f b e l t h au lag e system s i n u n d er­

ground c o a l m ining has made p o s s i b le b e t t e r m ethods o f
m ining to s u i t l o c a l c o n d i tio n s , and in c re a s e d f a c e
m e c h a n iz a tio n . The s u c c e s s o r f a i l u r e o f a modern c o a l
mine d e p e n d s, to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t , on th e e f f i c i e n c y . o f c o a l
tr a n s p o r ta tio n . The f a s t e r th e c o a l i s produced a t th e f a c e
by modern m ining m ethods, th e f a s t e r i t sh o u ld be removed
from th e f a c e and tr a n s p o r te d to th e s u r f a c e a t minimum
c o s t. Today b e l t co n v ey o rs a r e th e most ad v an tag eo u s and
econom ical means o f moving c o a l i n u n d erg ro u n d m in e s, and
th e y form th e hub o f th e u n d erg ro u n d h au lag e system s t h a t
h an d le a la r g e p e rc e n ta g e o f U .S . m ining o u tp u t. The b e l t
conveyor h au lag e system p o s s e s s e s many a d v a n ta g e s and
d e s i r a b l e f e a t u r e s o v er t h a t o f o th e r ty p e s o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
sy stem . The more im p o rta n t a d v a n ta g e s a r e l i s t e d below :
1. C a p a c ity : Because o f i t s c o n tin u o u s o p e r a tio n , no
o th e r method o f h au lag e h as such a w ide ra n g e o f c a p a c i t i e s
 11
a s th e b e l t conveyor sy stem . W ith b e l t c o n v e y o rs, th e amount
o f m a t e r i a l c a r r i e d depends on th e b e l t w id th , speed and
w eig h t o f th e m a t e r i a l conveyed. Owing to h ig h a b r a s iv e
r e s i s t a n c e o f ru b b e r used i n th e co v er c o n s tr u c tio n o f b e l t s ,
ru n -o f-m in e ( h e r e a f t e r c a l l e d r . o . m . ) c o a l o f a l l s i z e s can
be h an d led w ith o u t c a u s in g s e r io u s damage o r w ear to th e
b e lt. : ■ ' ' .
2. A d a p ta tio n to ground p r o f i l e : B e lt co n v ey o rs can f o llo w
l e v e l or p itc h e d t e r r a i n w ith e q u a l e a se up t o 30$ g r a d e s .
Compare t h i s to th e n o rm al economic l i m i t a t i o n s o f 20$ g ra d e s
f o r tr u c k s and 3$ g ra d e s f o r r a i l r o a d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . In
some m ines where, th e seams a r e s te e p ly d ip p in g , t h i s f a c t o r
a lo n e can make b u lk t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ec o n o m ic a lly f e a s i b l e
only w ith -c o n v e y o rs . ; .
3. Sim ple e r e c t i o n and minimum sp a c e : U nderground b e l t con­
v e y o rs a llo w th e u se o f sim p le r ig h ts - o f - w a y , narrow e n t r i e s
and lo w .h ead room . No t r a c k s have to be l a i d or t r o l l e y
w ire s s tr u n g . L i t t l e g ra d in g i s n e c e s s a r y and o f te n sim p le
r o o f s u p p o rt can be u s e d . The b e l t co n v ey o rs h o ld a u n iq u e
p o s i t i o n i n th e re c o v e ry o f th in -s e a m c o a l w here d r iv in g o f
l a r g e e n t r i e s to accom odate o th e r means o f h au lag e would
make th e o p e r a tio n u n eco n o m ical. ’ : \ ’
H-. F le x ib ility : The w e ig h t o f s u p p o rtin g s t r u c t u r e s and
th e conveyor equipm ent i t s e l f i s sm a ll when compared w ith
th e volume o f c o a l c a r r i e d . Hence i t i s e a s i l y ex ten d ed o r
r e t r a c t e d , d is m a n tle d , moved and re a s s e m b le d . However, ‘
 12
g e n e r a lly b e l t co n v ey o rs a r e s e m i-fix e d and do n o t p ro v id e ,
maximum f l e x i b i l i t y needed i n some m ining o p e r a tio n s u n -
l e s s th e y a r e u sed i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith some o th e r, ty p e s of
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n sy stem , such a s s h u t t l e c a r s , lo a d e r s and
movable b e l t h e a d s. : :
5. S a f e , sm ooth, s i l e n t , and sim p le o p e r a tio n : No method
o f h au lag e i s i n h e r e n t l y a s s a f e a s b e l t h a u l a g e T h e :
a c c id e n t r a t e w ith b e l t c o n v e y o rv .h a u la g e .is , e x tre m e ly low .
Freedom from v i b r a t i o n s and q u ie t o p e r a tio n o f b e l t h au lag e
re d u c e s p e r s o n a l f a t i g u e and i r r i t a b i l i t y . D ust problem s
alo n g th e p a th o f th e conveyor a r e g r e a t l y re d u c e d , an d ,
w here lump d e g r a d a tio n i s im p o r ta n t, th e smooth t r a n s f e r an d
t r a n s p o r t o f b e l t h a u la g e lo w e rs lump b re a k a g e . P ro p e rly
d esig n e d , conveyor sy stem s have push b u tto n c o n t r o ls and can
b e s e l f c o n t r o l l i n g to a la r g e e x te n t by e l e c t r i c a l i n t e r ­
lo c k in g a rra n g e m e n ts .
6. E a rly w arning o f im pending d a n g e r: P ro b ab ly no o th e r
h au lag e g iv e s su ch an e a r ly w arning o f p o s s i b le f a i l u r e .
U n lik e th e a e r i a l tram w ays o f w hich i t •i s s a id n e v e r have a
m inor a c c id e n t, or th e r a i l r o a d where a w ashout o f i b a l l a s t
or a d e ra ilm e n t may s t r i k e w ith o u t-w arning', th e b e l t con­
v e y o r, i f m a in ta in e d p r o p e r ly , r a r e l y : s u f f e r s a sudden b re a k ­
down. The b e l t . i t s e l f s ig n a ls i t s need f o r re p la c e m e n t i n
ample tim e to have a sta n d b y b e l t re a d y f o r i n s t a l l a t i o n .
7. Minimum m ain ten an ce and power r e q u ir e m e n ts : Two to
th r e e men p e r m ile p e r s h i f t a r e n o rm a lly s u f f i c i e n t f o r
 13
d a i l y r o u t i n e m a in te n an ce and o p e r a tio n . The r e t u r n ru n o f
th e b e l t on a s lo p e b a la n c e s th e to p e ru n an d , b ecau se o f low
t a r e w eig h t o f th e moving p a r t s , con v ey o rs can p ro v id e 1
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n w ith th e lo w e s t p o s s i b le consum ption o f pow er.
B e lt h a u la g e n e e d s o n ly o n e - h a I f th e power r e q u ir e d by o th e r
m ethods. ..... ,
8. E conom ics: I f th e problem i s to g e t h ig h p ro d u c tio n a t
low er c o s t s , th e conveyor b e l t h au lag e may be th e an sw e r.
The low u n i t c o s t p e r to n o f m a t e r i a l tr a n s p o r te d by b e l t
h a u la g e o f te n makes i t th e m ost eco n o m ical means o f moving
c o a l. Long term s a v in g s i n la b o r c o s t and m ain ten an ce a r e
p o s s ib le w ith th e b e l t h a u la g e sy stem . The o th e r im m ediate
s a v in g s from b e l t h a u la g e a r e r e d u c tio n i n g ra d in g a n d . -
b ru s h in g , th e e l im in a tio n o f s t r i n g i n g t r o l l e y w ir e s , la y in g
o f t r a c k and o f c u t t i n g i n t r i c a t e h au lag e w ays. '
: ■

•The s u b je c t o f b e l t h a u la g e econom ics i s d is c u s s e d

in d e t a i l e lse w h e re i n t h i s t h e s i s u n d er a s e p a r a te h e a d in g .

The m ain d is a d v a n ta g e o f b e l t co n v ey o rs i s h i g h "

i n i t i a l c a p i t a l e x p e n d itu re w hich means l a r g e r to n n a g e s must
be a v a i l a b l e f o r a lo n g e r p e r io d to i n s t a l l b e l t co n v ey o rs .
and to m inim ize h a u la g e c o s t s . A lso u n fo re s e e n random b re a k ­
down d u rin g o p e r a tio n may a f f e c t th e w hole o u tp u t.

FUTURE TRENDS IN BELT HAULAGE SYSTEM............

The p o p u la r it y o f b e l t con v ey o rs f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
o f c o a l i n m ines has in c r e a s e d d u rin g t h e : p a s t d ec ad e , and a
number o f s i g n i f i c a n t d ev elo p m en ts a r e ta k in g p la c e in th e
u n dergro u n d b e l t h a u l a g e .; The b e l t co n v ey o rs a r e grow ing :-
s t e a d i l y i n s i z e , th e horsepow er o f th e m otor i s in c r e a s in g ,
lo a d in g m ethods, b e l t sp e ed s and b e l t c o n s tr u c tio n m a t e r i a l
a r e im proving and w i l l h an d le l a r g e r o u tp u ts a t minimum c o s t .
The fo llo w in g a r e th e g e n e r a l tr e n d s tow ard d e s ig n in g ; f u t u r e
h a u la g e sy ste m s; : .v . ; , : : : : •
1. S h i f t from r i g i d to ro p e su p p o rte d b e l t equipm ent; The
c o n c e p t o f m ounting c a r r y in g I d l e r s on two s t a t i o n a r y and
p a r a l l e l w ir e - ro p e s i n s t e a d o f on a r i g i d fram ew ork i s .
f in d in g grow ing u se i n th e c o a l m in in g .in d u s tr y due to low er
c a p i t a l c o s t and s a v in g s i n i n s t a l l a t i o n c o s t . Conveyor b e l t
m a n u fa c tu re rs have e s tim a te d t h a t d u rin g 1961 ro u g h ly of
new conveyor equipm ent so ld f o r p a n e l and b u t t e n tr y h au lag e
was of th e r o p e : suspended t y p e . -However, the- s h i f t from
r i g i d to ro p e -fra m e i d l e r s t r u c t u r e s f o r se co n d ary and main­
l i n e b e l t h a u la g e i s v e ry slo w . . .
2. T rends tow ard w id er b e l t s and h ig h e r sp e e d s; The h ig h e r
w id th -sp e e d co m b in a tio n i s becoming i n c r e a s in g l y in d is p e n s ­
a b le i n o rd er, t o p ro v id e , th e surge, c a p a c ity needed .f o r h ig h ­
speed dum ping, l a r g e c a p a c ity s h u t t l e c a r s , and o th e r t r a n s ­
f e r r i n g eq u ip m en t. In some o f th e German o p e n - p it c o a l m ines
s t e e l c a b le r e i n f o r c e d b e l t s up t o 87- in c h w ide c a r r y 1 5 ,0 0 0
t o n s ;o f o v e r-b u rd e n m a t e r i a l p e r hour a t . sp eed s ra n g in g
 15
from 900 to 1100 f t . p e r m in u te and u t i l i z i n g up to H000
h o r s e p o w e r .^
3. Growing i n t e r e s t i n 35 d eg . and 4$ d eg . c a r r y in g i d l e r s :
T hese I d l e r s a r e b ein g u sed i n th e above ground eq u ip m en t.
In th e u n derground w o rk in g s o f th e mine w here th e o p e r a tin g
c o n d itio n s a r e n o t a s good a s on s u r f a c e , 45 d e g . i d l e r s
p ro v id e g r e a t e r c a p a c ity w ith o u t in c r e a s in g b e l t w id th or
sp e e d . They may a l s o h e lp to re d u c e th e c o s t o f s p i l l a g e
c le a n - u p , an expense w hich a p p ro ac h es $3 0 ,0 0 0 p e r y e a r f o r
some m in e s. The o th e r im provem ents i n th e i d l e r d e s ig n a r e
v a r io u s ty p e s o f f l e x i b l e c a te n a r y i d l e r s f e a t u r i n g moulded
ru b b e r s p i r a l s in s t e a d o f a s e r i e s o f ru b b e r d i s c s . These
i d l e r s a r e b ein g u sed i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith ro p e -fra m e b e l t
h au lag e s t r u c t u r e s .
4. D evelopm ent o f a r t i c u l a t e d and c a sca d e conv ey o rs:* ^T h e
developm ent o f th e c o n tin u o u s m iner and a ls o accom panying
em phasis on th e im provem ent o f conveying mediums has r e ­
s u lt e d in th e d e s ig n o f a r t i c u l a t e d and c a sca d e co n v e y o rs.
One v e r s io n o f an a r t i c u l a t e d conveyor d ev elo p ed f o r th e
b o rin g ty p e o f c o n tin u o u s m in er c o n s i s t s o f a s e r i e s o f

3 / E. R. T r a x l e r , "Conveyor b e l t horsepow er and

o p e r a tin g d is t a n c e s c o n tin u e to in c r e a s e i n f u t u r e " ,
E n g in e e rin g and M ining J o u r n a l . V ol 162, No. 8 , A ugust 1961,
p p . 86 f .
4 / Deep m ining G uidebook " P r a c t i c a l tr e n d s i n t r a n s ­
p o r t a t i o n " , C oal Age, V o l. 6 3 , No. 7A, M id -Ju ly 1958, p . 77*
 16
in te r c o n n e c te d b e l t co n v ey o rs on w h e e ls-e a c h w ith i t s own ,
d r iv in g a n d - p r o p e llin g m o to rs. _" - ■ . : •

The c a sca d e system i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r . Here

th e conveyor need n o t be in te r c o n n e c te d , th o u g h h itc h e s a r e
p ro v id e d to p e rm it th e s e r i e s to be p u lle d b eh in d th e b o rin g
u n i t i n th e rem o te m ining a r e a s . To a v o id i n s e r t i n g and r e ­
moving conveyors one a t a tim e , th e l a t e s t id e a in rem o te
m ining a r e a s i s to s t o r e th e con v ey o rs in a s t r u c t u r e w ith
c i r c u l a r ram p s. As th e m achine goes in to th e m ining a r e a
i t p u l l s th e conveyor o f f , p u sh in g them back o n to th e ramps
on th e way o u t.
5. B rid g e co n v ey o rs and p o r ta b le b e l t h ead s: The d ev elo p ­
ment o f th e b rid g e conveyor u n i t was th e f i r s t s te p i n
b r in g in g th e conveyor in to th e p i c t u r e as means o f s e rv in g
lo a d in g m achines and c o n tin u o u s m in e rs . The n e x t s te p was
t o d e s ig n room conveyor so t h a t i t co u ld be e a s i l y ex ten d ed
to keep up w ith th e f a c e u n i t . The b r id g e conveyor i s th e
c o n n e c tin g l i n k betw een th e f a c e conveyor and c o n tin u o u s
m in e r. At th e t a i l s e c t i o n o f th e f a c e conveyor i t r i d e s on
t r a c k s ; a t th e d is c h a r g e conveyor o f th e lo a d in g u n i t or
c o n tin u o u s m iner i t i s s u p p o rte d by a b a l l and so c k e t f a s t e n ­
in g . $ o th p o in ts o f c o n ta c t a llo w a 90 d eg . movement to
e ith e r s id e . I n any c a s e , th e b rid g e I s alw ays p o s itio n e d
to a c c e p t c o a l and d is c h a r g e i t o n to th e f a c e c o n v e y o rs.

A new developm ent w ith r o p e .s u p p o r te d conveyors i s

 17
th e p o r ta b le b e l t h ead . The d r iv e s e c tio n in c lu d in g m o to r,
c o n t r o l l e r and power tr a n s m is s io n f a c i l i t i e s i s made p o r t­
a b le by m ounting a s a co m p lete u n i t on a r a i l tr u c k . The
p o r ta b le head on i t s tr u c k i s trammed to a s p o t i n th e f i r s t
c r o s s - c u t in b y e o f th e m ain l i n e . In t h i s p o s i t i o n i t i s
60 to 100 f t . from th e b e l t d is c h a r g e . The tr u c k i s an ch o red
i n p la c e w h ile rem a in in g : on th e r a i l s .
6. Use o f co n v ey o rs f o r t r a n s f e r o f men: Under p ro p e r s a f e ­
g u a rd s , movement o f men on b e l t s i s p ro v in g b o th s a f e and
e f f i c i e n t S p e c i a l lo w "speed (up to 200 f . p . m . ) and low
c o s t b e l t s a r e now b e in g employed i n t r a n s f e r r i n g men on
l e v e l roadw ays and up s l o p e s . T h is system sh o u ld be so de­
sig n e d t h a t th e b e l t c a n n o t be r e s t a r t e d w ith o u t a check f o r
p o s s ib le h a z a r d s . T here sh o u ld be em ergency s to p co rd or
s to p system a l l alo n g th e b e l t so t h a t any man can s to p i t
a t any tim e : am ple c le a r a n c e and smooth unencum bered f o o tin g
sh o u ld be p ro v id e d a t a l l lo a d in g and u n lo a d in g p o i n t s .
F i n a l l y , i n a d d i t i o n t o a l l th e above p r e c a u tio n s , no move­
ment o f men by b e l t s sh o u ld be p e r m itte d u n le s s a r e s p o n s ib le
p e rs o n i s p r e s e n t .

i/ I b i d . . PP. 72-9) P assim .

 CHAPTER I I I

SELECTION OF BELT WIDTH AND SPEED

When th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a b e l t h au lag e system i s

d e c id e d upon, th e f i r s t s te p i n i t s p ro p e r d e s ig n i s th e
s e l e c t i o n o f b e l t w id th and speed com mensurate w ith f u t u r e
o u tp u t to be h a n d le d , inasm uch a s b e l t w id th and speed
go v ern th e h a u lin g c a p a c ity o f th e b e l t . From th e s ta n d
p o in t o f econom ics, th e i d e a l b e l t conveyor sh o u ld o p e r a te
f u l l y lo a d e d a t maximum p e r m is s ib le speed w ith i t s w id th as
narrow a s p o s s i b le to h a u l th e g iv e n o u tp u t. The o p e r a tio n
o f a b e l t below i t s c a p a c ity r e s u l t s i n low er h au lag e
e f f i c i e n c y and g r e a t e r wear f o r a g iv e n to n n ag e co n v ey ed .

For any p a r t i c u l a r problem c o n c e rn in g th e u n d er­

ground h a u lin g o f c o a l by b e l t c o n v e y o rs, i t i s p o s s ib le to
recommend more th a n one co m b in atio n of b e l t w id th and sp e e d .
However, th e w id th and speed o f th e b e l t s e le c te d must be
s u f f i c i e n t to move th e c o a l a s f a s t a s s h u t t l e c a r s or o th e r
t r a n s f e r con v ey o rs t h a t may be u sed i n c o n ju n c tio n w ith th e
b e l t can d is c h a r g e t h e i r lo a d s upon i t ; o th e rw is e d e la y s
w ill o cc u r. To p re v e n t th e s e d e la y s , s a f e ty d e v ic e s may be
used on th e b e l t s . These a r e ( i ) t r a n s f e r con v ey o rs ( e n tr y
b e l t s ) c a p a b le o f ta k in g maximum s h u t t l e c a r d is c h a r g e a re
i n s t a l l e d to fe e d to th e m ain b e l t a t th e p ro p e r r a t e s , or
18
 19
( I I ) tw o -sp eed m o to rs a r e I n s t a l l e d w ith an a u to m a tic tim in g
c o n t r o l t o sp eed up th e b e l t w h ile th e s h u t t l e c a r s a r e d i s ­
c h a rg in g ; t h i s tim in g c o n t r o l i s th e n c u t back a u to m a tic a lly .

Alm ost a l l b e l t conveyor c a l c u l a t i o n s s t a r t w ith a

c o n s id e r a tio n of th e c a p a c ity o f th e b e l t . The f a c t o r s w hich
a f f e c t th e b e l t c a p a c ity a r e b e l t w id th and sp e e d , th e shape
o f th e lo a d e d c r o s s s e c t i o n , b u lk w e ig h t o f th e m a te r ia l to
be conveyed, and tro u g h in g a n g le o f i d l e r s on w hich th e b e l t
ru n s. T here a r e two m ethods o f d e te rm in in g b e l t c a p a c ity : .
1. The a v e ra g e b e l t c a p a c ity i n to n s /h o u r I s computed by
d iv id in g t o t a l to n s moved p e r s h i f t by th e h o u rs p e r : .
: s h ift: "
2. "Peak c a p a c ity " i s u s u a lly e x p re sse d i n to n s /m in u te .

The p eak c a p a c ity i s th e maximum amount o f m a t e r i a l

t h a t w i l l be lo a d e d on t o th e b e l t a t a l l o f th e lo a d in g
p o in ts i n any one m in u te . The a v e ra g e or a c t u a l o u tp u t p e r
hour w i l l alw ays be l e s s th a n th e "peak c a p a c ity " . But th e
b e l t w id th and speed m ust be s e le c te d on th e b a s is o f th e
peak c a p a c ity w hich i s th e o u tp u t f o r i d e a l co m b in atio n s o f
lo a d in g . I f th e b e l t i s to be s e le c te d oh th e b a s is o f th e
a v e ra g e c a p a c ity , i t i s n e c e s s a r y to c o n t r o l th e d r iv e o f th e
e n tr y b e l t s a s e x p la in e d a b o v e .- T his p r e v e n ts th e e n tr y
b e l t s from d is c h a r g in g o n to th e m ain b e l t i f th e m ain b e l t
i s a lr e a d y f u l l y lo a d e d . 1

1. B e lt -W id th : - The fo rm u la f o r d e te rm in in g th e b e l t w id th ,
 20
a s g iv e n by N a tio n a l E l e c t r i c a l M a n u fa ctu rers A s s o c ia tio n
( N. E. M. A. ) , i s a s f o llo w s :

1 0 , 000 ?
B e lt w id th ( i n in c h e s ) s 13
S x U / 5
i/h e r e : P z peak lo a d i n to n s p e r m in u te
S = speed o f th e b e l t in f t/m i n u te
U z w eig h t o f th e b ro k en m a t e r i a l
in I b s /c u b i c f t .
2. B e lt S p eed: The maximum recommended b e l t sp eed s f o r
v a r io u s b e l t s iz e s a r e g iv e n i n t a b l e ( x ) . For c o a l m ining
co n v e y o rs, sp eed i s u s u a lly l i m ite d to ab o u t 2^0 f t / m i n . i n
g a te ro a d s and ^75 f t / m i n . on tr u n k ro a d s i n B r i t i s h c o a l
m ines &
3. L u m p -size: For th e maximum a llo w a b le lu m p -s iz e r u n - o f -
mine c o a l i t i s u s u a lly p r a c t i c a l to t o l e r a t e an o c c a s io n a l
lump o n e - h a lf th e b e l t w id th i n i t s w id e s t d im e n sio n s. The
t a b l e ( i ) shows th e recommended maximum a llo w a b le lu m p -s iz e s
f o r d i f f e r e n t b e l t w id th s . The maximum lu m p -s iz e w hich can
be hand led by a conveyor can a l s o be d e te rm in e d by th e
fo rm u la :2 /
(W - 6)
A llo w ab le lu m p -s iz e ( i n in c h e s ) s ----- ------ . .
2 ________\2)
Where W z b e l t w id th in in c h e s .
4. B e lt C a p a c ity : (i) The N.E.M.A. fo rm u la f o r d e te rm in in g

6 / N a tio n a l C oal B o ard , " R e la tin g a roadway b e l t con­

vey o r t o i t s d u ty " , In fo rm a tio n B u l l e t i n No. 5 8 /1 9 7 . N a tio n a l
C oal B oard, H obart House, G rosvenor P la c e , London, S .W .l.
2 / N. Brook, " E s tim a tio n o f conveyor s p e c i f i c a t i o n s " ,
C o l lie r y E n g in e e rin g T V ol 3 6 , No. 4 2 9 , November 1959,
p p . 4 b 6 -9 2 •
 21
b e l t c a p a c ity f o r 20 d eg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s i s a s f o llo w s :

T = 0.0032U x(W -5)2 __________ (3)

W here: T ^ “ c a p a c ity i n to n s (o f 2000 l b - t o n ) /
hour a t 100 f t / m i n . b e l t s p e e d .
U * w eig h t i n l b s . p e r c . f t . o f th e
......... m a t e r i a l t o be co n v ey ed .
W = b e l t w id th in in c h e s .
NOTE: ,The above c a p a c ity fo rm u la c o n s id e r s maximum
o r peak c a p a c ity . The recommended c a p a c i t i e s u n d er w hich
th e b e l t s a r e to be o p e ra te d m ust be ab o u t 10$ low er th a n
th e to n n a g e d e riv e d by t h i s fo rm u la .

F or 35 d eg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s and d eg . u n e q u a l-
r o l l tro u g h in g i d l e r s , th e c a p a c ity d eterm in ed by th e above
fo rm u la m ust be in c r e a s e d by a b o u t 1$$ and 22$ r e s p e c t i v e l y .

(ii) The r e v is e d Goodyear f o r m u l a ^ f o r b e l t capa­

c i t y f o r 20 d e g . s ta n d a rd e q u a l - r o l l tro u g h in g i d l e r s i s a s
f o llo w s :

T = 5.,75(W - 3 .3 ) 1 *^6x S x U (4)

200,000

Symbols a s g iv e n above.

8 / Handbook qf b e l t i n g . A kron, Ohio, The Goodyear

T ir e and Rubber C o . , IncV , 1953» P • 51•'
 22
-: -

t .

BELT

PIG. 3 CROSS-SECTION OF LOADED BELT

(T il) A foTm ula f o r d e te r m in in g 7ap p ro x im ate b e l t

c a p a c ity a s a d v o c a te d by some m ining e n g in e e rs can be d e-
VP iV6Cl QS follows: ' ----- — ' ... ■
L et V a b e l t w id th i n in c h e s
a a th e edge d is ta n c e o f b e l t n o t u nder lo a d
. > (s e e F i g . 3) ♦. , t:
U s w t. o f th e m a te r ia l i n I b s / c . f t .
S s b e l t speed i n f t . / m i n .
The shape o f th e r ib b o n o f m a te r ia l on th e b elt" i s a s shown
in F i g . 3* T h is a r e a of r ib b o n i s a p p ro x im a te ly e q u iv a le n t
to a r e c t a n g l e whose s id e s a r e (W-2a) by W/9 (s e e F ig . 3 )•
 23
T h e r e f o re , th e c a p a c ity o f th e b e l t i s g iv e n by;

T = (W -2 a )x (W /9 )x (S /lW x (U /2 0 0 0 )x 6 0

F or m in in g •co n v ey o rs th e edge d is t a n c e *a* i s ab o u t

3 in c h e s (o r more a c c u r a te ly "a" = 0.055W - 0 .9 in c h ) .
S u b s t i t u t i n g th e v a lu e o f 3 in c h e s f o r "a " i n th e above
e q u a tio n and ro u n d in g o f f th e c o n s ta n t g iv e th e c a p a c ity
fo rm u la ;
m- (^-6)xWxSxU ; :. ^ (5)

TABLE I
MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED SPEEDS AND ALLOWABLE
LUMP-SIZE OF R.O.M.
COAL FOR DIFFERENT SIZES OF PLY-TYPE BELTS

m m — - r- r t e .i j e m b m p j b — m — i i r h i i i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .i" iii I I ■ ■ T ' i ir~ ~ - - i — rr n m i Hill I ■

B e lt W idth Maximum b e l t speed ( f . p . m . ) la m p -s iz e s ( i n in c h e s )
in in c h e s Goodyear U .S . Rubber A verage I f u n ifo rm I f m ix-
: , V.: - - ..
:.V . ... . 1 ■' : - ' ; , ’ ' • . ed w ith
________ ________________ ______________________________________ f i n e s
2b 500 400 450 5 8
30 600 450 525 ' 6 10
' 36 600 500 550 y 12
b2 650 . . 5oo , 575 8 ,
48 . 550 600 10 16
659
54 650 600 625 11 20
650 600 625 12 24
 : • CHAPTER IV
' DETERMINATION OF BELT HORSEPOWER REQUIREMENTS

The, b e l t w id th an d -sp e ed f o r a g iv e n c a p a c ity i s

f i r s t d e c id e d a s d is c u s s e d i n th e l a s t c h a p te r ; and th e n
th e t o t a l horsepow er r e q u ir e d to h a u l th e m a t e r i a l i s c a l­
c u l a te d . T his b e l t d r iv in g power i s u s u a lly d iv id e d in to
th e f o llo w in g com ponents:
1. Power t o d r iv e t h e empty b e l t , he

2. Power to convey th e m a t e r i a l h o r i z o n t a l l y alo n g th e

b e l t , h^

3. Power to e l e v a t e t h e m a t e r i a l on s lo p e s or th e power
to be g e n e ra te d i n lo w erin g th e m a t e r i a l , hr

!+. A d d itio n a l power to d r iv e th e t r i p p e r , i f a t r i p p e r

i s u sed and i s to be d r iv e n by th e b e l t m o to r. L et
t h i s t r i p p e r horsepow er be e q u a l t o , h^

5. Power to a c c e l e r a t e th e lo a d e d b e l t a t s t a r t , ha

The c a l c u l a t i o n s f o r a l l th e above b e l t horsepow er

com ponents a r e g iv e n i n d e t a i l below .

POWER TO DRIVE THE E m m

The power r e q u ir e d to d r iv e th e empty b e l t depends

2b
 25
on th e f r i c t i o n a l lo a d s due to ( i ) th e w e ig h t o f th e moving
p a r t s su ch a s i d l e r s , p u l l e y s , d rag o f th e s k i r t b o a rd s ,
d rag cau sed by any m in u te m isalig n m en t o f p u lle y s o r i d l e r s ,
(11) th e w eig h t o f th e m a t e r i a l on b e l t , and ( i l l ) th e
i n t e r n a l f r i c t i o n o f th e r ib b o n o f th e m a t e r i a l a s i t s h i f t s
and r e s h a p e s i t s e l f i n p a s s in g over th e i d l e r s . *

The c a l c u l a t i o n o f a l l th e s e f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e s de­
pends on an assu m p tio n o f a “ co m p o site f r i c t i o n f a c t o r " .
The a c c u ra c y o f t h i s assu m p tio n d e te rm in e s /v th e a c c u ra c y o f
- ' . . •' ‘ - • - . . . . . . . ... . ... -

th e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d . . Most com ponents o f f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e s

v a ry d i r e c t l y w ith th e le n g th , o f th e co n v ey o r. However,
t h e r e a r e a few com ponents w hich a r e in d e p e n d e n t o f b e l t
le n g th an d , t h e r e f o r e , may be added a s com ponents.

The horsepow er to d r iv e th e empty b e l t , he

• t o t a l f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e ( lb s ) x b e l t
_ ___________ speed ( f . p . m . )
r 3 3 ,0 0 0

= CxQx (L^Lq ) x S : ‘______(6)

■ 3 3 ,0 0 0

W here: C ■ co m p o site f r i c t i o n f a c t o r a s "ex p lain ed

a b o v e . U su a lly th e v a lu e o f C mayr.be
ta k e n 0 .0 3 . However, f o r more a c c u r a te
v a lu e s o f C, see p . 27.
. L - c e n t e r - t o - c e n t e r d is ta n c e of b e l t
* te r m i n a l p u lle y s , in f t .
 26

L0= A c o n s ta n t w hich r e p r e s e n t s f r i c t i o n a l
l o s s e s t h a t a r e alw ays to be in c lu d e d
i n th e co m p o site f r i c t i o n a l f o r c e s .
These f r i c t i o n a l l o s s e s a r e in d e p e n d e n t
o f b e l t le n g th and a r e commonly known
a s " te r m in a l f r i c t i o n a l l o s s e s " .
U s u a lly LoSl5 0 f t . may be t a k e n . F or
more a c c u r a te v a lu e s se e t a b l e I I ,
p . 27-
Q = w e ig h t o f th e moving p a r t s o f th e con­
v ey o r system in I b s / l i n e a r f t . o f th e
b e lt, (s e e b e lo w ).

D e te rm in a tio n o f v a lu e Q:

The v a lu e o f Q i s v e ry d i f f i c u l t t o o b ta in w ith
a c c u ra c y . The a p p ro x im a te v a lu e of Q may be ta k e n a s
n u m e ric a lly e q u a l t o t h e w id th o f th e b e l t in in c h e s .
Hence f o r a 1+8- in c h b e l t th e v a lu e o f Q = 48 l b s . p e r
l i n e a r f t . b e l t le n g t h .

A more a c c u r a te v a lu e o f Q can be d e te rm in e d by th e
fo llo w in g fo rm u la :2 /

Q = 2B / W ] /li / W2/ I 2

W here: B = b e l t w e ig h t i n I b s / l i n e a r f t .
• - W]= w t. o f th e r e v o lv in g p a r t s of th e
c a r r y in g i d l e r s i n l b s .
W£- w t. o f th e r e v o lv in g p a r t s o f th e
r e tu r n id le r s in lb s .

2 / I b id ., page 69.
 27
l l = a v e ra g e sp a cin g o f th e lo a d c a rr y in g
i d l e r s , in f t .
I p s a v e ra g e sp a c in g o f th e r e t u r n i d l e r s ,
in f t .

TABLE I I
VALUES OF COMPOSITE FRICTION FACTOR, C, AND CONSTANT, LQ

C la ss o f equipm ent V alue o f C V alue o f L_

(In f t . ) °
F or con v ey o rs w ith a n t i ­
f r ic tio n id le r in s ta lla ­
t i o n s on te m p o ra ry , p o r - 0 .0 3 0 150
a b le or im p e r f e c tly
a lig n e d s t r u c t u r e s .
For co n v ey o rs w ith h ig h
g ra d e a n t i - f r i c t i o n i d l e r s 0 .0 2 2 200
on perm anent or w e ll
a lig n e d s t r u c t u r e s .
For co n v ey o rs a s i n (2)
b u t w ith g ra d e s r e q u ir in g 0 .0 1 2 ^75
r e s t r a i n t o f th e b e l t when
lo a d e d .

W ith th e above fo rm u la ( 6 ) , th e horsepow er r e q u ir e d

to d r iv e th e empty b e l t , he , can be c a l c u l a t e d . The t a b l e
I I I g iv e s th e v a lu e s o f hQ f o r d i f f e r e n t b e l t s i z e s a t 100
f .p .m . b e l t sp e e d . The horsepow er a t o th e r b e l t sp e ed s may
be c a lc u l a te d by m u ltip ly in g th e v a lu e s i n t a b l e I I I by a
f a c t o r o b ta in e d by d iv id in g th e new b e l t speed by 100.
 28

TABLE I I I
APPROXIMATE VALUES OF HORSEPOWER TO DRIVE THE EMPTY BELT AT
" a SPEED OF 100 FEET PER MINUTE
JjCV ,

B e lt w id th • H o r iz o n ta l c e n t e r - t o - c e n t e r d is ta n c e of b e l t
( i n in c h e s ) te r m in a l p u lle y s ( i n f e e t ) _

' ' w- ’.Jl ' ' 100 200 300 4oo 500 7 0 0 900 ; 1000 2000
j,
24 0 .5 ' 0 .7 0 .9 l . o 1 .2 1 .6 2 .0 2 .2 4 .1
1- ■/
30 0 .7 1 .0 1 .3 1 .6 1 .8 2 .4 3 .0 3 .2 5-3
>-, j• •■
--\
’ 36 ‘ 0 .9 1 .2 1 .6 1 .9 2 .2 2 .9 3 .6 4 .0 6 .4
42 1 .1 1 .5 " 1 . 9 . .... 2 .4 2 .8 3 .6 4 .9 5 .2 8 .1
48 1 .2 1 .7 2 .3 2 .8 3 .3 ^ .3 5 .4 5-7 1 1 .7
54 1 .6 - 2 . 3 / 2 . 9" 3 .6 - 4 .2 5 .5 6 .7 7-4 1 2 .8
, ■;. ;. .- .
60 1 .9 2 .7 3 -5 4 .3 5-0 6 .6 8 .1 8 .9 1 6 .6
............ __ _ --

NOTE: T his t a b l e i s b ased o n .th e fo rm u la f o r c a l ­

c u l a ti n g empty b e l t horsepow er where 0=0 .0 3 and Lor l 50 f t .

POWER TO MOVE THE MATERIAL HORIZONTALLY ALONG THE CONVEYOR *

A fte r d e te rm in in g th e empty b e l t d r iv e h o rsep o w er, th e

n e x t s te p i s to d e te r m in e - th e horsepow er to move th e lo a d o f
m a te ria l h o riz o n ta lly . As th e horsepow er to d r iv e th e empty

b e l t , he , i s g iv e n by he = CxQx(L/Lp)xS (form u^ a 6) th e
3 3,000
v a lu e o f th e h o r i z o n t a l h o rsep o w er, hm, can a l s o be c a lc u l a te d
by th e same fo rm u la w here th e sym bols C, L, L0 and S have th e
same meaning a s b e f o r e , b u t th e v a lu e o f Q changes due to a
lo a d of th e m a t e r i a l p u t on th e b e l t .' The v a lu e of Q I s =
c a lc u l a te d i n th e fo llo w in g way: -
L et T * o u tp u t in to n s /h o u r and S = b e l t speed i n

T h e n 'th e w eig h t o f th e m a t e r i a l on th e b e l t i s .......

e q u a l to -T to n s /h o u r or. 2000T p o u n d s /h o u r.... As ..the. b e l t _____
speed i n f e e t p e r m in u te i s S, th e speed in f e e t p e r hour i s
e q u a l t o 60S f t . T h e re fo re , t h e w eig h t o f m a t e r i a l on th e -.,
b e l t , Q ( i n l b s ) , f o r each f t . o f b e l t le n g th = (2 000T )/60S .
Hence th e h o r i z o n t a l h o rsep o w er, hm, i s g iv e n 'b y " ’ 0, ]
h Cx Qx (L^Lq) x S - 1 o
m : .. 3 3 ,0 0 0 : :. r -C. v :.,;

' ■° J Cx ^ § § |2 (L /L 0 ) x S ;

' - 33 ,0 0 0 j .
:* ■ ’ Cx(L/Ln )xS .v. : .
.(7)
.■v.'j 990 , •5,:., ' ,

NOTE: H ere th e v a lu e o f C - 0 .0 4 i s recommended as

compared to 0 .0 3 f o r empty b e l t s s in c e th e .p r e s e n c e o f th e
lo a d w i l l modify: th e tro u g h in g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e b e l t .

The t a b l e IV g iv e s th e v a lu e s o f h^ to h a u l r .o .m .
c o a l a t d i f f e r e n t b e l t le n g th s and c a p a c i t i e s .
 30

TABLE:H :: ; .Lx,::"-; }... l

HORSEPOWER VALUES TO CONVEY THE R.O.M. COAL ON A HORIZONTAL
BELT AT ANY SPEEDV

T o n s/, _______________ T o ta l_ b e lt_ le n g th _ lin _ f e e tl_ _ _ _ -------- -

hour 100 200 800 1000 2000 2500

§ :
4o6 600
1-> -x I.--:- *: •

100 . 0 .8 : 1 .1 1 .7 : 2 .0 2 .3 : 2 .9 3 .5 - 6 .4 . 8 .1
200 1 .5 - 2 .1 3 -3 3 .9 4 .5 u :• :5 .8 7 .0 . 1 2 .7 1 6 .1
400 3 .0 4 .2 ; 6 .7 7 .9 9 . 1 . 1 1 .5 1 3 .9 2 6 .0 3 2 .2
500 3 .8 5-3 8^3 9 .8 1 1 .4 1 4 .4 1 7 .4 3 6 .6 4 0 .3
600 > 5 6 :4 1 0 .0 1 1 .8 1 3 .6 1 7 .3 2 1 .0 3 9 .1 4 8 .3
800 ■6 .1 8 .5 • 1 3 .3 1 5 .8 1 8 .2 2 3 .0 2 8 .0 5 2 .2 6 4 .2
1000 7 .6 1 0 .6 1 6 .7 1 9 .7 2 3 .O 2 9 .0 3 5 .0 6 2 .2 8 l.O
1500 1 1 .4 . 1 5 . 9 2 5 .0 2 9 .0 3 4 .0 4 3 .0 5 2 .0 9 7 .6 1 1 2 .1
1800 1 3 .6 1 9 .1 3 0 .0 3 5 .0 4 i . o 5 2 .0 6 3 .0 11 7 .5 1 4 5 .0
2000 1 5 .2 2 1 .0 3 3 .0 3 9 .0 4 5 .0 5 8 .0 7 0 .0 131 .0 1 6 1 .0

NOTE: • T h is t a b l e I s b ased on fo rm u la (7) w here

C = 0 .0 3 and L0 = 150 f t . :
V1

' ;■ uvl
POWER TO ELEVATE OR LOWER MATERIAL OR POWER TO BE GENERATED
IN LOWERING JX :v.

By th e d e f i n i t i o n o f h o rsep o w er, i t i s th e r a t e of
doing work (m easured i n f t - l b s p e r m in u te d r p e r second) i n
r a i s i n g or lo w e rin g a . l o a d . L et; th e m a t e r i a l t o be conveyed
i s e q u a l t o T to n s p e r hour o r 2000T/60S l b s p e r m in u te .
Then th e r a t e -of doing th e work n e c e s s a r y to r a i s e or low er
2000T/60S l b s p e r m in u te th ro u g h a d is ta n c e .H f t . i s _________
_ 20001 ■■■ - : ^ - ■' :
-- ........... . h f t - l b s ^3e2^ m inute ° —-*-■.^—........... — —*

= 2000T x u Y 1 horsepow er
*;■6 " & S ; 33 f OOO

^"''' " '= hp " ' --V ' V

T h e r e f o r e , th e power to r a i s e or low er th e m a t e r i a l ,
hj,, i s g iv e n by • r: .-.J..,' •
• h y -r (TxH )/990 • (8 )
■)
NOTE: The • horsepower v a lu e , h r . ,* 4~\i s a ls o ;■\ c\a lle d
•> • ’
g r a v ity h o rsep o w er. In th e above fo rm u la th e v a lu e o f H i s
c o n s id e re d a s th e d i f f e r e n c e i n e l e v a t io n betw een th e lo a d ­
in g s t a t i o n and th e d is c h a r g e p o i n t . When th e b e l t p r o f i l e
i s u n d u la tin g , d iv id e th e p r o f i l e i n t o segm ents d eterm in ed
by m ajor b re a k s in th e g ra d e . Then f i n d th e l i f t f o r each
a d v e rs e g rad e segm ent. From th e sum o f th e s e in c liv id u a l
l i f t s , c a l c u l a t e t h e t o t a l l i f t , H, to d e te rm in e th e v a lu e
 32

o f bp by th e above f o rm u la . The t a b l e V g iv e s th e v a lu e s of
hp f o r d i f f e r e n t o u tp u ts and a t d i f f e r e n t s lo p e s .

:. •: TABLE V
HORSEPOWER VALUES TO ELEVATE MATERIAL OR POWER GENERATED IN
LOWERING THE MATERIAL

T ons/ L i f t o r drop1 (In f e e t )

hour
10 25 50 100 150 200 250 300 400 500

100 1 .0 2 .5 5 .1 1 0 .1 1 5 .2 2 0 .0 2 5 .2 3 0 .4 4 0 .5 5 0.5
200 2 .0 5 .1 1 0 .1 2 0 .0 3 0 .0 4 0 .0 5 0 .0 6 0 .6 8 1 .0 1 0 1 .0
300 3 -0 7 .6 1 5 .2 3 0 .0 4 5 .0 6 1 .0 7 5 .5 9 1 .0 1 2 3 .0 1 5 3 .0
1+00 ^ .0 1 0 .1 2 0 .0 b-0.0 '61.0 8 1 .0 1 0 1 .0 123.:0 :1 6 2 .0 2 0 2 .0
500 5 .1 1 2 .6 2 5 .0 5 1 .0 7 6 .0 1 0 1 .0 1 2 6 .0 1 5 4 .0 2 0 2 .0 2 5 2 .0
700 7 .1 1 7 .7 3 5 .0 7 1 .0 1 0 6 .0 1 4 1 .0 1 7 7 .0 21 2 .8 2 8 3 .0 3 5 3 .0
' 800 8 .1 2 0 .0 4 0 .0 8 1 .0 1 2 1 .0 1 6 2 .0 2 0 2 .0 2 4 3 .0 3 2 4 .0 4 0 4 .0
900 9 .1 2 3 .0 ^ 5 .0 9 1 .0 1 3 6 .0 1 8 2 .0 2 2 7 .0 27 3 .0 3 6 4 .0 4 5 5 .0
1000 1 0 .1 2 5 .0 5 1 .0 1 0 1 .0 1 5 2 .0 2 0 2 .0 2 5 2 .0 3 0 4 .0 4 0 5 .0 5 0 5 .0
2000 2 0 .0 5 1 .0 9 9 .0 2 0 2 .0 3 0 2 .0 - 505.0 6 0 5 .0 8 1 0 .0 1 0 10.0

NOTE: The above t a b l e I s b ased on fo rm u la ( 8 ) .

POWER TO DRIVE THE TRIPPER
..t:
---- A t r i p p e r I s a m e c h a n ic a l d e v ic e f o r u n lo a d in g , a b e l t
conveyor a t p o in ts o th e r th a n o v er th e head p u lle y . It lifts
 33

a p o r tio n o f th e b e l t o f f th e r e g u l a r . conveyor c a rry in g ,

i d l e r s and bends i t around th e t r i p p e r p u l l e y .1' 1 The m a t e r i a l
i s d is c h a rg e d o v er th e t r i p p e r p u lle y (a s th o u g h i t w ere th e
head p u lle y ) and in t o a c h u te w hich i s a p a r t of th e t r i p p e r .
D epending upon th e d e s ig n o f th e t r i p p e r c h u te , th e m a t e r i a l
; - "
may be d is c h a rg e d to one s id e of th e b e l t co n v ey o r, or
s e l e c t i v e l y to e i t h e r s i d e , o r . t o b o th s id e s s im u lta n e o u s ly .
Many m odels o f t r i p p e r s a r e a v a i l a b l e , b u t a l l can be c l a s s i ­
f i e d i n t o th e f o llo w in g f i v e g e n e r a l ty p e s :
... ( i ) : m otor p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r s " ^
(ii) hand p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r s
.( iii) s ta tio n a ry tr ip p e r s
( iv ) ro p e-h au l tr ip p e r s
(v) b e l t p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r s
Of a l l th e s e ty p e s th e l a s t o ne, ( v ) , b e l t p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r s
a f f e c t th e t o t a l power re q u ire m e n t o f th e conveyor sy stem .
I f ..the b e l t p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r , i s . i n s t a l l e d , .th e power, t o ..
d r iv e th e t r i p p e r i s o b ta in e d from th e b e l t by means o f a
g e a r t r a i n w hich c o n n e c ts th e d r iv e w h eels t o th e t r i p p e r
p u lle y ( th e d i r e c t i o n o f th e t r i p p e r t r a v e l can be r e v e r s e d
by s h i f t i n g g e a r s ) . T h is p o w e r i s d e te rm in e d by th e
fo llo w in g fo rm u la :3=2/ .............. ...... ’ ' ' ............. ...‘
a ': v ■■■.0
B e lt p r o p e lle d t r i p p e r h p . , h t = ----- (9)
-990

1 0 / H. E . P rim e r, A ll ab o u t b e l t i n g - Handbook M.
6314-B -17, 1957, R o c k f o ile r C e n te r, New York 20, N .Y ., U n ite d
S ta te s Rubber Company, P . , 22.
 34

Where; A = a c o n s ta n t w hich v a r i e s w ith b e l t w id th .

(See t a b l e VI f o r v a lu e s o f , AI )
S = b e l t speed i n f .p .m . r'
■• /
.

T = o u tp u t i n to n s p e r hour
H = t r i p p e r l i f t i n f t . w hich v a r i e s w ith
b e l t w id th . (See t a b l e V II f o r v a lu e s
:: ........ . o f *H') . .

: - TABLE VI :
VALDES OF CONSTANT 'A ' ' ; : .; r r.:

B e lt w id th ( in in c h e s ) V alu e o f •A1

24 : . ■: . 0 .0030:
30 0 .0 0 4 7
36 . • • v : 0 .0 0 5 8
42 0 .0070
48 0 .0082

* ; 0 .0 1 0 0

TABLE V II • - ;;
AVERAGE TRIPPER LIFTS (VALUES OF , H*)

B e lt w id th ( i n in c h e s ) . T rip p e r h e ig h t ( i n f t )

24 4 .0
30 4 .5
36 5 .0
5 .5
48. 6.0
’ 5if 7 .0
 35

ACCELERATION. HORSEPOWER. : -c. ' cr-nr.:;:

The a d d i t i o n a l horsepow er r e q u ir e d to a c c e l e r a t e th e
lo a d e d b e l t , ha , i s d e te rm in e d by th e fo llo w in g f o r m u l a : ^ /
■- ‘ - ( L ) x ( S
(Q / M) x (100) (100) 2 ___(10)
6 3 . 8t

W here: Q = w t. o f th e b e l t and moving p a r t s ( i n l b s

■:r: - p e r l i n e a r f t . o f c o n v e y o r). See page
26 f o r f u l l e x p la n a tio n o f t h e v a lu e o f
-v.-- Q. v/..,-::. " '' L :

S z b e l t speed i n f .p .m .
M r a v e ra g e lo a d i n l b s p e r f t o f c o n v e y o r.
: I t i s d eterm in ed from th e fo llo w in g
fo rm u la :

u _ -------- where T i s th e a v e ra g e
r ;; v " s o u tp u t i n to n s / h o u r .
L. = t o t a l le n g th of th e conveying b e l t in f t ,
v i t = tim e in seco n d s to a c c e l e r a t e th e b e l t
from r e s t t o f u l l lo a d . (T h is tim e i s
:: :r . ' 1 u s u a lly li m i t e d to 2 t o 5 s e c o n d s ) .

T his a c c e l e r a t i o n h o rsep o w er, ha , i s r a r e l y added to

th e o th e r b e l t horsepow er re q u ire m e n ts to o b ta in th e t o t a l
b e l t h o rsep o w er. Where th e a c c e l e r a t i o n r a t e i s u n u s u a lly
h ig h or o th e r i n d i c a t i o n s a r e t h a t th e horsepow er r e q u ir e d
f o r a c c e l e r a t i o n may be uncommonly l a r g e , i t must th e n be
d e te rm in e d and in c lu d e d in th e t o t a l b e l t h o rsep o w er. If
th e a c c e l e r a t i o n horsepow er i s l e s s th a n 50%. o f..th e sum o f

11/ J. W. H ardy, B e lt Conveyor C o m p u tatio n s.

H a ls te d S t r e e t , C hicago 9 , I l l i n o i s , Goodman M an u factu rin g
Company, 1961, P ♦» 5 •
 36

he / hy, / h%., i t i s ig n o re d s in c e m o to r s .a r e n o rm ally c a p a b le

o f d e l iv e r in g power 50$ i n e x c e ss o f t h e i r c o n tin u o u s '
ra tin g s .

A lso , a d d i t i o n a l c o n s id e r a tio n must be g iv e n to th e

e l e c t r i c a l equipm ent when a conveyor w i l l be s t a r t e d many
tim e s d u rin g th e s h i f t . An abnorm al number o f sto p p in g and
s t a r t i n g tim e s w i l l te n d to h e a t th e m otor beyond i t s
norm al r a t i n g and m ust be c o n s id e re d when s e l e c t i n g m otors
f o r th e conveyor sy stem .

SUMMARY £ £ BELT HORSEPOWER CALCULATION'S

The t o t a l b e l t h o rsep o w er, h , i s th e sum o f th e in ­

d iv id u a l power ite m s he , hm, hr , h^, and ha ~. • U s u a lly th e
v a lu e s o f h t and ha a r e n o t in c lu d e d i n th e t o t a l b e l t h o rs e -
: : 3 ■ ■; • . : ■...............

power when th e t r i p p e r i s n o t p r e s e n t or n o t o p e ra te d by th e
b e l t m otor and when th e a c c e l e r a t i o n horsepow er d eterm in ed
by fo rm u la (10) i s l e s s th a n 50$ o f th e sum o f he , h ^, and hr .
(A) H orsepower R eq u irem en ts f o r H o riz o n ta l C onveyors:
For h o r i z o n t a l - b e l t conveyor i n s t a l l a t i o n s th e power
i s r e q u ir e d o n ly to overcome th e f r i c t i o n i n ru n n in g th e
empty b e l t and to c a r r y th e m a t e r i a l alo n g i t .
T h e re fo re , t o t a l m otor horsepow er f o r h o r i z o n t a l co n v ey ors

v:; ;; - he ^ * V : (1 1 )
m otor e f f i c i e n c y
 37
(B) Horsepower R eq u irem en ts f o r E le v a tin g C onveyors: -
The t o t a l m otor horsepow er f o r e le v a tin g conveyors

he / bin / hp ( 12)
m otor e f f i c i e n c y
(C) Horsepower R eq u irem en ts f o r D escending (o r D e c lin in g )
C onveyors:
Two c o n d itio n s m ust be c o n s id e re d i n c o n n e c tio n w ith
a lo a d e d d e c lin e d c o n v e y o r:
(l) When th e g r a v ity h o rsep o w er, hp, i s LESS th a n
th e f r i c t i o n horsepow er ( t h a t i s , l e s s th a n sume o f he and
hjjj), some power i s r e q u ir e d - f r o m th e m otor t o , d r i v e th e
lo a d e d conveyor on d e c lin in g g r a d e s . T h is horsepow er i s ^

(h e V !%) - 4 - (hT ) .(13)

i:

(2 ) When th e g r a v ity h o rsep o w er, bp, i s GREATER

th a n th e f r i c t i o n horsepow er (h e / h g ) , th e horsepow er r e ­
q u ire d , i n th e b e l t to r e t a r d th e lo a d e d conveyor a g a in s t
• c- ", /'
g r a v i t y a c tin g on th e lo a d i s 1 3 /

(hr) - 4 - (ko / h j , ) ____________ (I'O

As (h e / h m) a p p ro ac h es th e v a lu e o f hp, th e lo a d e d

1 2 / U. S. R u b b er, A ll ab o u t b e l t i n g f o r Coal M ining

Handbook M, 6 3 1 4 -B - l, 1957j R o c k fe lle r C e n te r , New York 20,
N.Y. U n ite d S t a t e s Rubber Company, p . 65*
13/ Ib id .
 38

conveyor w i l l have a g r e a t e r te n d en cy to c o a s t when th e power

t o th e m otor i s s h u t o f f . When h r . i s g r e a t e r th a n (h e ,,/ hg.)
a b ra k e must be u s e d .

. I t i s o b v io u s t h a t i n o rd e r t o a r r i v e a t th e a c t u a l
m otor horsepow er need ed to d r iv e th e b e l t conveyor in a l l
th e above c a s e s th e tr a n s m is s io n and o th e r l o s s e s betw een
th e m otor and d r iv e p u lle y m ust a l s o be c o n s id e r e d . The
o v e r a l l e f f i c i e n c y o f t h e m otor may be ta k e n a s e q u a l t o 80$.

The s t a r t i n g to r q u e re q u ire m e n t o f a conveyor i s an

im p o rta n t f a c t o r i n s e l e c t i n g th e d r iv e m o to r. The g e n e r a l
p u rp o se s q u i r r e l cage m otor w i l l f u l f i l l th e re q u ire m e n ts o f
most a l t e r n a t i n g c u r r e n t i n s t a l l a t i o n s . However, some con­
v e y o rs r e q u i r e an i n i t i a l s t a r t i n g to rq u e w hich ex ceed s th e
o u tp u t o f t h i s ty p e o f m o to r. Such re q u ire m e n ts n e c e s s i t a t e
th e u se o f h ig h - to r q u e s q u i r r e l cage or w o u n d -ro to r in ­
d u c tio n m o to rs. These a l t e r n a t i n g c u r r e n t m otors o f f e r c e r ­
t a i n a d v a n ta g e s o v er d i r e c t c u r r e n t m o to rs on some a p p l i ­
c a tio n s . However, d i r e c t c u r r e n t m otors a r e f r e q u e n tly used
i n c o a l m ines w here v a r i a b l e speed re q u ire m e n ts a r e
n ec essary . O pen-type m otors a r e n o t p e r m is s ib le f o r u se i n
h azard o u s l o c a t i o n s ; m o to rs t h a t a r e i n s t a l l e d a t l o c a t i o n s
w here e x p lo s iv e q u a n t i t i e s o f c o a l d u s t o r m ethane g as may
be p r e s e n t r e q u i r e s p e c i a l c o n s tr u c tio n such a s flam e­
p ro o f in g and “ i n t r i n s i c a l l y s a fe " f e a t u r e s .
 39
PERMISSIBLE ANGLES OF INCLINATION FOR HAULING COAL ON BELTS

The a n g le o f i n c l i n a t i o n depends on th e f o llo w in g f a c t o r s :

(1) Shape and s i z e o f th e m a te r ia l to be conveyed -
I r r e g u l a r l y shaped m a t e r i a l has l e s s te n d en cy to r o l l back
th a n s m o o th ;s y m m e tr ic a lly shaped m a t e r i a l . However,
s y m m e tric a lly shaped m a t e r i a l can be conveyed up s te e p g ra d e s
w ith o u t f o i l - b a c k i f embedded iri a c o n s id e r a b le amount o f
fin e s .
(2) M o istu re - Wet m a te r ia l s te n d to s l i d e back on
in c lin e d c o n v e y o rs.
(3) Speed and lo a d in g - M oderate b e l t s p e e d s , u n ifo rm ly
c o n t r o ll e d f e e d - lo a d in g , and lo a d in g on a h o r iz o n ta l s t r e t c h
o f th e b e l t ip ro v id e th e g r e a t e s t e f f i c i e n c y on s te e p ly in ­
c lin e d r u n s . .

In g e n e r a l, th e maximum a n g le o f i n c l i n a t i o n a t
w hich th e m a t e r i a l can be conveyed i s a p p ro x im a te ly 10 to
15 d e g re e s l e s s th a n th e a n g le o f re p o s e o f th e m a t e r i a l .
The fo llo w in g t a b l e V I I I l i s t s p e r m is s ib le a n g le s over
w hich c o a l can be conveyed w ith o u t undue s p i l l a g e .
 TABLE V I I I

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE ANGLES OF

CONVEYOR INCLINATION

M a te r ia l to be conveyed Maximum p e r m is s ib le a n g le
( i n d e g re e s )

1. A n th r a c ite Coal
(a) ru n -o f-m in e 16
(b) f i n e s 20
(c) lumps o n ly 16

2. B itu m in o u s C oal
(a ) ru n -o f-m in e 18
(b) f i n e s 20
(c ) lumps o n ly 16 r
 CHAPTER V
SELECTION OF PROPER BELT

The proper s e le c t io n o f b e lt w idth and speed fo r

a g iv e n output and th e c a lc u la tio n o f t o t a l b e lt horsepower
has been shown in th e p rev io u s ch a p te rs. A fter determ ining
th e t o t a l b e lt horsepower req u irem en ts, th e f i r s t step in
s e le c t in g th e c o r r e c t b e lt i s to know th e maximum s t r e s s e s
th a t w i l l be developed in the b e lt w h ile h auling th e
m a te r ia l. A b e lt c a r c a ss of proper c o n str u c tio n i s then
s e le c t e d to w ith stan d th e s e s t r e s s e s . F in a lly a b e lt
coverin g i s s e le c t e d to p r o te c t th e b e lt c a r ca ss a g a in st
e x te r n a l wear, h e a t, m oisture or other in ju r io u s pro­
p e r t ie s o f th e m a te r ia l to be conveyed. The s e le c t io n o f th e
proper b e lt fo r a g iv en duty i s very im portant to m inim ize
tr a n sp o r ta tio n c o s t s . To determ ine th e c o r r e c t s p e c if ic a t io n s
o f th e b e lt in g , i t i s n ece ssa r y to know th e maximum o p eratin g
te n s io n under which th e b e lt w i l l work. In th e o p era tio n
of any b e lt conveyor th ere i s a d iffe r e n c e in b e lt te n sio n
between th e p o in t where i t f i r s t c o n ta c ts th e d riv e p u lle y
and th e p o in t where i t le a v e s th e p u lle y . These te n sio n s
known as " tig h t sid e" t e n s io n , T^, and " sla ck sid e" te n s io n
Tg, are in d ir e c t r e la t io n s h ip to one a n o th er. The
d if f e r e n c e .b e tw e e n th e t i g h t s id e te n s io n and s la c k s id e
te n s io n i s known a s “ e f f e c t i v e " te n s io n , Te . These th r e e
b a s ic b e l t te n s io n s m ust be d eterm in ed b e f o r e ch oosing
c o rre c t b e lt. However, t h e r e a r e o th e r m inor b ielt .te n sio n s
th ro u g h o u t th e b e l t r u n t h a t may a f f e c t s u c c e s s f u l b e l t
o p e r a tio n u n d er s p e c i a l c o n d itio n s . These l a t e r b e l t te n s io n
co m p u tatio n s a r e n o t d e a l t w ith i n t h i s s tu d y and sh o u ld be
r e f e r r e d to th e conveyor b e l t m a n u fa c tu re rs* e n g in e e r s .

DETERMINATION OF BELT STRESSES

T here a r e many m ethods o f c a lc u l a ti n g b e l t s t r e s s e s

or t e n s i o n s . Most o f th e l a r g e r b e l t m a n u fa c tu re rs p u b lis h
a d e s ig n m anual c o v e rin g t h i s s u b j e c t . But many o f th e s e
m ethods r e q u i r e th e u se o f c h a r t s , t a b l e s , nom ographs, e t c .
A ls o , th e s e m anuals in c lu d e l i t t l e , i f an y , in fo rm a tio n con­
c e rn in g th e b e l t t e n s io n re q u ire m e n ts f o r p o ly v i n y l c h lo r id e
cov ered b e l t i n g , s in c e t h i s ty p e o f c o v e rin g has been r e ­
c e n tly in tro d u c e d a s f i r e r e s i s t a n t b e l t i n g . I n t h i s s e c tio n
a sim p le method o f com puting v a r io u s im p o rta n t b e l t te n s io n s
r e q u ir in g a minimum number o f c h a r t s and t a b l e s i s g iv e n .

(1) E f f e c t i v e B e lt T en sio n :

The e f f e c t i v e te n s io n , TQ, i s th e p u l l on th e b e l t
to overcome th e f r i c t i o n a l l o s s e s cau sed by th e movement o f
.........
th e b e l t and i t s lo a d i n p a s s in g over i d l e r s and any l i f t o f
th e lo a d on a g ra d e . The e f f e c t i v e te n s io n , Te , i s th e
d i f f e r e n c e betw een t i g h t s id e t e n s io n and s la c k s id e te n s io n
 43
o f th e b e l t . T hat i s , » -

: ; .To= CT1 - T 2 ) . ---------------------------------- ( 1 5 )

: A lso , T . = — ?. 33.?QQ2.
S --------------------- (1 6 )
W here: h - t o t a l b e lt h o r s e p o w e r - ,
8 « b e l t speed i n f .p .m .
(2) Maximum o p e r a tin g te n s io n :
T ig h t s id e t e n s i o n , T^, i s th e te n s io n in th e b e l t
a s i t f i r s t c o n ta c ts t h e p u l l e y . The maximum b e l t, te n s io n
i s th e h ig h e s t te n s io n i n th e w hole b e l t lo o p and t h i s
te n s io n d e te rm in e s th e r e q u ir e d t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h o f th e b e l t
to w ith s ta n d th e w orking s t r e s s . In h o r iz o n ta l or n e a r ly
h o r i z o n t a l b e l t s t h e maximum o p e r a tin g te n s io n may be ta k e n
a s e q u a l t o T^. I n o rd e r to d e te rm in e th e maximum o p e r a tin g
te n s io n ( h e n c e f o r th d e s ig n a te d w ith symbol T ^ ), th e v a lu e o f
e f f e c t i v e te n s io n Te , must be m u lt ip lie d by a f a c t o r , F
(w hich w i l l be e x p la in e d l a t e r ) . 'T h a t i s ,
.•Maximum o p e r a tin g t e n s io n T^ = Te x F (17)

F ig . 4 B e lt T en sio n s In a Running B e lt
 R e f e r r in g t o F ig . 4 , i s t i g h t s id e te n s io n and Tg
th e s la c k s id e te n s i o n . When th e b e l t i s ab o u t to s l i p on
th e d r iv in g d ru a , th e r a t i o to and Tg w i l l r e a c h i t s
maximum v a lu e and i s g iv e n by th e fo rm u la :

T1
4T _ (1 8 )
T2

Where: © = a n g le o f wrap i n r a d ia n s
/I * c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n betw een b e l t
and d r iv in g p u lle y
e ■ b a s e o f th e N ap erian lo g a rith m

S in ce • Vs (T^ - T2 ) (from fo rm u la 15)

11
H 3

and Te x F ; (from fo rm u la 17)

T h e r e f o r e ,..... •*- ^ ^ .
II

- ■■ * * - »* t
i

Or F = h / ( * i - 52 ) .

r ri / (n - 1) 3&/ .(19)
Where n =
T h i s ,v a lu e o f F and th e im p lie d v a lu e o f Tg i s th e
minimum v a lu e t o p re c lu d e s l i p on th e d r iv in g drum. In
p r a c t i c e s l i p i s p re v e n te d by u sin g in th e d e s ig n a s m a lle r

lV S in c e = 'e 6 (from fo rm u la 1 8 ) t h e r e f o r e ,
T2
T1 = T2 x ^ ° *"
Then T1 = x ^ = "2 r . & = n
(Tr i 2 ) T ig x / « » ) - i 2 t2 % ^ - a (n- 1)
Where n - ^
 45

v a lu e fo r th e c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n between b e lt and drum

than I s a c t u a lly ob tain ed in s e r v ic e .

The'approxim ate v a lu e s of th e c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n
fo r v a r io u s b e l t s i s g iv e n in th e fo llo w in g Table IX:

-- , • - ■ ' .. .. ■- - . • - - - ■ *•

VALUES OF COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION

B e lt Cover P la in drum Lagged drum

Rubber covered b e lt in g 0 .2 5 0 .3 5
Poly v in y l c h lo r id e ( p . v . c . )
covered b e lt in g : 0 .2 0 0 .2 8

.... I n th e e q u a tio n (19) th e v a lu e s o f 0 can v a ry from

180 d eg . to 270 d e g . f o r a s i n g l e d r iv e depending on th e
snub p u lle y a rra n g e m e n ts; and f o r m u lti-d ru m d r iv e s an a n g le
of wrap o f 220 d eg . p e r d r iv in g drum i s th e u s u a l v a lu e .

The t a b l e X g iv e s th e v a lu e s o f F b ased on fo rm u la
(19) and on t a b l e IX f o r c o e f f i c i e n t o f f r i c t i o n v a lu e s .

1
 46

TABLE X •
VALUES OF "F" FACTOR

Angle o f -wrap Rubber co v ered b e l t i n g p . v . c . co v ered b e l t i n g

P la in Lagged P la in Lagged
( i n d e g re e s ) drums drums drums - drums

220 , . , 1 .6 2 1-3 5 1 .8 6 1 .5 2
270 , 1 .4 4 1 .2 3 1 .6 3 1 -3 6
^o 1 .1 7 , 1 .0 7 i #27 ; ; 1 -1 3
• . 660 ; 1 .0 6 1 .0 2 1 .1 1 1 .*

We have a lr e a d y e s ta b li s h e d th e fo rm u la : -~F x Te

w here T_ - 4 x 33>000 ( s e e fo rm u la 1 6 ). I t i s a p p a re n t from

• '• - ' 6 S
t h i s fo rm u la t h a t th e h ig h e r th e b e l t sp e e d , th e s m a lle r w i l l
be th e maximum te n s io n f o r th e same to n n a g e . P ra c tic a lly
t h i s means t h a t f o r a g iv e n tp h (to n s p e r h o u r ) , th e lo a d
bed on th e f a s t moving b e l t i s th in n e r and t h e r e w i l l be
l e s s w eig h t on th e t o t a l l e n g th a t one tim e . Hence th e p u l l
t o move th e b e l t w i l l a ls o be l e s s ; f o r exam ple, a b e l t
t r a n s p o r t i n g 300 to n s p e r hour a t 300 f .p .m . r e q u i r e s a
t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h o n ly o n e - h a lf t h a t o f a b e l t t r a n s p o r tin g
th e same tp h b u t a t l$ d f,.’p.m .

A fte r d e c id in g th e d e s ir e d b e l t w id th and th e max­

imum b e l t t e n s i o n , th e n e c e s s a r y p ly w e ig h t and number o f
 ^7
p i l e s can be d e te rm in e d . The t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h o f th e b e l t
i s c o n s id e re d t o be i n th e b e l t c a r c a s s . .The ru b b e r c o v e rs
and skim c o a tin g in t h e c a r c a s s a r e m erely to b in d th e
f a b r i c p l i e s to g e th e r and t o p r o t e c t th e c a r c a s s from im­
p a c t, a b r a s io n , m o is tu re and d i r t . The. conveyor b e l t i s
commonly made up o f s e v e r a l p l i e s o f c o tto n , ra y o n , n y lo n or
co m b in atio n o f th e s e woven i n t o a f a b r i c and som etim es r e ­
in f o r c e d by c o tto n c o rd s or s t e e l c a b le s a s i n "Campass
cord" b e l t s . The p ly s t r e n g t h i s s p e c if ie d i n pounds p e r ,
in c h -w id th and i s d e s ig n a te d a s th e p e r m is s ib le w orking
s tre s s . ( p .w .s .) . I f p .w .s . i s exceeded i n th e n o rm al b e l t
ru n th e f i b e r w i l l te n d t o s e p a r a te from i t s b in d in g in th e
c a rc a ss. The p e r m is s ib le w orking s t r e s s i s d eterm in ed a s
f o llo w s :

p .w .s .* ____ ___________ ( 20)

— ■ -W ' , ' :.....:
w here T^ i s th e m axim um "operating te n s io n i n pounds, and W
i s th e b e l t w id th i n in c h e s .
. Tx " -
A ls o , — - 77— = fx p i n l b s p e r in c h o f w id th
_____________________ ( 21 )

Where: f = maximum w orking s t r e s s / p l y / i n c h - w i d t h

p * number o f p l i e s i n th e b e l t
The v a lu e o f - t h e maximum w orking s t r e s s i n th e b e l t depends
upon th e fo llo w in g f a c t o r s :
(a ) th e q u a l i t y o f m a t e r i a l u sed i n th e b e l t c a r c a s s .
(b) th e ty p e o f j o i n t u sed f o r end to end b e l t
jo in in g
"Hook J o i n t s " w ith m e t a l l i c f a s t e n e r s have a s t r e n g t h o f
about 50$ o f th e o r i g i n a l b e l t i n g and " S p lic e d J o in t s " can
have a s t r e n g t h up t o 75$ o f th e o r i g i n a l b e l t s t r e n g t h , de­
pending on th e number o f p l i e s i n th e b e l t .
(c ) th e method o f b e l t te n s io n in g a rra n g e m e n t.
( i ) In screw ty p e t e n s io n in g , th e b e l t i s s t r e s s e d by a screw
arrangem en t u n t i l s u f f i c i e n t t e n s i o n i s d ev elo p ed i n th e
b e ltin g . The a c t u a l te n s io n i n th e b e l t c a n n o t be gauged by
th e te n s io n d e v ic e o p e r a t o r , and so th e u s u a l p r a c t i c e i s to
c o n tin u e te n s io n in g t h e b e l t u n t i l s l i p does n o t o ccu r a t
th e d r iv in g drum. I t sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t th e b e l t i s e a s i l y
o v e r - s tr e s s e d by t h i s m ethod.
(ii) The g r a v ity ty p e te n s io n in g i s d e sig n e d to a p p ly o n ly
th e s la c k s id e te n s io n Tg on t h e s la c k s id e o f th e b e l t :
The v a lu e o f T2 i s much low er th a n th e maximum f o r c e i n th e
b e l t and can be a p p lie d d i r e c t l y by w eig h ted r o l l e r s o r in ­
d i r e c t l y by th e lo a d e d w ire r o p e s . T his method o f te n s io n ­
in g can n o t over s t r e s s th e b e l t and so i t a llo w s a h ig h e r
v a lu e o f p e r m is s ib le w orking s t r e s s to be u s e d .
(d ) th e c y c le tim e o f th e b e l t .
As th e c y c le tim e in c r e a s e s th e b e l t te n s io n r a t i n g m ust be
in c r e a s e d . •

The t a b l e XI g iv e s th e v a lu e s o f maximum w orking

s t r e s s r a t i n g s f o r t y p i c a l conveyor b e l t s .
 A
0 0 N O ' : ■

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE TENSION RATINGS PER INCH WIDTH FOR DIFFERENT 'KINDS OF BELT CONVEYORS
Jd w ./
+» (d
'■ e v
(D !=
.z z = % r■ W . 3 E : :V ' S ? K ::s ' ir
^ -' ■ -■ :

Is i
' ^ /-;%

H ere th e v a lu e s a r e g iv e n p e r In c h -w id th o f BELT
.
§ CM IN lf\
g
\\
co
r
m
r c ^ .

455
O vO vO
m CO J* irx IA Ov irx ov
A v\ mv so &
0) ! 1 s
CU 0
CM IN irx if\

455
a vO vO
si m CO j- J- irx IA JC s s a
-p IA E
I i
•H 3
CM IN o 1A
I vO

452
vO O IA

970
co CO J* 1T\ IA S3 IA CO
V)
IA VO
0 O 1 a - *
5 CM IN o vO 1A 1

449
vO IA 6

Is CO co J- J- 1A IA
E A s &
s
Pi
CM
I 1 & 1

444
v0 o vO
g
CO CO J-
vO
J- & IA
S § S.
%A K
vO i
1
&
3
O
g
H
0 nbC CM ir\
vO Os IA IA

^38
vO IA O
.3 CO CO CO J- & IA cs CO CN
CD +> <D ir\ 0 IA VO i 1
0 8 6 H
5
I H H 1A oo lf\ ©\ O IN IA

433
CO irx
O, o m CO CO CO -± IA £ w CO vO
0 i R IA VO 8t g:
I 3 H
a
cd O CM

428
S
37

▻ co & i IA £ > a a
lf\ VO E
Q> I ! $
XJ S'-
•p CO no CM O trx 1A 1A

420
CO VO H CM
CM co CO J* IA IA H co
<D £ s .. I B #4
1 IN- H CXJ o H CM 1 IA

4 io
xh
CM CO co J* IA IA 8 S % 8
iK VO CO 8
#4 H
(B) CAMPASS CORD BELTS:

i
CD
Eh

I
Cord number

s
© 1 !G
g
to
•H
§ ©
> CO CM vO CM CO
s ITS ©
O O
8no no j -
100

a CM CO co j- CM H 8 tr\
J&d
g Q
o
3 & %4
I
I
 50
3» Slope B e lt T en sio n : '
. W ith a l l I n c lin e d conveyors th e w e ig h t-o f th e b e l t
on th e s lo p e c a u se s t e n s io n a t th e to p of th e s lo p e . The
slo p e b e l t te n s io n , Ts , depends on th e w eig h t o f th e b e l t
and th e f r i c t i o n of th e r e t u r n i d l e r s . W ith a f r i c t i o n co­
e f f i c i e n t o f 0 .0 3 f o r th e r e t u r n i d l e r s ^ th e s lo p e b e l t
te n s io n can be d e te rm in e d by th e fo llo w in g fo rm u la
Ts = C x L x ( 0 -1 /1 5 ) . ___________ (22)
Where: G = g r a d ie n t o f t h e slo p e e x p re s s e d a s a
fra c tio n ^
L = b e l t le n g th i n f e e t
C r b e l t w eig h t i n pounds p e r l i n e a r f t .
( s e e below f o r th e d e te r m in a tio n o f
; b e l t w e ig h t)

Should th e v a lu e o f s lo p e te n s io n , Ts , a s c a lc u l a te d
by th e above fo rm u la exceed t h e v a lu e o f s la c k s id e t e n s io n ,
Tg, th e n th e maximum b e l t t e n s i o n , T^, w i l l be e q u a l to
(Te / Ts ) and t h e b e l t sh o u ld be d e sig n e d a c c o r d in g ly . The
v a lu e of Ts r a r e l y exceeds Tg even f o r co n v ey o rs on s te e p
s lo p e s u n le s s a th re e -d ru m d r iv e i s u se d .

D e te rm in a tio n o f B e lt W eight: -
The v a lu e o f b e l t w e ig h t, C, v a r i e s w ith th e ty p e
o f b e l t c o n s tr u c tio n and m a n u fa c tu re r* s s p e c i f i c a t i o n s .

15/ N. B rook, o p . c l t . « p . 1*90

I f no In fo rm a tio n a s to t h e w eig h t o f b e l t I s a v a i l a b l e an
app ro x im ate v a lu e may be d e te rm in e d by th e fo llo w in g
fo rm u la : 3 ^ /

C r W f l U L l / q) I b s / l l n e a r f t . _______________ (23)
1200

"Where: ¥ * b e l t w id th i n in c h e s
w = duck w eig h t i n ounces ( u s u a lly s u p p lie d )
p = number o f p l i e s i n th e b e l t
q * w e ig h t o f t h e to p and bottom co v er of
t h e b e l t ( i n l b s ) p e r f t . lo n g and
p e r in c h w ide o f b e l t . U s u a lly th e
v a lu e o f q = 0 .0 3 0 l b s . when to p and
bottom c o v e r th ic k n e s s = 1 /3 2 In c h .

NOTE: The above fo rm u la must be used o n ly to d e te rm in e th e

w eig h t o f p ly ty p e b e l t s . For s t e e l c a b le r e in f o r c e d b e l t s ,
th e e x tr a w eig h t o f th e s t e e l members must be c o n s id e re d .

DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLIES OF

BELTS FOR PROPER TROUGHINO AND STIFFNESS

The c h o ic e o f number o f p l i e s i n a no rm al m u lti­

p ly b e l t I s g o v ern ed n o t o n ly by th e s t r e s s b u t a l s o by th e
tro u g h in g and s t i f f n e s s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e b e l t . In
o th e r w ords, a b e l t may p ro v id e s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h In
te n s io n b u t owing to s iz e and w eig h t o f m a t e r i a l i t may be
to o f lim s y . C o n v e rs e ly , a b e l t may be so heavy or t h i c k
t h a t i t w i l l n o t be tr o u g h a b le in th e r e q u ir e d w id th . In

16/ i& ia
 TABLE X II

- 'MINIMUM PLIES TO SUPPORT LOAD OF R.O.M. COAL UP TO 2 0 - INCH MAXIMUM .LUMP-SIZE AND MAXIMUM PLIES FOR PROPER TROUGHING

Duck w eig h t and p ly q u a l . i t y

B e lt w id th
Minimum p l i e s to s u p p o rt lo a d Maximum p l i e s f o r p ro p e r tro u g h in g
( i n in c h e s )
28 o z . _ 32 02. 36 02. 42 02. Heavy 28 o z . 32 oz . 36 02. 42 02. Heavy
c o tto n - c o tto n - c o tto n - U stex ­ c o tto n - c o tto n - c o t to n - U ste x -
n y lo n n y lo n n y lo n n y lo n rayon n y lo n n y lo n n y lo n n y lo n ra y o n
< . . ' '. ;

2k 4 4 4 4 5 6 5 ■ 4 6

30 5 5 4 4 6 7 ; V : 6 ■ 5 5 7
36 6 5 5 4 6 9 6 5 8

42 6 6 5 5 6 10 8 8 ;■ 7 9 .
48 7 6 6 6 7 12 12 U 8 10
54 7 7 6 6 7 _, 12 : 12 8 11
60 7 7 7 6 8 13 13 9 12 .

NOTE: 1. Campass co rd and s t e e l c a b le b e l t s by t h e i r n a tu r e , more tr o u g b a b le th a n p ly - ty p e b e l t s and each w id th

o f th e s e I s d e s ig n e d w ith s u f f i c i e n t body to p ro v id e l a t e r a l s t a b i l i t y
2. The v a lu e s above a r e b ased on 20 d eg . e q u a l - r o l l t coughing i d l e r i n s t a l l a t i o n . A c u ta lly th e d e s ig n o f a
c a r c a s s f o r s u f f i c i e n t s t r e n g t h to su p p o rt th e lo a d p ro v id e d th e prop e r tro u g h in g . c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . .■Hence i t may n o t be
n e c e s s a r y to check th e b e l t f o r minimum or maximum p ly r e q u ir e m e n ts .
 53

t h i s ca se an a lt e r n a t iv e i s t o u se a Campass cord or s t e e l
ca b le b e lt w h ic h 'w ill trough in th e d e sir e d w id th , or e l s e a
wider b e lt w ith few er p l i e s may be used i f i t i s w ith in th e
minimum and maximum p ly l i m i t a t i o n s . • '

The t a b le X II g iv e s th e minimum and maximum p ly

lim it a t io n s o f t y p ic a l rubber covered b e lt s to carry r u n -o f-
mine c o a l. For p . v . c . covered b e lt s th e se v a lu e s may be
■ 1
' , . ' ' • . . • • • 1 ' r
'

found from th e fo llo w in g form u lae:1 2 /

7-5W __(2W
Maximum number o f p l i e s
w •
Minimum number o f p l i e s 3-5W — (25)
w
Where: W = b e lt w idth in in ch es
w r duck w eight in ounces

DETERMINATION OF SIZE OF DRIVING DRUMS AND PULLEYS,

The s i z e o f drums and p u lle y s req u ired depends on

th e number o f p l i e s and duck w eight used in th e b e lt con­
s t r u c t io n . These s i z e s must be such th a t i t should not cause
th e ou ter p ly o f th e b e lt to exceed i t s e l a s t i c li m i t during
th e bend and s u ff e r p ly s e p a r a tio n . Hence th ic k c a r c a ss e s
( i . e . la r g e r number o f p l i e s ) re q u ir e la r g e diam eter p u lle y s
and th in n er c a r c a ss e s ( i . e . few er p l i e s ) need sm aller and
l e s s exp en siv e p u ll e y s . . The th in n er ca r c a ss o f rayon w i l l

12/ Ik M -
 $4

have th e same maximum p e r m iss ib le te n s io n per in ch per p ly

as th e th ic k e r c a r c a ss o f c o tto n . Sometimes i t i s d e s ir ­
a b le t o u se t h in c a r c a ss b e lt s fo r u t i l i z i n g o ld er p u lle y s
o f sm aller s i z e , i f a v a ila b le a t no ex tra c o s t . Otherwise
th e th in n er ca r c a ss o f rayon or n ylon having th e same
str e n g th as a th ic k ca r c a ss o f c o tto n would in v o lv e th e
purchase o f a more ex p en siv e b e l t . The fo llo w in g form ulae
serv e th e g e n e r a l g u id e s fo r determ ining th e s iz e o f drums
and p u l l e y s : ^ /

Diameter o f d riv in g ,drums

, • ( i n in c h e s) = y . — ..R (26)
'6
f' ::v
(ii) Diameter o f d riv en drums
( in in c h e s) r v x ? _ _______ .(27)
- -■ - . . : 8
(ill) Diameter o f snub p u lle y s
( in in c h e s) = ________ ( 28)
\ ■ ' . . . - ■1 ° ' ■
. Where: w = duck, w eight in ounces
. u ; p = number o f p l i e s in a b e lt

SELECTION gF PROPER BELT CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Of th e many t ie lt s a v a ila b le , s e v e r a l o f th e se may

s u i t th e predeterm ined te n s io n req u irem en ts. The conveyor
b e lt s are made o f c o tto n f a b r ic , rayon , n ylon and other

18/ I b i d . , pp. 4 8 6 -9 2 , p a s sim .

 55

s y n th e tic f i b e r m a t e r i a l s , s t e e l c a b le r e in f o r c e d members,
f i r e - r e s i s t a n t b e l t s u s in g p . v . c . , te r y le n e and n e o p re n e , -
e tc . In th e s e l e c t i o n o f b e l t , "proper te n s io n i s n o t o n ly
th e f a c t o r to be c o n s id e re d and i t does n o t n e c e s s a r i l y con­
f ir m th e u lti m a t e s tr e n g h t o f b e l t . I n o rd e r t h a t some
knowledge may be had o f some o f 1th e o th e r f a c t o r s in v o lv e d
i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f a s u i t a b l e b e l t , th e fo llo w in g c o n d itio n s
t h a t a f f e c t'w o r k in g te n s io n s a r e b r i e f l y d is c u s s e d :

1. F a tig u e o f B e it Duck: In any b e l t I n s t a l l a t i o n th e

te n s io n m em ber.of th e b e l t p a s s e s from h ig h e r to a low er
o r lo w er to a h ig h e r te n s io n r e g io n somewhere i n i t s h a u l
d is ta n c e . Thus t h e r e w i l l be c y c l i c te n s io n changes de­
pending upon th e b e l t speed and le n g th . When th e f a b r i c
i s s t r e s s e d t o more th a n 50^ o f i t s u lti m a t e s t r e n g t h
f a i l u r e from f a t i g u e o c c u rs r a p i d l y .

2. S tr e t c h : The more h ig h ly th e b e l t i s s t r e s s e d th e more

i t w i l l s t r e t c h . The e x tr a s t r e s s c a u se s more f r e q u e n t ta k e -
: ■• ' • . ' : VV ' ... . . . . ... . ; ,. - t , .;
up a d ju s tm e n ts by th e screw ty p e ta k e u p or more t r a v e l f o r
a u to m a tic ta k e u p .

3* S p lic e L im ita tio n s : Conveyor b e l t s may be s p lic e d

11e n d le s s u by means o f m e ta l f a s t e n e r s ' or by v u lc a n iz in g .
The p l a t e ty p e m e ta l f a s t e n e r s has p u l l - o u t s t r e n g t h t h a t i s
l e s s th a n th e s t r e n g t h o f th e duck i t s e l f . T h is f a c t o r i s
ta k e n i n t o c o n s id e r a ti o n by th e te n s io n r a t i n g s g iv e n i n
T able X I.
 56

The b e l t s o f cam pass co rd or s t e e l c a b le r e in f o r c e d

c o n s t r u c t i o n .a r e made " e n d le s s " by v u lc a n iz e d s p li c in g ONLY.
The s t r e n g t h i n th e s p l i c e ca n n o t be a s g r e a t as th e sum o f
th e s tr e n g t h s o f th e in d i v i d u a l c o rd s or c a b le s . The f a b r i c
p ly b e l t s may a l s o be v u lc a n iz e d " e n d le s s " w ith a diamond o r
b ia s ty p e s p l i c e . W hile t h i s method does n o t p ro v id e a
s p l i c e a s s tr o n g a s an u n d is tu rb e d b e l t s e c t i o n s , how ever, i t
i s v e ry s tro n g and f r e e from th e l o c a l s t r e s s e s found i n a
m e ta l f a s te n e d j o i n t . The u se o f v u lc a n iz e d j o i n t in c r e a s e s
p e r m is s ib le te n s io n r a t i n g a s compared to a m e ta l f a s te n e d
jo in t. The t a b l e X I g iv e s th e te n s io n r a t i n g s f o r th e v u l­
c a n iz e d s p l i c e b e l t s .

P u lle y Bending F o rc e s : The fo rm u lae 26 th ro u g h 28 on

page 54 a r e e s t a b l i s h e d i n o rd e r t o o b ta in th e same d eg ree
o f bending s t r e s s r e g a r d l e s s o f th e b e l t th ic k n e s s . No
m a tte r w hat th e p u lle y d ia m e te r may b e , th e o u te r p l i e s o f
v - '

th e b e l t m ust e lo n g a te a s th e b e l t i s b e n t around th e
p u lle y . The e x t r a s t r e s s i n th e o u te r p l i e s in d u ced by
bending i s d ep en d en t on th e d ia m e te r o f th e p u lle y , th e
th ic k n e s s o f th e b e l t , and th e e l a s t i c c o n s ta n t o f th e b e l t
te r m in a l. Hence t h e p e r m is s ib le w orking s t r e s s must be l e s s
th a n th e u lti m a t e s t r e n g t h o f th e duck to a llo w f o r th e s e
bending s t r e s s e s . The campass co rd and s t e e l c a b le b e l t s
a r e so c o n s tr u c te d t h a t th e p u lle y bending s t r e s s e s a r e
r e la tiv e ly in s ig n ific a n t.
 57
5. A c c id e n ta l Damage t o B e lt: I n u n d erg ro u n d c o a l h a u la g e ,
b e l t s a r e s u b je c te d to many h a z a rd s . B r i e f l y . th e fo llo w in g
f a c t s a r e d is c u s s e d a s an a d d i t i o n a l a id t o b e t t e r s e l e c t i o n
o f b e l t s to g u ard a g a in s t p o s s i b le dam ages. .
(a ) P ie c e s o f tram p i r o n and o th e r h ard m a te r ia l s
may p ie r c e th e b e l t , b re a k th e c a r c a s s , c u t th e to p co v er
or cau se o th e r o p e r a tin g damages and re d u c e th e w orking
th ic k n e s s of th e b e l t . U su a lly i t i s n o t c o n v e n ie n t to
s to p and r e p a i r a b e l t th e i n s t a n t i t i s damaged. Hence a
b e l t i s e x p e c te d to r u n u n t i l a c o n v e n ie n t s to p p in g tim e can
be a r r a n g e d . T h e r e f o re , th e c a r c a s s must have a s u i t a b l e
f a c t o r o f s a f e t y in c lu d e d in th e a llo w a b le s t r e s s o f th e .
f a b r i c , c o rd o r s t e e l c a b le s t o p ro v id e a r e s e r v e f o r ..tempo­
r a r y o p e r a tio n u n d er su ch c o n d i t i o n s .
(b) D e t e r i o r a t i o n o f b e l t c a r c a s s ta k e s p la c e due
to f u n g a l grow th on '.b e lts w orking ’ in m o is t and humid con-
d i t i o n s i n m in e s. . I t i s a breakdown o f th e c e l l u l o s e o f th e
c o tto n or ra y o n f i b e r to p ro v id e n o u rish m e n t f o r th e f u n g a l
g ro w th . Hence th e u s e ;o f som e:m a t e r i a l i n th e b e l t con­
s t r u c t i o n w hich w i l l a l l e v i a t e t h e ; g ro w th .o f fu n g u s i s h e lp ­
f u l to g u ard a g a in s t su ch d e t e r i o r a t i o n . W ith th e ad v e n t o f
th e u se o f ra y o n i n th e b e l t c a r c a s s , th e d i r e c t e f f e c t o f
th e p re s e n c e o f m o is tu re had t o be ta k e n i n t o a c c o u n t. The
c o tto n f a b r i c i n th e p re s e n c e o f m o is tu re does n o t lo s e i t s
s t r e n g t h b u t a c t u a l l y i s somewhat s tr o n g e r assum ing no
b a c te ria l d e te rio ra tio n . C o n v e rse ly , depending upon th e
 58

p e rc e n ta g e o f m o is tu re p r e s e n t I n th e m in e ,: ra y o n may lo s e
a n .a p p r e c ia b le p e rc e n ta g e o f i t s d ry s t r e n g t h . A dhesion
betw een th e p l i e s and f l e x l i f e a ls o a r e a f f e c t e d by ex­
tre m e ly w et c o n d i tio n s . Hence ra y o n b e l t s sh o u ld n o t be used
under such, c o n d i tio n s .

I n s t e e l c a b le r e in f o r c e d b e l t s , a d i f f e r e n t ty p e of
d e t e r i o r a t i o n may o c c u r , nam ely c o r r o s io n . M echanical
damage o f th e ru b b e r co v er by gouging or open s p l i c i n g , i f
n e g le c te d , can become a s e r io u s f a c t o r b ecau se o f th e r e ­
s u l t i n g c o r r o s io n o f c a b le s en cased i n th e b e l t .

(c ) F i r e H az ard s: Many f i r e s have o c c u rre d i n c o a l

m ines and some o f th e s e have b e e n ,c a u se d by b e l t, co n v e y o rs.
As a m a tte r o f f a c t conveyor f i r e s a r e exceeded i n number
o n ly by sp o n ta n eo u s com bustion o f c o a l o r carb o n aceo u s ma-
te ria l. Hence a l l underg ro u n d b e l t s sh o u ld be f i r e - r e s i s t a n t .
The U. S. B ureau o f Mines has recommended th e u se o f .n e o ­
p re n e and p o ly v i n y l . c h l o r i d e ( p . v . c . ) i n th e c o n s tr u c tio n
of f i r e - r e s i s t a n t b e l t s . N o tw ith sta n d in g a l l th e s e con­
s i d e r a t i o n s f o r s a f e t y r e q u ir e m e n ts , th e b e l t s s e le c te d m ust
f u l f i l l th e d u ty f o r w hich i t i s to be u s e d . . *

A new h a z a rd has been p r e d ic te d d u rin g r e c e n t y e a r s .

One o f th e p r o p e r t i e s o f p . v . c . u sed i n f i r e - r e s i s t a n t b e l t s
i s i t s h ig h e l e c t r i c a l i n s u l a t i o n q u a l i t i e s o r i t s h ig h r e ­
s is tiv ity . On some c o n v e y o rs, m o stly o p e r a tin g i n d ry
c o n d itio n s , an e l e c t r o s t a t i c ch arg e i s found to be g e n e ra te d .
 59
T his ch a rg e w i l l g iv e r i s e t o u n d e s ir a b le and som etim es
dan g ero u s s p a rk in g s w hich may cau se conveyor f i r e s . Hence
th e c o n c ep t o f d e v e lo p in g a n t i - e l e c t r o s t a t i c m a te r ia l f o r
b e l t c o n s tr u c tio n i s b ein g r e a l i z e d to g u ard a g a in s t s t a t i c
e l e c t r i c i t y t h a t c a u se s conveyor f i r e s . A lso , w ith th e
h ig h e r b e l t sp eed s th e chance o f dan g ero u s s p a rk in g s i s more
l i k e l y to o c c u r. The b e l t s m ust be r u n w ith in th e maximum
recommended sp eed s com m ensurate w ith o th e r e f f i c i e n c y
fa c to rs . I t i s found t h a t e l e c t r o s t a t i c s p a rk s w i l l n o t be
produced when th e b e l t s a r e ru n below 475 f t . p e r m in u te .

SELECTION OF PROPER QUALITY AND THICKNESS OF BELT COVER

The l i f e of th e b e l t d e p e n d s, to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t,
upon th e s e l e c t i o n o f c o r r e c t to p and bottom cover q u a l i t y
and th ic k n e s s . The to p co v er m ust be o f s u i t a b l e c o m p o sitio n
and s u f f i c i e n t t h ic k n e s s . I d e a l l y , i t i s d e s i r a b l e to f u r ­
n i s h a co v er q u a l i t y and th ic k n e s s su ch t h a t i t s s e r v ic e
l i f e w i l l m atch th e s e r v ic e l i f e of th e c a r c a s s . The cover
th ic k n e s s i s im p o r ta n t, n o t o n ly from th e s ta n d p o in t of
w ear, b u t a l s o a s a c u sh io n to ab so rb th e lo a d in g im pact
of m a te r ia l t o be conveyed. A la y e r o f f a b r i c having a
s p e c i a l weave c a l l e d “b re a k e r p ly “ i s o f te n imbedded i n th e
c o v e r. The b re a k e r p ly a b s o rb s im p act and p r o t e c t s th e
c a r c a s s and co v er a g a in s t g o u g in g . The s e l e c t i o n o f p ro p e r
co v er q u a l i t y and th ic k n e s s i s som etim es d i f f i c u l t b ecau se
o f many v a r i a t i o n s o f w orking c o n d itio n s . E x p e rie n c e w ith
 60

p re v io u s b e l t s w i l l h e lp i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f th e p ro p e r b e l t
c o v e r. T h is e x p e r ie n c e ' sh o u ld i n d i c a t e many, c lu e s f o r f u t u r e
s e le c tio n . L oss o f co v er by a b r a s io n w h ile t h e c a r c a s s i s
r e l a t i v e l y i n t a c t w ould i n d i c a t e t h a t su c cee d in g b e l t s co u ld
p r o f i t a b l y c a r r y a h e a v ie r o r a b e t t e r q u a l i t y c o v e r. S ev ere
c u t t i n g o f th e co v er w ith o u t s e r io u s a b r a s io n l o s s would in ­
d i c a t e e i t h e r a lo a d in g problem o r a need f o r more co v er
th i c k n e s s . I t w ould, o r d i n a r i l y , be more eco n o m ical to im­
pro v e lo a d in g c o n d i tio n s . F a i l u r e due to o th e r c a u se s o f a
co v er t h a t i s r e l a t i v e l y i n t a c t would show e i t h e r an im proper
co v e r o r th e need to re d u c e th e c o n d itio n s p ro d u cin g th e
fa ilu re .

.. The bo tto m co v er th ic k n e s s o f a b e l t depends m ain ly

on th e l i k e l i h o o d o f damage cau sed by th e m a t e r i a l con­
veyed g e t t i n g betw een th e b e l t and i d l e r s and p u l l e y s .
A b ra siv e m a t e r i a l s r e q u i r e a h e a v ie r co v er th a n n o n - a b r a s iv e
m a te ria ls . The g e n e r a l c l e a n l i n e s s o f th e i n s t a l l a t i o n
sh o u ld a l s o be c o n s id e r e d . Where th e b e l t i s k e p t c le a n and
s p i l l a g e or p i l e - u p s a r e u n l i k e l y , i t i s l e s s im p o rta n t to
have a t h i c k bottom c o v e r . I n g e n e r a l, a 1/ 16 in c h t h i c k
bottom co v er i s q u ite s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r h a n d lin g r .o .m . c o a l
w ith b e l t o p e r a tio n u nder good c o n d itio n s . However, b e l t s
w ith a h ig h ly s t r e s s e d c a r c a s s su ch a s ra y o n , campass co rd
or s t e e l c a b le sh o u ld have th e e x tr a p r o t e c t i o n o f 1 /1 6
in c h a d d i t i o n a l th ic k n e s s o f bottom c o v e r.
 61

To a s s i s t i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f p ro p e r th ic k n e s s o f
to p co v er f o r b e l t s c a r r y in g c o a l, t a b l e X I I I has been p re ­
p a re d based on b e l t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s o f Goodyear T ire and
Conveyor B e lt M an u factu rin g Company.

v: I n co n c lu d in g t h i s c h a p te r , i t sh o u ld a g a in be n o te d
t h a t b e s id e s d e te rm in in g p ro p e r b e l t w id th , sp e e d , m otor • "
s i z e s , and. maximum o p e r a tin g te n s io n o f th e b e l t , o th e r r e ­
q u ire m e n ts su ch a s b e l t t r o u g h a b l l i t y and s t i f f n e s s , s i z e o f
d r iv in g drums and p u l l e y s , q u a l i t y o f b e l t c o n s tr u c tio n .
m a t e r i a l , b e l t cover th i c k n e s s , and p h y s ic a l w orking con-
d i t i o n s i n th e mine m ust a ls o be c o n s id e re d s im u lta n e o u s ly
th ro u g h o u t b e l t s e l e c t i o n p ro c e d u re . A ll o f th e s e f a c t o r s
a r e i n t e r r e l a t e d a n d . in te r d e p e n d e n t.
 62

TABLE X I I I
RECOMMENDED CONVEYOR TOP COVER THICKNESS FOR CARRYING COAL

2L
C ycle tim e (= ~ ) Lum psize ( i n in c h e s )
f o r co m p lete r e v o -
lu tio n of b e lt. •* ,

L - b e l t le n g th in B itum inous C oal A n th r a c ite C oal

ft.
S = b e l t speed in D u st i " t o 2 " to 6" & D ust g-"to 2 " to 6" &
f .p .r a . to -i" li- M 5" over t o i " l i " 5” over

0 .2 3 /3 2 3 /1 6 5/16 3 /8 3 /1 6 3 /8 1 /2 . -
0 .4 1 /1 6 3 /3 2 3 /1 6 1 /4 3 /3 2 3 /1 6 3 /8 -
0 .6 1 /1 6 3 /3 2 1 /8 3 /16 3 /3 2 1 /8 1 /4 . . 3 /8

00
0 .8 1 /1 6 3 /3 2 1 /8 3/16 3 /3 2 9 /3 2

s
<
1 .0 1 /1 6 3 /3 2 1 /8 3/16 3 /3 2 1 /8 3 /1 6 7 /3 2

1 .5
and over 1 /1 6 3 /3 2 1 /8 3 /16 3 /3 2 1 /8 3 /1 6 3 /16

BELT SELECTION PROBLEMS

Example 1 . S e le c ti o n o f s u i t a b l e b e l t i n g f o r u n d erground
main h a u la g e .

The f o llo w in g in f o rm a tio n i s p ro v id e d .

1. R ig id -fra m e c o n v e n tio n a l b e l t conveyor w ith 20

d eg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s .
 63

; ' 2 . /L e n g th of h a u l: 3000 f t .
.:3• .B ulk w t. o f c o a l : . 50 lb s p e r cu b ic f t .
4. S iz e of. lum ps: up to 1 2 " .
5. G ra d ie n t o f road-w ay: 1 i n 50 a g a in s t th e
lo a d e d b e l t .
6. B e lt speed r e s t r i c t i o n s : ' n o t more th a n 4-50
f .p .m .
7* Two lo a d in g p o in ts on th e b e l t w ith peak lo a d in g
o f 3°0 tp h and 350 tp h r e s p e c t i v e l y . Ho
tr ip p e r is n ec essary .

S tep I D eterm in e th e t o t a l b e l t c a p a c ity , sp e e d , w id th ,

and a llo w a b le lu m p - s iz e .
The Peak c a p a c ity o f b e l t » 300 / 350 s 750 tp h or
1 2 .5 to n s /m in u te . 15
Assuming a b e l t speed o f 4-50 f . p . m . , th e b e l t w id th
i n in c h e s - j ;
1 10,000P .
= f s x U *5 (fo rm u la 1)
Al0 ,0 0 0 x 1 2 .5 ,
= 1 3 -6 a
J 4-50 x 50
- 30.4- / 5 = 35.4- o r 36 in c h e s

1 ' ; ■ W- 6 '
A llo w ab le lu m p -s iz e * — r — (fo rm u la 2)
36 - 6
15 in c h e s
2
 64

S tep I I D eterm ine th e t o t a l b e l t horsepow er to convey th e

c o a l under th e g iv e n c o n d itio n s .
C x Q x (L / L0 ) x S
(i) he = (fo rm u la 6)
3 3 ,0 0 0
_ 0 .0 3 % 36 x (3000 / 1 50) x 450
3 3 ,0 0 0

= 4 6 .5 0 hp.

- 0 X (L / Lp) x T
(11) hm
® ~ 990 (fo rm u la 7)

_ 0 .0 3 x (3000 / 150) x 750

990

= 71*50 hp.

(iii) hp - y x H (fo rm u la 8)
990

- (S in c e g r a d ie n t = 1 in 50,

th e re fo re ,
_ L _ 3000 _ ,
H ' " I T " 60 f t '

- 45*50 hp.

( iv ) h t = z e ro (S in c e no t r i p p e r i s c o n s id e re d )
.2
_ (Q / M) x (L /100) x (S /1 0 0 )'
(v) ha - (fo rm u la 10)
6 3 .8 x t
2
(36 / 55*5) x ( 3000/ 100) x (4 5 0 /1 0 0 )
6 3 .8 0 x 3

29 hp.
 65

B ecause t h i s a c c e le r a tio n , horsepow er i s l e s s th a n .50%: o f th e

sum o f h e, hg,, and hr i t may be ig n o re d .

T h e re fo re , t o t a l b e l t m otor horsepow er a t 80% m otor

e ffic ie n c y : '* ,
_ 4 6 .5 0 / 7 1 .5 0 / 4 5 .5 0 _
QOfto " 200 h p *

S tep I I I D eterm in e th e p ro p e r, b e l t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s .

U sing a th re e -d ru m d r iv e (a n g le o f wrap = 660 d e g .)

w ith p l a i n drums and p . v . c . b e l t i n g , F = 1 .1 1 (from
t a b l e X ). ;
- S in c e , TV = 1 .1 1 x ^ 3 ^ ° x 33,000 ■ - .. -
450
= 1 3 ,2 0 0 l b s .
(N o te: The slo p e te n s io n Ts o f th e b e l t i s n o t con­
s id e r e d h e re a s i t does n o t exceed th e s la c k s id e
i : v.
t e n s io n T2 )

Now ' f x p = JL (fo rm u la 21)

= M i f -0.0 = 367 l b s p e r in c h o f b e l t
•5 • 3d , w id th
Taking v a lu e s o f p (number o f p l i e s i n th e b e l t ) -
5, 6 , 7 , ...... ^ . . . . . . . ..... ;

The p .w .s ./ p l y / i n c h - w i d t h = .........
5 6 7
= 7 3 .3 , 6 1 .1 , 5 2 .4 , . . . .
 f

66
R e f e r r in g to t a b l e X l : t h e fo llo w in g b e l t ty p e s can
be s e l e c t e d :

(a ) 7 - P ly , *+8 o z. c o tto n o r heavy ra y o n b e l t i n g

(b) No. 100 campass c o rd b e l t i n g
(c ) No. 150 s t e e l c a b le b e l t i n g

The a c t u a l s e l e c t i o n o f b e l t to be u sed i s
p o s s i b le o n ly a f t e r c o n s id e r in g o th e r f a c t o r s such
. a s ta k e u p d e v ic e , b e l t j o i n t i n g m ethod, p h y s ic a l
w orking c o n d itio n s i n th e mine and o th e r f a c t o r s .

Example 2 . F in d th e g r e a t e s t le n g th o f conveyor p e r m is s ib le
u s in g 6 - p ly , b2 o z. c o tto n f a b r i c c a r c a s s b e l t i n g o f 36
in c h e s in w id th w ith ru b b e r c o v e rin g and conveying 400 tp h
a t a speed o f 350 f .p .m . up an i n c l i n e 1 i n 50. The system
u se s m e t a l l i c hook j o i n t s 'a n d a u to m a tic c o u n te rw e ig h t ta k e u p
d e v ic e w ith no t r i p p e r .

S tep I D eterm in e th e t o t a l b e l t h o rsep o w er.

H ere, C = 0 .0 3 ; .Q = 36; L ~ ?; L0 I 150; S = 350;

T = 400; H =
. Jr,-..; 5 0 ' :: -

(i) hQ z 0 . 03 x 36 x (L / 150) x 3 50
3 3 ,0 0 0

; (W 150) x hP-
100
 (li) hm = 0-03 X (L / 150) X 400
k ^ . ... l.,- - . -- • ..............

1.21
(L / 1^0) x 100

400 x L _ 0.82L
(ill) hr 990 X 50 *■ 100“
The t r i p p e r and a c c e l e r a t i o n h orsepow ers a r e n o t con­
s id e r e d .' ’ ' ''

T h e re fo re , th e t o t a l b e l t horsepow er:

= l . l 4 ( L / 150) / 1.21(1, / 150) / 0.82L

= I r m / 3 2 hp.
100

S tep I I D eterm ine b e l t s t r e s s e s and th e b e l t l e n g th .

From t a b l e X I t h e maximum a llo w a b le t e n s i o n f o r a 4 2 o z .

c o tto n b e ltin g i s 4 5 l b s p er in c h - w id th p er p l y .

S in ce —& = f x p (fo rm u la 21)

W
T h e r e f o re , T^ = f x p x W z 45 x 6 x 36 = 9 ,5 0 0 l b s

Assuming a tw o-drum d r iv e (a n g le o f wrap z 440 d e g .)

w ith p l a i n drum s, F = 1 .1 7 (from t a b l e X)

S in c e T^ = F x Te (fo rm u la 17)

T h e r e f o re , T0 = T ^/ F = 9 ,5 0 0 /1 .1 7 = 7 ,6 0 0 lb s
 68

A lso , t o t a l b e l t h p ,( h ) x 3 3 ,000
Le = (fo rm u la 16)
8

T o ta l b e l t h p . = Te x 8 . , 7 ,6 0 0 x 350
3 3 ,0 0 0 3 3 ,0 0 0

T h e r e f o re , 3 _ - /. 353 = Zj .^92. x....3i £ (from p re v io u s

100 33 ,0 0 0 p a g e :)
On s im p lif y in g , t h e le n g th o f th e conveyor L, i s
2 ,2 0 0 f t . ' : ' * '
 CHAPTER VI
DISCUSSION ON BELT HAULAGE ECONOMICS AND COST ESTIMATION

........ The' f i n a l d e c is io n to employ a b e lt conveyor w i l l

o fte n depend upon th e r e l a t i v e c o s ts o f a l l methods of
tr a n s p o r ta tio n . When used under th e proper c o n d itio n s , b e lt
conveyors can move m a te r ia l more econ om ically th a n most
other m ethods. They consume l e s s power per u n it o f work and
th e handling c o s t s in com parison w ith other system s are l e s s .
However, b e lt conveyors have c e r t a in op era tin g lim it a t i o n s ,
and t h e ir u se i s not th e s o lu t io n to every haulage problem;
th ey have th e a b i l i t y to handle la r g e tonnages a t low u n it
c o sts. S in ce th ey have a high c a p it a l c o s t th ey are n ot
e f f i c i e n t fo r p a r t-tim e o p era tio n or fo r handling sm a ll
ton n ages. Hence, in planning a haulage system , i t should be
determ ined f i r s t whether s u f f i c i e n t tonnages are a v a ila b le
fo r a number of. y ea rs to j u s t i f y th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f b e lt
conveyors and, se c o n d ly , t o determ ine th e approxim ate break­
even p o in ts between conveyors and other ty p e s o f mine .
h au lage. Here a model tech n iq u e i s developed which b a s ic a lly
i s in tend ed to en ab le th e en g in eer to e stim a te th e output
and approximate c o s t o f owning and o p era tin g a conveyor
haulage system . These c o s ts can then be compared w ith oth er
system s o f mine haulage to . determ ine w hich .system or:
69 .. • ' ,.
 70
co m b in atio n o f sy stem s i s m ost l i k e l y to p ro v id e th e lo w e s t
u n i t c o s t: f o r - t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f c o a l under th e con­
d i t i o n s b ein g i n v e s t i g a t e d . No a tte m p t has been made in
t h i s stu d y to compare th e u n i t c o s ts o f o th e r h au lag e s y s ­
tem s w ith th o s e o f co n v e y o rs; su c h a co m p ariso n i s beyond
th e scope o f th e p r e s e n t s tu d y .

B e fo re a n a ly z in g ow nership and o p e r a tin g c o s ts o f

b e l t h a u la g e sy stem , c e r t a i n o th e r im p o rta n t economic
f a c t o r s m ust be d is c u s s e d . The economic l i f e o f th e con­
v ey o r equipm ent depends on ( i ) th e r a t e a t w hich th e eq u ip ­
ment i s a m o rtiz e d and ( i i ) th e r a t e a t w hich th e m ain ten ­
an ce and r e p a i r c o s ts in c r e a s e w ith th e age o f th e eq u ip m en t.
These f a c t o r s a r e d is c u s s e d below .

The d e p r e c i a t i o n c o s t i s a f u n c tio n o f th e f i r s t
c o s t and l i f e o f th e eq u ip m en t. The i n i t i a l c a p i t a l i n v e s t ­
ment must be d e te rm in e d o n ly a f t e r c o n s id e r a tio n o f a l l th e
c o s t f a c t o r s in v o lv e d . As r e g a r d s th e l i f e of th e conveyor
equipm en t, i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o p r e d i c t t h i s l i f e a c c u r a te ly .
However th e A m erican Mining C ongress Conveyor Committee i n
t h e i r r e p o r t s o v er th e p a s t 8 y e a rs have c o n s i s t e n t l y used
a d e p r e c ia t io n p e r io d o f 10 y e a rs f o r conveyor fram e-w ork
and a l l m e c h a n ic a l and e l e c t r i c a l eq u ip m en t. The ru b b e r
b e l tin g i s d e p r e c ia te d on a 5 y e a r b a s i s . The b e l t manu­
f a c t u r e r s c o n s id e r th e above f i v e - y e a r l i f e o f b e l t i n g to
be to o s h o r t , b u t e x p e rie n c e has shown t h a t i t i s a f a i r
 71
a v e ra g e l i f e ' f o r b e l t i n g u sed I n th e m ain and I n te r m e d ia te
h a u la g e s e r v i c e . A number o f d e p r e c ia tio n m ethods a r e •
a v a i l a b l e to d e te rm in e y e a r ly d e p r e c ia t io n c o s t o f th e eq u ip ­
m ent. The m ost im p o rta n t o f th e s e a r e th e s t r a i g h t - l i n e ,
s in k in g fu n d , p r o d u c tio n u n i t s and d e c lin in g b a la n c e m ethods.
I t i s e x tre m e ly d i f f i c u l t to keep up to d a te w ith th e U. S.
B ureau o f I n t e r n a l R evenue1s r e g u la tio n s .g o v e r n in g th e u se
o f p ro p e r m ethods.

The m ain ten an ce c o s t s , in c lu d in g r e p a i r s , p la y a

dom inant r o l e i n th e economic l i f e o f th e e q u ip m en t. The
a n n u a l r e p a i r c o s ts may r i s e w ith th e age o f th e equ ip m en t.
Even th o u g h " th e r e p a i r c o s ts do r i s e each y e a r - th e y r i s e
o n ly u n t i l th e f i r s t heavy r e p a i r s a r e made. At. t h i s tim e
i t i s p o s s i b le t o show t h a t a s th e number o f c y c le s o f
heavy r e p a i r s i n c r e a s e , th e r a t e o f r i s e of m ain ten an ce c o s ts
over th e t o t a l e la p s e d tim e may l e s s e n . E v e n tu a lly o v e r a l l
m ain ten an ce c o s t s w i l l l e v e l o f f . Hence a u n ifo rm r a t e of
o p e r a tin g m a in te n an ce c o s t may be c o n s id e re d .

R eg ard in g I n t e r e s t , ta x e s and in s u r a n c e c o s ts of
. . . . : . .

th e eq uip m en t, w h eth er money i s o r i s n o t borrow ed i n i t i a l l y

. f ' :

to buy th e new conveyor eq u ip m en t, a 6^ i n t e r e s t r a t e i s a

f a i r a v e ra g e t o be in c lu d e d i n th e a n n u a l ow nership c o s t s .
The a n n u a l c o s t o f ta x e s and in s u ra n c e may be ta k e n a s e q u a l
to bfo o f th e A v e ra g e In v estm en t* c a lc u l a te d a s f o llo w s :

A verage In v e stm e n t = n / 1 (29)

2 x n
 72
Where:n%= th e l i f e o f th e conveyor equipm ent (10 y e a r s f o r
conveyor fra m e , m e c h a n ic a l and e l e c t r i c a l p a r t s , and 5 y e a rs
f o r th e ru b b e r b e l t i n g ) .

ESTIMATION 0 £ BELT HAULAGE COSTS ;

I. Ownership C o s ts:
A r u l e of thumb f o r e s tim a tin g c o s t o f a com plete
conveyor system i n s t a l l e d i s a b o u t S 1 5 0 .0 0 p e r f o o t o f le n g th
f o r a c o n v e n tio n a l b e lt'.c o n v e y o r .u sin g a 2 4 -in c h b e l t . The;
c o s t change i s ab o u t $ 5 0 .0 0 f o r each 6 - in c h change i n th e
b e l t w id th .
A more a c c u r a te method o f c a l c u l a t i n g ow nership c o s ts i s
g iv e n below :

(a ) C ost o f E quipm ent: T h is .in c lu d e s th e c o s t o f

p u l l e y s , speed r e d u c t io n tr a n s m is s io n , m o t o r s , c o n t r o l s ,
ta k e u p s , b r a k e s , e t c . The e q u ip m e n t-c o s t v a r i e s w ith th e
s i z e o f . t h e co n v e y o r. The fo llo w in g c o s t in fo rm a tio n has
been s u p p lie d t o th e a u th o r by th e Goodman M an u factu rin g
Company, H a ls te d S t r e e t , C hicago 9 , I l l i n o i s :

Up to 6o hp.. = $220.00 p e r hp.$ " ..

61 to 75 hp. = • $160 .0 0 p e r hp.$
I ______ (30)
76 to 200 hp. z $ 1 45.00 p e r h p .I
o v er 200 hp. ' :Z $ 1 4 0 .0 0 p e r hp.$

(b ) C ost o f S t r u c t u r e s , I d l e r s , and o th e r S u p p o rtin g

Equipm ent: •
 73
For c o n v e n tio n a l b e l t h a u la g e s t r u c t u r e s ( r i g i d - f r a m e ) , th e
c o st in d o lla rs

' - ' z (0 .8 0 x b e l t w id th in in c h e s x le n g th of
s t r u c t u r e i n f t .) - - ______________ (31)

For ro p e -fra m e b e l t conveyor s t r u c t u r e s , th e c o s t i n d o l l a r s

,Z (0 .5 0 x b e l t w id th in in c h e s x le n g th o f
s tru c tu re in f t . ) ______________ (3 2 )

(c) C ost o f B e ltin g : The c o s t o f b e l t i n g v a r i e s

w ith th e duck w e ig h t, number o f p l i e s , ty p e o f b e l t con­
s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l , m a n u fa c tu r e r , fo o ta g e to be p u rch ased
and o th e r f a c t o r s . The a c t u a l c o s t o f a b e l t f o r any p a r t ­
i c u l a r d u ty can be d e te rm in e d w ith a c cu rac y and i f th e
a c t u a l c o s t i s known, th e n t h i s sh o u ld be u se d . However,
a f a i r e s tim a te o f th e c o s t o f b e l tin g can be found as
f o llo w s : • : ) ‘ '

The c o s t o f b e l t i n g (p ly ty p e ) p e r f t . i n d o l l a r s

= (0 .0 0 0 6 x T-l / 0 .2 0 ) x W ___________ (33)

Where: T j z maximum o p e ra tin g te n s io n o f b e l t i n

lb s / in c h - w id th .
W Z b e l t w id th i n in c h e s

(d) E r e c tio n c o s t s : .U vvr:; .. i

(i) C lean in g o ld mine o p en in g s and e la b o r a te
 74

s i t e p r e p a r a tio n s a r e ex clu d ed c o s t s . When th e b e l t con­

vey o r can be ex ten d ed a s th e w orking f a c e a d v a n c e s, th e
e r e c t i o n c o s ts may be ta k e n a t l i $ to 2$ o f th e c a p i t a l to
be in v e s te d f o r e x te n s io n u nder i d e a l c o n d itio n s .

(11) I f w ir in g , c le a n in g , g ra d in g and f i l l
f o o tin g c o s ts a r e in c lu d e d , th e i n s t a l l a t i o n c o s t may v a ry
from V5$ to 40$ of th e sum o f th e equipm ent (ite m , a t
above) and b e l t (ite m rc* above) c o s ts depending on th e
amount o f work to be d one.

(e) C o n tin g e n c ie s : The c o n tin g e n c ie s a r e in c lu d e d

to co v er th e u n fo re s e e n c o s t s . These c o s ts may be ta k e n as
e q u a l to 2$ o f th e sum o f th e eq u ip m en t, b e l t , and e r e c tio n
c o s ts . .

T h e re fo re th e t o t a l Ownership C o sts
= (a ) / (b) / (d) / (e ) p lu s ( c ) ;

U sing th e s t r a i g h t l i n e m ethod, th e y e a r ly de­

p re c ia tio n c o s t:

- (a ) / (b) / (d) / (e ) _ (c)

- ------------ ----------------------- p lu s -----------
10 y e a r s 5 y e a rs

Y e a rly f ix e d c o s ts z y e a r ly d e p r e c ia t io n c o s t / c o s t of
i n t e r e s t , ta x e s and in s u r a n c e ,
z y e a r ly d e p r e c ia t io n c o s t / 10/5 of
“A verage In v e stm e n t"
 75

WOTS: T here a r e many more c o s ts o f owning a com­

p l e t e b e l t conveyor sy stem . These in c lu d e t r a n s f e r s t a t i o n s ,
su p p ly t r a c k , c a r s , and lo c o m o tiv e s , an d , i f n eed ed , su rg e
b in s , f e e d e r s , and l i n i n g s i n them , power s t a t i o n s f o r b e l t
d r i v e s , in te rc o m m u n ic a tio n and r e l a t e d f a c i l i t i e s , and eq u ip ­
ment c a r r i e r s . The c o s ts o f a l l th e s e ite m s a r e n o t con­
s id e r e d in th e above c o s t e s tim a tio n p ro c e d u re .

II O p e ra tin g C o sts:
U n lik e ow nership c o s t s , th e o p e r a tin g c o s t s , ex c e p t
f o r power c o s t , a r e n o t p r o p o r ti o n a l to th e b e l t le n g th ,
c a p a c ity , g r a d ie n t and so f o r t h . A ll th e o p e r a tin g c o s t
f a c t o r s o f conveyor h a u la g e a r e g iv e n below .

(a) Power C o st: G e n e ra lly a l l th e roadway con­

v e y o rs a r e e l e c t r i c a l l y d r iv e n . There a r e v e ry few con­
v e y o rs i n E ngland t h a t a r e now r u n by o th e r meansv A ttem p ts
t o o b ta in a c t u a l consum ption o f power p ro v ed u n s u c c e s s f u l.
T h e re fo re , th e en erg y re q u ire m e n ts must be d e riv e d on a
t h e o r e t i c a l b a s is assum ing a known ru n n in g tim e . L acking
th e l o c a l power r a t e j $ 0 ,0 0 8 p e r k ilo w a tt- h o u r may be used
a s an a v e ra g e power r a t e , and th e t h e o r e t i c a l power c o s t may
be d e te rm in e d a s f o llo w s :

Y e a rly power c o s t i n d o l l a r s
a t o t a l m otor h p x 0 .7 ^ 6 x h o u rs o p e r a te d /y e a r
x 0 .0 0 8 ..■v;:: __________OH)
 76

■ . (b) O p e ra tin g ;L a b o r C o s tsi For a l l ty p e s of con­

v e y o rs th e o p e r a tin g la b o r c o n s i s t s o f one man a t each t r a n s ­
f e r p o in t f o r ev e ry s h i f t th e conveyor i s i n o p e r a tio n . The
wage r a t e s : v a r y from p la c e t o p la c e . At p r e s e n t , an av e ra g e
o f $ 2 .5 0 p e r hour i s assum ed. T h is r a t e in c lu d e s a l l
frin g e b e n e fits .

; (c ) M aintenance and R e p a irs C o st:

(i) M aintenance la b o r c o s t: Only r o u tin e

la b o r on co n v ey o rs may be c o n s id e r e d . N o n -ro u tin e la b o r
f o r m ajor b e l t re p la c e m e n ts and o th e r works m ust be con­
s id e r e d s e p a r a t e l y . T his r o u t i n e la b o r f o r d a i l y m ain ten an ce
i s o f two k in d s . F i r s t , u n s k il le d la b o r i s u sed f o r
p a t r o l l i n g and c le a n in g th e s p i l l a g e ; f o r t h i s p u rp o se one
or two men p e r m ile o f conveyor p e r s h i f t i s a f a i r a v e ra g e .
S eco n d ly , s k i l l e d la b o r i s u sed f o r th e m ain ten an ce o f th e
m e c h a n ic a l and e l e c t r i c a l p a r t s o f th e conveyor eq u ip m en t.
One m e ch a n ic a l f i t t e r and one e l e c t r i c i a n p e r m ile o f th e
conveyor p e r s h i f t a r e s u f f i c i e n t . T h is t o t a l m ain ten an ce
f o r c e o f 3 to 4 men p e r m ile p e r s h i f t i s a l s o e x p e cte d to
do some o th e r odd jo b s , su ch a s s m a ll- b e l t re p la c e m e n ts
and b e l t s p l i c i n g .. The wage r a t e s , may be ta k e n f o r a l l men
a s $ 2 .5 0 p e r hour a s s t a t e d .

(ii) M a te r ia l c o s t f o r m a in te n a n c e : From th e r e ­
c o rd s o f com ponents and b e l t s r e p la c e d i n th e p a s t an
a tte m p t i s made t o d e te rm in e th e l i v e s of th e m ajor com ponents
 77
of th e conveyor sy stem ; b u t t h i s v e n tu re i s f u r t h e r com­
p l i c a t e d , i n some c a s e s , by th e ev er changing d e s ig n o f
c e r t a i n p a r t s o f th e conveyor eq u ip m en t. Hence an a v e ra g e
m ain ten an ce c o s t may be u s e d . .'

The m ain c o s t o f m ain ten an ce i s , of c o u r s e , th e r e ­

placem en t o f th e b e l t i n g . The b e l t i s c o n s id e re d to have a
l i f e of 5 y e a r s , w h ereas th e l i f e of th e o th e r elem en ts of
th e e n t i r e i n s t a l l a t i o n i s 10 y e a r s . T his means t h e r e w i l l
be one re p la c e m e n t o f th e whole b e l t i n g i n 10 y e a r s . U sing
th e c o s t o f th e o r i g i n a l b e l t i n g (ite m *c? i n ow nership
c o s t s ) , th e y e a r ly b e l t re p la c e m e n t c o s t can be c a l c u l a t e d .
I t w i l l be e q u a l to o n e - te n th o f o r i g i n a l b e l t c o s t .

B e sid e s y e a r ly b e l t re p la c e m e n t c o s t , th e r e w i l l be
sm a ll c o s t f o r s p a re p a r t s on th e conveyor s t r u c t u r e , lu b ­
r ic a tio n s , e tc . T his c o s t may be ta k e n to be e q u a l to 2$
o f th e equipm ent c o s t (ite m *31 i n th e ow nership c o s t s ) .

The t o t a l y e a r ly o p e r a tin g c o s ts % (a) / (b) / (c)

U n it c o s t / t o n = Y eaT ly ow nershlp and o p e r a tin g c o s ts

t o t a l to n s moved p e r y e a r

PROBLEM ON TgE COST ESTIMATION £ £ & BELT HAULAGE SYSTEM

Example: C a lc u la te th e u n i t c o s t of conveying c o a l f o r
exam ple ( l ) on page 6 2 . :

I O wnership c o s t s :
 78

(a) C ost o f equipm ent @ $1^5*00 p e r hp. =

200 x Ik? = $2 9,000
( b ) " C ost o f s t r u c t u r e = (0 .8 0 x b e l t w id th x le n g th
of s tru c tu re )
= ( 0 .8 0 x 36 x 3 ,0 0 0 ) = $ 86,500
(c ) C ost o f b e l t i n g * (0 .0 0 0 6 x / 0 .2 0 ) x 36 x
( 3000/ 3000/ 1 5 0 )

, - r (0.0006 x 367 / 0 .2 0 ). x 36 x ,
6150
= $93,000
- ■ (d) C ost o f i n s t a l l a t i o n z 20^ o f (equipm ent / b e l t )
cost
r 20^ of (2 9 ,0 0 0 / 9 3 ,0 0 0 )
z $24,400
(e ) C o n tin g e n c ie s z 2% o f (equipm ent / b e l t /
in s ta lla tio n )
= 2% o f (29,000 / 93,000 / 2 4 ,4 0 0 )
’ -c ; r :: : / . = $2,928 . :'y : ,
T o ta l ow nership c o s ts z 29,000 / 8 6 ,^ 0 0 / 93,000 /
24,400 / 2 ,9 2 8
= $237,828

Y e a rly d e p r e c ia t io n based on s t r a i g h t l i n e method

. (a )/(b )/(d )/(e ) , (c)

10 y e a rs 5 y e a rs
 79

_ 1 4 4 ,8 2 8 , 93,000
10 5
= 133,083

A verage In v e stm e n t (e x c lu d in g b e l t c o s t) = 144,828 x I P - / —^

.. ... .. 2 x 5
(fo rm u la 29)
•= $ 79,500

A verage in v e stm e n t f o r b e l t i n g 93,000 x d J —

2 x 5
:: - - = #55i75o
T o ta l a v e ra g e in v e s tm e n t - z 79 ,0 0 0 / 55,750
: : - • - = 1135,250

Y early i n t e r e s t , ta x e s and in su ran ce c o s t = 10^ o f t o t a l ave­

rage investm ent
- •- - ' .• ;■ . 1

= 10;S o f 135,2 5 0 =

■ - ®13,525

Y early f ix e d c o s t s = y e a r ly d e p r e c ia tio n / y e a r ly i n t e r e s t ,
ta x e s, e t c .
/ 3 3 ,0 8 3 / 13,525 : $4 6 ,6 0 8

II Operating c o s t s :

(a) Y early power c o s t (based on 2000 hours per y ear)

= $(200 x 0 .746 x 2000 x 0 . 008)
* -$ 2 ,4 9 0 :' :: " .
 80

(b ) Y e a r ly o p e r a tin g la b o r c o s t
= S ( 2 .5 0 x 2000)

= $ 5,000 . •:
(c) Y e a r ly m a in te n a n c e and r e p a ir c o s t s : . '

(i) M ain ten an ce la b o r c o s t - (3 men)

= 3 x 2 .5 0 x 2000 = $ 1 5 ,0 0 0

(ii) M ain ten an ce m a t e r ia l c o s t f o r r e ­

p la c e m e n t and l u b r i c a t i o n -

r 10$ o f b e l t c o s t / 2$ o f equipm ent

C O S t . . . : :v : L . : . .

: = 10$ o f 9 3 , 0 0 0 / 2 $ o f 2 9 ,0 0 0

= 9 ,3 0 0 / 580 s 9 ,8 8 0 '

T h e r e fo r e t o t a l m a in ten a n ce and r e p a ir c o s t
Z ite m ( i ) / ite m ( i i ) above
= 1 5 ,0 0 0 / 9 ,8 8 0 = $ 2^,880 ■
T o t a l o p e r a tin g c o s t s = 2 ,4 0 0 / 5 ,0 0 0 / 2 4 ,8 8 0

= $ 3 2 ,3 7 0

T h e r e fo r e t o t a l o w n ersh ip and o p e r a tin g c o s t s per

■ year .

= 4 6 ,6 0 8 / 32,370 = $ 78,978
T o t a l t o n s moved p e r y e a r @ 750 tp h * 2000 x 750

1 , 500,000

T h e r e fo r e c o s t / t o n o f c o a l h a u led = =
1 , 500,000
$ 0 ,0 5 3 p e r to n
 81

Or c o s t /t o n /m ile = 0 .0 5 3 x 28° . e.e t.

3 ,0 0 0 (le n g th o f haul)
Z $0.0 9 3 p e r to n p e r m ile .
NOTE: A c tu a lly th e c o s t /t o n - m ile w i l l be l e s s than
t h e above f ig u r e s in c e maintenance la b o r c o s t i s not
d ir e c t ly p r o p o r tio n a l t o le n g th o f h a u l.

COST CHARACTERISTICS OF BELT HAULAGE SYSTEM

Based on th e above c o s t e stim a tio n p rocedu re, a

range o f “h y p o th etica l* 1 d u tie s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f c o n d itio n s
under which th e conveyors w i l l run are in v e s t ig a t e d to de­
term ine th e b e lt haulage c o s t c h a r a c t e r is t ic s . The u se o f
th e term “h y p o th e tica l" should be c le a r ly understood th a t i t
i s th e conveyor i n s t a l l a t i o n s which are h y p o th e tic a l. The
c o s t s are r e a l , based on th e above c o s t e stim a tio n procedure
which i s developed from a c tu a l conveyor i n s t a l l a t i o n s and
m anufacturers* q u o ta tio n s.

With a l l th e se and th e fo llo w in g assum ptions t y p ic a l

c h a r a c t e r is t ic curves have been co n stru cted (se e F ig s . 5 and
6) from c a lc u la te d u n it c o s t s a t f i v e p o in ts fo r each curve:

(1) C onvention al ty p e b e lt haulage system ( i . e . ,

r ig id -fr a m e su pp ortin g s tr u c tu r e s ) w ith 20 deg. trou ghin g
id le r s .
(2 ) S tr a ig h t l i n e d e p r e c ia tio n method i s u se d .
(3) No sa lv a g e or r e s a le v a lu e o f th e equipment i s
 82

c o n s id e re d .
(M-) I n t e r e s t , ta x e s and in s u ra n c e c o s t i s ta k e n a t
■ „ ■:
Vyfo o f th e "A verage I n v e s tm e n t" . ■
; ; (5 ) M aintenance la b o r - t o t a l o f t h r e e men as
s p e c if ied: below :
one e l e c t r i c i a n
•. ; one m e c h a n ic a l f i t t e r
. : ! one man f o r p a t r o l l i n g and c le a n in g s p i l l a g e
(6) Labor r a t e f o r a l l c a te g o r ie s i s ta k e n a t $ 2 .5 0
p er hour in c lu d in g a l l f r i n g e b e n e f i t s .
(7) A ll o th e r c o s t f a c t o r s a r e ta k e n a s s p e c if ie d
i n th e c o s t e s tim a tio n p ro c e d u re .

HOW TO REDUCE CONVEYOR COSTS?

I t has a lr e a d y b een s t r e s s e d t h a t f o r c o n tin u o u s

o p e r a tio n , h ig h p r o d u c tio n , and low u n i t c o s t th e b e l t
h au lag e system i s th e b e s t s o l u t i o n f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f
c o a l in m in e s. But h ig h e r u n i t c o s t may r e s u l t b ecau se o f
im proper d e s ig n and i n s t a l l a t i o n o r poor m ain ten an ce and
o p e r a tio n . W ith c a r e f u l d e s ig n o f th e b e l t h au lag e system
and p ro p e r m a in te n a n c e , m ost o f th e b e l t h a u la g e c o s ts can
be k e p t to a minimum. The fo llo w in g a r e some o f th e o th e r
ways o f f u r t h e r re d u c in g th e b e l t h au lag e u n i t c o s t w herever
p r a c t i c a b l e and p o s s i b l e .
(l) Use o f n arro w b e l t w id th s and in c re a s e d sp e e d s.
A c tu a l lo a d in g t r a n s p o r t re q u ire m e n ts must be s tu d ie d
f o r each i n d i v i d u a l c a s e . The s i z e and shape o f th e m a t e r i a l
 HnXlZTS EECAIT
' T -
-L i _ .1

r1 - - r

„ u!

i ic Ifkisai T i-r-ri t ig a a r i
OUTPUT:Tons p er Hour
 rrrT

i LLi

OUTPUT* TONS Per HOUR

 85

may p la c e some r e s t r i c t i o n s on th e c h o ic e o f b e l t sp e e d . To
f i n d o u t w h eth er h ig h e r sp eed s r e a l l y re d u c e th e conveyor
c o s t s , a h y p o th e tic a l c a se can be s e t up a s fo llo w s by assum­
in g a s e t o f norm al conveyor c o n d itio n s :
( a ) ib e lt le n g th : 2000 f t .
(b) 1000 tp h w ith maximum lu m p size r .o .m . c o a l of
12 in c h e s
(c ) l e v e l g ra d e w ith no l i f t s or d e c lin e .
(d ) s ta n d a r d 20 d eg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s on r i g i d -
fram e s t r u c t u r e s .

Now r e f e r r i n g to F ig . 5 , th e fo llo w in g c o n c lu s io n s can be

drawn:
h2" b e l t conveys |iood]j@5l*0 "1 w ith u n i t c o s t o f $ 0 ,0 2 6 /
|_ tp tu |f .p .m j to n
48“ " |io o o ]|4 o o 1 " " " " $ 0 ,0 2 9 /
Ltphjf.i.p .m j to n
54" " " E 006I I 320 "I » » " " $0 , 031/
[ tp h ] (C.p.mj to n
The n e t sa v in g o f having a n a rro w -w id th b e l t o f 42" a t th e
h ig h e r speed o f 540 f .p .m . i s 11^ and 20% o v er t h a t o f a
48" b e l t a t 400 f .p .m . and a 54" b e l t a t 320 f .p .m .
re s p e c tiv e ly .

(2) Use o f deep tr o u g h i d l e r s -

For some y e a r s th e Germans i n t h e i r s t r i p m ining
o p e r a tio n s have made u se o f i d l e r s w ith a 30 d eg . tro u g h in g
a n g le i n p la c e o f commonly used 20 d e g . tro u g h in g i d l e r s in
th e U n ite d S t a t e s . The d e s ig n of deep tro u g h in g i d l e r s
 86

r e q u i r e s b e l t i n g t h a t w i l l be a b le t o w ith s ta n d s e v e re t r a n s ­
v erse fle x in g .

A 4 8 m b e l t a t 400 f .p .m . can h an d le 1000 tp h w ith

20 d eg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s . The same o u tp u t can be h an d led
by a 42" b e l t a t th e same speed o f 4-00 f .p .m . b u t w ith 35
deg . tro u g h in g i d l e r s . The n e t sa v in g i n c o s t w i l l b e , in
t h i s c a s e , ab o u t 10%.

(3) M u ltip le s h i f t o p e r a tio n in s te a d o f one s h i f t

p e r day -

O p e ra tin g th e b e l t a t two s h i f t s p e r day in s te a d of

one s h i f t , a n e t sa v in g o f 5% to 8% i n u n i t c o s t can be
ac c o m p lish e d . T his i s b ecau se th e o u tp u t i s d i r e c t l y p ro ­
p o r t i o n a l to number o f h o u rs w orked, w hereas th e d e p r e c ia tio n
p e r io d or th e l i f e o f th e equipm ent i s n o t.

(4) I n s t a l l i n g lo n g s in g l e co n v ey o rs -

W herever p o s s ib le and n e c e s s a ry th e f e a s i b i l i t y o f
u sin g one lo n g conveyor u n i t a s compared t o s e v e r a l s h o r te r
f l i g h t s sh o u ld be s tu d i e d . For in s t a n c e , a 4 0 0 0 - f t . long
s in g l e conveyor u n i t w i l l r e q u i r e an e x p e n siv e and h ig h e r
s t r e n g t h b e l t i n g o f s y n th e tic f i b e r o r s t e e l c a b le con­
s tru c tio n . However, th e i n i t i a l c o s t o f t h i s lo n g b e l tin g
a s a w hole w i l l be a p p ro x im a te ly 6% l e s s th a n th e t o t a l c o s t
of 4 s h o r t e r u n i t s o f 1000 f t . ea ch . A lso th e i n i t i a l
c a p i t a l in v e stm e n t (w ith o u t b e l t i n g ) f o r a 4000 f t . lo n g
 87

s in g l e u n i t w i l l be ab o u t 20^ l e s s th a n f o r f o u r s h o r te r
u n its . T h is sa v in g i s due to th e e l im in a tio n o f th r e e t r a n s ­
f e r p o in ts w ith t h e i r i n s t a l l a t i o n s o f m o to rs, t r a n s f e r
g e a r s , ta k eu p d e v ic e s , e t c . , a s compared to o n ly one t r a n s ­
f e r p o in t o f th e lo n g e r u n i t . , A lso t h e r e . w i l l be red u ce d
b reak a g e and d e g r a d a tio n o f c o a l c a r r i e d on a: lo n g e r, s in g l e
u n it. . :-: : ; v .; - : . . : - ■:■

(5) Use of m u lti-m o to rs in s t e a d o f s in g l e m otor

fo r la rg e r u n its -

On lo n g h o r i z o n t a l co n v ey o rs a tw o -p u lle y ty p e of
d r iv e o f te n p e rm its lo w er b e l t o p e r a tin g t e n s io n and th e r e ­
f o r e low er b e l t c o s t . A m u lti-m o to r d e s ig n w i l l a llo w a
w id er c h o ic e i n th e s e l e c t i o n o f th e low er horsepow er
m o to rs. A lso t h e c o s t o f s p a re m otor u n i t s i s much lo w e r.

(6) S h if t.f r o m r i g i d to ro p e -s u p p o rte d equipm ent -

The r o p e - s u p p o rte d conveyor h a u la g e can be in ­

s t a l l e d , e x ten d ed and r e l o c a t e d f a s t e r th a n th e c o n v e n tio n a l
ty p e of conveyor sy stem . Hence t h e r e w i l l be a n e t sa v in g
in th e u n i t c o s t o f h a u lin g c o a l when compared to r i g i d -
fram e b e l t h a u la g e . However, th e s h i f t from r i g i d to ro p e -
su p p o rte d s t r u c t u r e s f o r m ain l i n e b e l t h a u la g e i s v e ry slow
owing to i t s somewhat n o n - r i g i d i t y f o r perm anent h a u la g e and
to random breakdow ns.
 88

S im ila r t o r o p e - s u p p o rte d conveyor h a u la g e , th e

c a b l e - b e l t co n v ey o rs (s e e page 7) a ls o do n o t compare f a v o r ­
a b ly w ith c o n v e n tio n a l c o n v e y o rs. The e f f e c t i v e ro p e l i f e
i s one of th e im p o rta n t f a c t o r s i n d e te rm in in g th e o p e r a tin g
c o s ts of c a b l e - b e l t c o n v e y o rs . These u n i t s may be e x p e cte d
to be removed from s e r v ic e so o n e r th a n c o n v e n tio n a l b e l t s
f o r two m ain r e a s o n s : (a) a c c i d e n t a l damage may o ccu r w ith
g r e a t e r fre q u e n c y or (b ) w earin g down o f b e l t and c a b le may •
ta k e p la c e a t a g r e a t e r r a t e : '

W ith a l l th e s e s h o r t com ings o f ro p e -fra m e ( i . e . ro p e

s u p p o rte d i d l e r s t r u c t u r e s ) and c a b l e - b e l t . ( i . e . c a b le or
ro p e - s u p p o rte d b e l t s t r u c t u r e s ) u n i t s , i t i s d o u b tf u l w hether
th e s e conveyor sy stem s w i l l be. more c o m p e titiv e f o r a w id er
ra n g e o f d u tie s i n c o a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . A d d itio n a l r e - .
s e a r c h work m ust be u n d e rta k e n by e n g in e e rin g e s ta b lis h m e n ts
to d e te rm in e b re a k -e v e n p o in ts f o r d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f b e l t
h a u la g e sy ste m s. ..... : ...
 CHAPTER V II
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CONVEYOR BELTS
FOR EFFICIENT OPERATION

A v/ell designed conveyor, which, has been properly

in s ta lle d and maintained, w ill lower subsequent maintenance,
re p a ir and replacement co sts. The benefits of good main­
tenance, regular inspection and proper housekeeping of the
b e lt conveyor w ill r e s u lt in increased production,
efficiency and ease of operation. Like a l l machinery, how­
ever, they can be an endless source of trouble when neg­
le cted . Lack of periodic checking and maintenance of
alignment, lev elin g , cleaning, correct loading, lu b ricatin g
of the moving p a rts , e t c . , may cause severe damage or may
ru in a b e lt th a t frequently has a d ollar value greater than
any piece of equipment in the mine. By following simple
ru les and procedures, smooth running of the conveyor can be
expected with few or no breakdowns.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE '' : ' :v

Success with the b e lt haulage system comes from

proper in s ta lla tio n according to the recommendations of
b e lt manufacturers. The services of competent consultants

89 ::: ' .
 90

a r e u s u a lly j u s t i f i e d on Im p o rta n t i n s t a l l a t i o n s .

.... , F i r s t l y , th e d e te r m in a tio n o f r e q u ir e d b e l t le n g th
i s made a f t e r ta k in g i n t o c o n s id e r a tio n th e c e n t e r - t o - c e n t e r
d is ta n c e o f te r m in a l p u lle y s and-num ber and le n g th o f b e l t
s p l i c e s . . Then an o rd e r i s s e n t to th e m a n u fa c tu re r f o r i t s
p u rc h a s e . ... .......

........... S eco n d ly , some p r e c a u tio n s in h a n d lin g and s to r in g

o f conveyor b e l t r o l l s must be ta k e n when th e y a r e r e c e iv e d
from th e m a n u fa c tu re r. The b e l t r o l l s must be s to r e d i n a
c o o l d a rk p la c e w here o i l s , g a s o lin e and p a i n tin g m a te r ia l s
a re n o t p re s e n t. The p la c e s w here ozone i s produced: by
e l e c t r i c a l equipm ent o r w eld in g must be av o id ed f o r b e l t
s to r a g e . 'New a s w e ll a s o ld b e l t s must be h an d led c a r e f u l l y
w ith o u t d ro p p in g . I f r o l l s a r e han d led w ith s l i n g s , a b ar
th ro u g h th e c e n te r f o r l i f t i n g i s u sed and th e b e l t edges
a r e p r o te c te d w ith p la n k s . In h a n d lin g and i n s t a l l a t i o n th e
b e l t m ust n o t be b e n t more s h a rp ly th a n minimum p u lle y d ia ­
m e te r.... P ro p er equipm ent and m ethods m ust be u sed i n moving
a b e l t i n t o '-th e m ine, su ch a s w inding i t on a h o r iz o n ta l
sp in d le "'a n d moving i t u p r ig h t i n t o th e m ine.

T h ir d ly , th e f o llo w in g p r e c a u tio n s m ust be ta k e n

d u r in g , i n s t a l l a t i o n o f b e l t co n v ey o rs: , ... , _1

(1) S in ce th e a lig n m e n t i s c r i t i c a l w ith u n d er­

ground b e l t s , p ro p e r a lig n m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y .
 91
(2) Keep b e l t l e v e l t r a n s v e r s e l y .
(3) P ro v id e p ro p e r c l e a r a n c e . T h is f a c i l i t a t e s
in s p e c tio n and m a in ten an ce a s w e ll a s a v o id in g damage or
f a u l t y o p e r a tio n .
0+) A lig n i d l e r s p r o p e r ly . P ro v id e added in ­
su ra n c e by ju d ic io u s u se o f s e l f a lig n in g i d l e r s a t i n ­
t e r v a l s of 200 f e e t on r e t u r n and 400 f e e t on c a rr y in g
s i d e , and c lo s e to head and t a i l p u lle y s f o r c e n te r in g .
(5 ) Make s u r e t h a t lo a d in g and d is c h a r g e c h u te s a r e
p r o p e r ly c o n s tr u c te d and a lig n e d and t h a t p r o v is io n i s made
to e lim in a te or re d u c e th e im p act t o a minimum.
(6) S e le c t c o n t r o l equipm ent f o r s t a r t i n g th e
m otors and f o r a u x i l i a r y c o n t r o l s on th e b a s is o f th e ty p e
and s iz e o f m otor u se d , th e to r q u e r e q u ir e d to a c c e l e r a t e
th e co n v ey o r, and v a r io u s p r o t e c t i o n s a g a in s t o v erflo w o f
m a t e r i a l , a c c i d e n t a l r e v e r s a l and o v e rsp e e d in g , r o o f f a l l s ,
m is a lig n m e n t, e x c e s s iv e b e l t s lip p a g e , c h u te c lo g g in g and
p i l i n g o f m a t e r i a l a t d is c h a r g e p o i n t s , conveyor f i r e s , e t c .
A ll th e s e c o n t r o ls a r e n e c e s s a r y on b e l t conveyor i n ­
s t a l l a t i o n from t h e s ta n d p o in t o f s a f e and e f f i c i e n t
o p e r a tio n .
(7) Do n o t u se o ld b e l t i n g f o r s k i r t i n g . The i n ­
g ra in e d c o a l p a r t i c l e s make i t a c t l i k e sand p a p e r. Use
s p e c i a l s k i r t i n g m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e from b e l t m a n u fa c tu re rs .
(8) Check conveyor p a r t s th o ro u g h ly b e fo re b e l t
in s ta lla tio n . These in c lu d e : s t r u c t u r e , p u lle y s , i d l e r s ,
 92
lo a d in g equipm ent and s k i r t b o a rd s. '■ ./ : r-
■ •": (9) P o s itio n b e l t i n g r o l l p r o p e r ly , w h eth er on a
h o r iz o n ta l o r v e r t i c a l s p in d l e . ' v »
(10) Unwind b e l t r o l l by power i f p o s s i b l e - - from
to p o f r o l l i f f e d i n t o c a r r y in g r o l l s , or from th e bottom
i f o n to th e r e t u r n ' i d l e r s A w ire -ro p e and p u lli n g p l a t e
may be used or -the new b e l t may be a tta c h e d to th e o ld in
r e p la c e m e n t. - '; - . ' .i- ' - :';"
:(11);...-Keep:';t e i t t i g h t a s i t i s u n r o lle d to p re v e n t
tw is tin g or te le s c o p in g . Avoid sh a rp t w i s t s , bends and h ard
p u l l i n g . - Unwind s lo w ly . • -•-- • - ' :
• (12) P u l l b e l t 'i n t o p o s i t i o n by-'w inch;or s im ila r
eq u ip m en t. P u l l ev e n ly a c r o s s e n t i r e w id th of b e l t .
(13) -E x ert s u f f i c i e n t te n s io n •i n p u l-lin g th e b e l t
to g e th e r so t h a t th e screw ty p e ta k eu p i s in p ro p e r p o s i t i o n
when s p l i c e s a r e made. W ith c o u n te rw e ig h t g r a v ity - ty p e
ta k e u p , a p p ly s u f f i c i e n t f o r c e to move ta k e u p p u lle y from
maximum p o s i t i o n to c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n . ' .
( I 1*) - Check t r a i n i n g o f b e l t , in c lu d in g r e t u r n ru n
and t a i l p u lle y . : on .
- - (15) Check f o r a lig n m e n t and r u b b in g - a g a in s t .
lo a d in g and d is c h a r g e c h u te s and s k i r t i n g .

PROTECTION OF BELTS

A f te r p ro p e r i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a b e l t conveyor- sy stem ,
i t i s "n e cessary t o ta k e c a re o f a b e l t from p o s s i b le damage
 93
d u rin g i t s n o rm al o p e r a t i o n . - The f o llo w in g " p o in ts a r e .w orth
n o tin g :"
' (1) P ro v id e p ro p e r r o o f and r i b - s u p p o r t s .
’• • (2 ) K e e p -b e lt h ea d in g s f r e e o f w ate r and p r o t e c t
th e b e l t from dir ip s . ;;
(3 ) V e n t i l a t e b e ltw a y s " p r o p e r ly .
(4) Reduce f i r e h a z a rd s by u sin g approved f i r e -
.................................... ...... ' - ' ' - - - "- ' ' - ' - ^ ' - ":X . . . u i

r e s i s t a n t . b e l t s and f i r e - r e s i s t a n t m a te r ia l f o r p u lle y
la g g in g , im pact i d l e r s , s k i r t i n g , e t c . Guard a g a in s t
" fro z e n " or h o t ru n n in g r o l l e r s by r e g u la r in s p e c ti o n .
E s t a b l i s h c o r r e c t t e n s i o n i n th e b e l t . - E lim in a te s p i l l a g e
and over lo a d in g . P re v e n t p ile u p s a t lo a d in g and t r a n s f e r
p o in ts . ■
(5) P ro v id e p ro p e r l u b r i c a t i o n , p e r io d ic in s p e c tio n
and prom pt r e p a i r to th e damaged b e l t .

BELT MAINTENANCE GUIDES

The b e g in n in g and a l s o end of p ro p e r b e l t m ain ten an ce

i s good h o u se k e e p in g . T h is d oes n o t mean c le a n in g u p .a
conveyor roadw ay m onthly o r ev e ry two m o n th s. But i t means .
m a in ta in in g a c le a n conveyor system a t a l l tim e s ; t h a t i s ,
d a i l y and w eekly in s p e c ti o n sc h e d u le s m ust be a rra n g e d . The
p a tro lm e n on th e conveyor sy stem must be made r e s p o n s ib le f o r
making q u ic k d a i l y ex am in atio n s" to d e t e c t d an g ero u s c o n d itio n s .
A ll em erg en cies sh o u ld be r e p o r te d im m ed ia tely so t h a t th e
conveyor can be s h u t down and r e p a i r e d . Im proper m ain ten an ce
 94

may r e s u l t i n conveyor f i r e s . Good m ain ten an ce i s n e c e s s a r y

n o t o n ly from th e s ta n d p o in t o f re d u c in g breakdow ns, b u t
a ls o from th e s ta n d p o in t o f s a f e ty and c o n t in u ity o f o p e ra ­
tio n . The fo llo w in g check l i s t can be u sed a s a g u id e to
d a i l y and w eekly i n s p e c t i o n s . A d d itio n a l c h e c k p o in ts may be
needed to f i t p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n . .

(1) TROUBLE: B e lt ru n s o f f c e n te r a t a s p e c i f i c p o in t o r
clim bs sid e -w a y s on some i d l e \. ;. v ' .y/ vi

Cause Remedy
(a ) O ff c e n te r lo a d in g A d ju st c h u te s and o th e r lo a d ­
in g d e v ic e s to p u t lo a d in th e
c e n te r and i n th e d i r e c t i o n of
b e l t movement.
(b) Conveyor fram e n o t
• s tra ig h t J S tr a ig h te n a c c o rd in g to n e e d .
(c ) I d l e r s ta n d s n o t
c e n te re d . . , - v Same c o r r e c t i o n a s abo v e.
(d) Id le rs s tic k - L u b r ic a te p r o p e r ly .o r r e p l a c e .
(e ) Loose i d l e r s R e p o s itio n and f a s t e n s e c u r e ly .
(f) One s id e o f conveyor
i s low L ev e l up and s e c u r e . , •: v
(g) M a te r ia l b u ild s on
i d l e r s a t te r m i n a l Improve m a in te n a n c e ;and r i n s t a l l
p u lle y s . b e l t c le a n in g equipm ent r.v.”
 95
(2) TROUBLE:: B e lt r u n s o f f a t t e r m ln a l..

Cause Remedy,
■ P u lle y or ap p ro a c h in g : v ..
id le r s n o t in l i n e . A lig n p r o p e r ly . •. , , .

(3) TROUBLE: B e lt w anders a t random .

(a) Too s t i f f b ec au se of Use b e l t w ith more t r a n s v e r s e

d e s ig n f l e x i b i l i t y o r add e x tr a
a lig n in g a id s and t i l t tro u g h -
in g i d l e r s ahead n o t o v er 2
v : v;: ;: ; , d eg ree s. -
(b) Too s t i f f b ec au se o f Allow; p ro p e r .b re a k -in tim e ,
new n ess. Reduce b r e a k - in tim e by l e t t i n g
b e l t sta n d lo a d e d over n i g h t .
(4) TROUBLE: B e lt s t r e t c h e s e x c e s s iv e ly . S p lic e s weaken
p r e m a tu re ly . C uts or b re a k s e n la r g e q u ic k ly . .

E x cess s t a r t i n g t e n s io n I n c r e a s e sp e e d .
o r e x c e ss b e l t t e n s i o n
Keep to n n a g e
th e same o r re d u c e to n n ag e a t
th e same sp e e d . Even up f e e d -
in g r a t e . D ec re ase d rag by p ro ­
p e r i d l e r l u b r i c a t i o n , r e p la c e ­
ment o f worn o u t i d l e r s and
rem o v al o f s p i l l a g e m a t e r i a l .
Use minimum w eig h t o f c o u n te r
b a la n c in g w e ig h ts . R e p la c e w ith
low er e lo n g a tio n b e l t .
 96
(5) TROUBLE: B e lt edges worn o r gouged. .

Cause Remedy
(a ) R ubbing. R e a lig n b e l t i f n e c e s s a r y .
Remove a l l o b s t r u c t i o n s .
(b) O f f - c e n te r lo a d in g . R e p o s itio n lo a d in g and
M isalig n m en t, d e f e c t - tr a n s f e r c h u te s . A lig n
(: ) iv e .s e lf - a lig n in g b e lts ; R e p air or r e p la c e ;
•■ id le rs . . ' f a u lty ;id le rs .

(6) TROUBLE: E x c e s s iv e to p co v e r w ear.

(a ) Poor- cover., q u a l i t y . R ep lace b e l t w ith one

h av in g a*, h e a v ie r co v e r
o r h ig h q u a l i t y co v er
m a t e r i a l .: , .
(b) Slow ru n n in g o r s tu c k C le a n ;up b e l t w i t h . b e l t •
m is a lig n e d r e t u r n c le a n in g d e v i c e s .: R e a lig n
ro lls . re tu rn r o lle r s . Use ru b b e r
d is c r e t u r n r o l l s , i f ;•
n e c e ssa ry .
(c) Poor lo a d in g . Feed c o a l o n to b e l t i n th e i
s a m e .d ir e c tio n and a t th e

/ '• \ . , . —
same speed o f th e b e l t .
\ ! i ti ■■ . . ' . » - . • ‘ ^ •, -

(d) P ilin g up a t head Keep c le a n in g and lo a d

■ ) and t a i l p u l l e y s . p r o p e r ly .
 97

(7) TROUBLE: E x c e s s iv e bottom co v er w e a r.

Cause Remedy
(a) B e lt s lip p in g o f f A d ju st ta k eu p d e v ic e s to in ­
d r iv e p u lle y . c r e a s e te n s io n . In c re a se a rc
o f c o n ta c t w ith snub p u lle y
o r tandem d r iv e .
(b) S tic k in g r o l l e r s . - ' S e rv ic e and l u b r i c a t e p r o p e r ly .
(c ) E xcess tro u g h in g T i l t n o t over 2 d e g re e s from
id le rs . u p rig h t.
(d) B o lt heads pro-,
tr u d in g above
la g g e d d r iv in g T ig h te n b o l t s , r e p la c e worn
drum s. o u t la g g in g .
(e) M a te r ia l b u ild s up Do n o t lo a d b e l t to o h e a v ily .
due t o s p i l l a g e or Use good c h u te lo a d in g
;V -k-' ‘.j. ‘ ’ r1"^"• ‘ " '
o th e r r e a s o n s . fa c ilitie s . Use s c r a p e r s ( to
c le a n b e l t ) ahead o f t a i l
p u lle y on r e t u r n r u n . Use
p l a t e or v u lc a n iz e d s p l i c e s to
ch eck le a k a g e . I n s p e c t and
c le a n r e g u l a r l y .

(8) TROUBLE: The c a r c a s s b r e a k s .

(a) -Im pact. ~ < Load a t f l a t a n g le a t b e l t

speed and In l i n e w ith b e l t .
Use c u sh io n i d l e r s .
 98

Cause Remedy
(b) M a te r ia l tra p p e d P la c e s c r a p e r s ahead o f t a i l
b e tw e e n ;b e l t a n d , p u lle y on r e t u r n s i d e .
p u lle y ..
(c ) M a te r ia l b u ild in g up
on p u l l e y s . Use p ro p e r b e l t c l e a n e r s .

(9) TROUBLE: C re s c e n t b: :s, o r mushy s p o t s .

Mildew Use mildew i n h i b i t e d b e l t s .

(10) TROUBLE: C ro ssw ise ak a t edge.

(a) B e lt edges f o ld in g Use l i m i t s w itc h e s to s to p

up. e x c e s s iv e s h i f t i n g of b e l t .
Remove o b s tr u c t io n s and p ro ­
v id e ample s id e c le a r a n c e .
(b) Poor p o s it io n in g o f
i d l e r s n e x t to head
p u lle y - to o c lo s e R e lo c a te o r r e a d j u s t i d l e r s
or to o h ig h . o r p u lle y p o s i t i o n .
(c) Too sh a rp v e r t i c a l I n c r e a s e cu rv e r a d iu s to r e ­
c u rv e . 1 duce s t r e s s e s on i d l e r s and
b e lt.

(11) TROUBLE: L engthw ise c a r c a s s b re a k b u t bottom and

to p c o v e rs i n t a c t .
 99
Cause Remedy
(a) B e lt ru n n in g o f f
and f o ld in g b ac k . Use l i m i t s w ith c e s .
(b) Im p a c t. . : Reduce im p a c t.

(12) TROUBLE: S h rin k a g e o f b e l t .

M o is tu re . ... ;' S p l i c e - i n e x tr a p ie c e w ith -

- v .1 ta k e u p d e v i c e . h a l f down. -

(13) Bowing up th e E lim in a te o i l so u rc e or u se

c e n te r o r s p o t an o i l r e s i s t a n t b e l t . To
s w e l lin g . r e l i e v e c o n d itio n i n th e
e x i s t i n g b e l t , groove le n g th -
- - l v . - w ise w ith tir e - g r o o v in g t o o l .

(14) TROUBLE: B l i s t e r i n th e c o v e r .

F in e m a t e r i a l w orking
U n to c u ts o r p u n c - . ; S pot r e p a i r and v u lc a n iz e
•1 tu re s . . ' .. t h e p a r t .

(II?) TROUBLE: C ro ssw ise b re a k s of m e ta l f a s t e n e r b e l t

jo in ts . ... 1 v... ■

B e lt f a s t e n e r Use s h o r te r f a s t e n e r s o r
p l a t e s to o lo n g . in c r e a s e p u lle y s i z e , or b o th .
 _ i -; CHAPTER V I I I -- : :.
CONCLUSIONS; AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE STUDY ' ‘

CONCLUSIONS

: : ; (1) ;.¥ h e n f i r s t c o n s id e r in g th e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f b e l t
co n v e y o rs, one sh o u ld c a r e f u l l y e s tim a te th e c o a l r e s e r v e s
a v a i l a b l e i n o rd e r to a s s u r e t h a t d e p r e c ia t io n c o s ts w i l l
h o t be e x o r b ita n t and t o d e c id e w hether to i n s t a l l co m p lete
b e l t conveyor h a u la g e o r a co m b in atio n o f b e l t s and o th e r
h au lag e sy ste m s.

(2 ) G re a t c a r e m ust be ta k e n w ith th e i n s t a l l a t i o n
o f a l l m a in - lin e and o th e r im p o rta n t conveyor s t r u c t u r e s .
These sh o u ld be eq u ip p ed w ith p ro p e r e l e c t r i c a l o v e rlo a d
d e v ic e s and seq u en ce and s lip p a g e c o n t r o ls to p re v e n t “p i l e -
ups'* of c o a l a t t r a n s f e r p o i n t s . The o p e r a tin g c o s ts of th e
b e l t h a u la g e system w i l l be h ig h e r w ith f a u l t y i n s t a l l a t i o n
and m a in te n a n c e . v. ■ •

(3) F o r eco n o m ical o p e r a tio n o f conveyor h a u la g e ,

th e b e l t w id th sh o u ld n o t be w id er th a n n e c e s s a r y and I t
sh o u ld be ru n a s f a s t a s p o s s i b le w ith in th e ra n g e o f r e -
c - n r : r .
commended b e l t sp e e d s .

100
 101

-U (h) A ll th e b e l t h a u la g e c o s t com ponents v a ry w ith

th e b e l t le n g th ; some v a ry d ir e c tly ^ - T o r example th e owner­
sh ip and en erg y c o s t s ; some v a r y : p a r t i a l l y and i n s t e p s , a s
w ith o p e r a tin g e x p e n se s . T h e re fo re ,' th e c o s t p e r to n w i l l
be somewhate p r o p o r ti o n a l to th e le n g th , and th e c o s t p e r
to n - m ile w i l l be r e a s o n a b ly c o n s ta n t, te n d in g to d e c re a s e
s l i g h t l y - i f a t a l l - w ith in c r e a s e in le n g th .

(5 ) The ow nership and en erg y c o s ts a r e d i r e c t l y

p r o p o r ti o n a l to th e to n n a g e c a r r i e d ; how ever, th e o p e r a tin g
and m ain ten an ce c o s ts rem a in f a i r l y s te a d y . Hence w ith in ­
c r e a s in g to n n ag e c a r r i e d , th e c o s t p e r to n w i l l f a l l
s te a d ily .

(6) The e f f e c t o f in c r e a s in g g r a d ie n t a g a in s t th e
lo a d w i l l be t o in c r e a s e c a p i t a l and en erg y c h a rg e s a s in ­
i t i a l c o s t o f equipm ent r i s e s b ecau se o f th e more c o s t l y
b e l t r e q u ir e d to w ith s ta n d th e h ig h e r s t r e s s e s and e x tr a
horsepow er need ed to e l e v a t e th e m a t e r i a l .

(7) The o p e r a tin g c o s ts f o r o p e r a tin g la b o r and

m ain ten an ce la b o r w i l l rem a in f a i r l y c o n s ta n t up to a
h au lag e d is t a n c e o f ab o u t one m ile ; beyond t h i s , th e la b o r
c o s t may in c r e a s e i n s te p s f o r each a d d i t i o n a l m ile o r
fra c tio n th e re o f.

The o p e r a tin g and m a in te n an ce la b o r c o s ts depend,

a l s o , upon th e d e g re e o f a u to m a tio n a t th e lo a d in g and
 102

d is c h a rg e p o in ts and on th e number o f s e p a r a te conveyor u n i t s

o p e ra tin g i n t h e same v i c i n i t y . T his i s b ec au se more u n i t s
can be o p e ra te d ' and m a in ta in e d by th e sam e.crew o f men and
i f th e s e u n i t s a r e c o n c e n tr a te d a t one p la c e , th e r e s u l t i n g
o p e ra tin g and m ain ten an ce c o s ts can be d i s t r i b u t e d among a l l
u n its . I f th e d is t a n c e betw een s e p a r a te u n i t s i n c r e a s e s ,
s e p a r a te m ain ten an ce crew s m ust be employed a s i t w i l l n o t be
p o s s ib le f o r th e same crew to lo o k a f t e r a l l th e u n i t s .

FUTURE TRENDS ./ • ’

(1 ) As l a r g e r c o a l m ining m achines a r e u sed and

p ro d u c tio n becomes more c o n c e n tr a te d , more a t t e n t i o n must be
p a id to h a u la g e problem s to re d u c e u n i t c o s t s .

(2) New p o ly e s te r s y n t h e t i c f i b e r m a te r ia l s w i l l be
dev elo p ed i n th e f u t u r e to w ith s ta n d h e a v ie r s t r e s s e s , whence
i t w i l l be p o s s i b le t o u se lo n g e r s in g le conveyor u n i t s .
A lso , th e in v e n tio n o f.so m e k in d o f m a t e r i a l t o be u sed i n
b e l t s m ust be made to g u ard a g a in s t e l e c t r o s t a t i c s p a rk s
produced when th e b e l t s a r e o p e ra te d a t h ig h sp eed s and
th e re b y overcom ing one c a u se o f conveyor f i r e s .

(3 ) I t w i l l become a s ta n d a r d p ro c e d u re i n th e
f u t u r e t o u se o n ly f i r e - r e s i s t a n t b e l t i n g f o r a l l u n d er­
ground conveyor h a u la g e i n s t a l l a t i o n s .

(^ ) Use o f d ee p er tro u g h in g i d l e r s f o r u n d erg ro u n d

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f c o a l w i l l be in tro d u c e d i n th e n e a r f u t u r e .
 103

(5) Im provem ents and. m o d if ic a tio n s in th e e x t e n s ib l e

b e l t s , a r t i c u l a t e d and ca sc a d e ty p e conveyor eq u ip m en t; and
s in g l e b e l t conveyor u n i t s -which can c lim b , t u r n and have an
alm o st u n lim ite d number of d is c h a r g e p o in ts w i l l be u sed f o r
c o a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n m in e s.

(6) The ro p e -fra m e conveyor h a u la g e (n o t c a b l e - b e l t )

system may become alm o st s ta n d a r d f o r many u n d erg ro u n d s e r ­
v ic e s and may f i n d grow ing u se i n o th e r i n d u s t r i e s f o r t r a n s ­
p o r t a t i o n o f b u lk m a t e r i a l s .

(7 ) . . . . I t i s e x p e c te d t h a t c a b l e - b e l t co n v ey o rs w i l l
be used in th e U. S. c o a l m ining in d u s t r y .

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE STUDY

The f o llo w in g stu d y sh o u ld be made re g a r d in g con­

vey o r h au lag e i n m ines:

(1) P r e c is e in f o rm a tio n must be o b ta in e d f o r e s­

t a b l i s h i n g s ta n d a r d c o s t e s tim a tio n p ro c e d u re s f o r o th e r
ty p e s o f conveyor h a u la g e sy stem s such a s ro p e -fra m e , c a b le -
b e l t , pan or p l a t e , s h a k e r , b r id g e , c h a in , a r t i c u l a t e d and
ca sca d e c o n v e y o rs. The l i m i t a t i o n s o f th e s e ty p e s o f con­
vey o r h au lag e sy stem s f o r e f f i c i e n t and economic o p e r a tio n
must a l s o be a s c e r t a i n e d .

(2) A com p ariso n o f owning and o p e r a tin g c o s ts o f

d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f conveyor and o th e r h au lag e m ethods sh o u ld
 104

be made f o r v a r io u s le n g t h s , c a p a c i t i e s , g r a d ie n ts and o th e r
■working c o n d itio n s ; and economic l i m i t a t i o n s f o r each ty p e
of h au lag e sh o u ld be d e te rm in e d .

(3) The modern e l e c t r o n i c com puters sh o u ld be in ­

v e s t i g a t e d f o r p o s s i b le a p p l i c a t i o n s i n th e s o l u t i o n o f con­
veyor h au lag e p ro b lem s, e s p e c i a l l y th o s e t h a t a r e r e p e t i t i v e
or i t e r a t i v e in n a t u r e . These in c lu d e d e te r m in a tio n o f
b re a k -e v e n p o in ts f o r owning and o p e ra tin g conveyor h au lag e
system s f o r d i f f e r e n t co m b in a tio n s of g r a d e s , le n g t h s , w id th s ,
sp e e d s, e t c . , and th e s e must be compared w ith o th e r h au lag e
sy ste m s. A ll th e s e r e s u l t s sh o u ld en a b le management to make
b e t t e r d e c is io n s in th e s e l e c t i o n and d e s ig n o f d i f f e r e n t
h au lag e sy ste m s. .
 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SELECTED REFERENCES

PERIODICALS

1. “ New p ro d u c ts d i g e s t -.C lim b in g and tu r n in g con­

v e y o r s ," E n g in e e rin g and Mining J o u r n a l . V ol 1 6 3 ,
No h, A p r il 1962, p . 53 .
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d is ta n c e s c o n tin u e to I n c r e a s e i n f u t u r e . "
E n g in e e rin g and M ining J o u r n a l . V ol 162, No 8 ,
A ugust 1961, p p . 86- 7 .
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V ol 6 5 , No 1 0 , O c t. I9 6 0 , pp. 1 1 2 -1 4 , 116.
•4 . D. C. J o n e s , "H andling lump c o a l on b e l t s , "
M e c h a n iz a tio n . V ol 24, No 9, S e p t. I9 6 0 , pp. 7 3 -5 .
5. H. W. M eador, "New developm ent i n b e l t h a u la g e ,"
: :. M ining C ongress J o u r n a l . V ol 4 6 , No 9 , S e p t, i 9 60,
pp. 86-9. .. . , . ■
•6 . W. A. McCurdy, "T rack f o r lo n g h a u l ," M e c h a n iz a tio n ,
V ol 2 4 , No 8 , A ugust i 960, p p . 69- 7 2 . . ;
7* W. A. McCurdy, "Problem s o f new mine d e s ig n ,"
M e c h a n iz a tio n . V ol 25, No 6 , Ju n e i 960, p p . 43-53*
8. W. G. H allam , " L a b o ra to ry a sse ssm e n t o f conveyor b e l t
p e rfo rm a n c e ." C o l lie r y G u a rd ia n . V ol 200, No 5 l6 4 ,
A p r il 7 , I9 6 0 , p p . 3 9 1 -4 .
105
“ C o ntinuous t r a n s p o r t a t i o n in s p e c i a l mine la y o u t
p a c e s high, p r o d u c t i v i t y , ” C oal /le e . V ol 6 5 , No 4 ,
A p r il I9 6 0 , p p . 7 2 -8 .
J . R. B randon, “T ip s on b e l t conveyor m a in te n a n c e ,”
G o ai Age. V ol 65, No 3 , March I9 6 0 , p p . 1 0 0 -2 , 104.
D. S,. K edick and T. Furman, "Review of b e l t co n v ey o rs
w ith s t e e l h a u la g e m em bers,” C o l lie r y E n g in e e rin g ,
V ol 3 7 , No 4 3 1 , J a n . I9 6 0 , p p . 1 7 -2 4 .
N. Brook, “E s tim a tio n o f conveyor s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , ”
C o l lie r y E n g in e e rin g . V ol 36, No 4 2 9 , Nov. 1959,
p p . 4 8 0 -9 2 .
G. H. V u lcan , “Changes i n c o n v e y o r, b e l t p r o p e r t i e s
w ith s e r v i c e , ” C o l lie r y E n g in e e rin g . V ol 36 ,
No> 2 4 , June 1959, p p . 2 4 l- 6 .
D.. B; Shupe, " E x p e rie n c e w ith flam e r e s i s t a n t b e l t i n g
Mining C ongress J o u r n a l . Vol 4 5 , No 4 , A p r il 1959,
-PP* 5 9 -6 2 .
“Low. speed and low c o s t b e l t s f o r h o is t in g m en,"
C oal Age, V ol 6 3 , No 7A, M id -Ju ly 1958, p . 79-
"T hree y e a rs o f h o is t in g w ith P r in c e s s C a b le - b e l t,"
C oal Age, V ol 6 3 , No 9 , S e p t. 1958, pp. 1 0 6 -8 .
" E le c tr o n ic conveyor c o n t r o l s , ” C oal Age. V ol 6 3 ,
No 8 , A ugust 1958, p p . 1 0 6 -7 .
H. J . A tk in so n , J . F . C arr and E. H oyle, "Developm ent
and u se o f f i r e - r e s i s t a n t b e l t i n g , " C o l lie r y
G u a rd ia n , V ol 1 9 6 , No 5072, May 8 , 1958, p p . 567-73
 107
19. T. D. E l l i o t , “Developm ent o f c a b l e - b e l t c o n v e y o rs ,”
I r o n and C oal T rad es R eview . V ol 176, No 4 6 8 9 ,
A p r il 4 , 1958, pp. 8 0 9 -1 3 .
20. "B e ltm a n 's g u id e ,” C oal Age, V ol 6 ^ T No 3 , March 1958,
pp. 1 2 2 -2 7 .
21. A. E. F lo w e rs, "Rope b e l t s b o o stin g e f f i c i e n c y a t
P eab o d y ," C oal Age, V ol 6 2 , No 2 , F eb . 1958,
pp. 1 2 4 -3 4 .
22. E. F . H ew ett, " C a b le - b e lt conveyor and i t s a p p l i­
c a tio n s ,"
P ro c e e d in g s . No l8 4 . D ec. 1957, PP. 4 4 -8 .
23. R. F . K nobloch, "How to g e t more and b e t t e r s e r v ic e
from b e l t c o n v e y o rs ," Coa^ ^ g e . V ol 6 2 , No 8 ,
A ugust 1957, p p . 7 6 -9 •
24. " B e lt t h a t goes aro u n d c o r n e r s ," M e c h a n iz a tio n .
V ol 20, No 1 0 , O ct. 1956, pp. 72-3•
25. R. U. Ja c k so n , "C onveyors V s. t r a c k h a u la g e ,"
Mining E n g in e e rin g . V ol 4 , No 9 , S e p t. 1952,
pp. 8 6 6 -9 . .

BOOKS AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES

1. E. R. D re v d a h l, P r o f i t a b l e use o f e x c a v a tio n e q u ip - >

d e n t , T ucson, A r i z . , D e s e rt L a b o r a to r ie s , T e c h n ic a l
P u b lic a tio n s , 1 9 6 1 .
2. J . J . S h ie ld s and J . J . Dowd, "M ech an ical m ining i n
b itu m in o u s c o a l m in e s ." P ro g re s s r e p o r t No 9 -
F ace h a u la g e , USBM I n f e r . C ir c . No 7978, I9 6 0 .
 108

3. J . ¥ . H ardy, B e lt conveyor c o m p u ta tio n s . H a ls te d

S t r e e t , C h ic a g o -9 > Goodman M an u factu rin g C o . , I9 6 0 .
U-. ,,RopexH - Goodman*s e x t e n s ib l e b e l t conveyor and
R o p e -b e lt c o n v e y o rT Goodman*s c a ta lo g No G-123
and G -150.
5. M a te r ia ls h a n d lin g handbook, New Y ork, R onald P re s s
Co. , 1958.
6. C. E. B u l lin g e r , E n g in e e rin g economy. New Y ork,
M cGraw-Hill Book Co. , 1958.
7. R e la tin g roadway co n v ey o rs to i t s d u ty . N.C.B. I n f o r .
B u l l e t i n No 5 8 /1 9 7 , G rosvenor P la c e , London, S.W. 1 ,
N a tio n a l Coal B o ard , 1958.
8. L in k - b e lt C a ta lo g No 1 0 0 0 . 233, Broadway, New York 7 ,
L in k -B e lt Co. , 1958. /:...
9. H. E. P r u n e r , A H ab o u t b e l tin g r Handbook M, 63lH—B - l
and 1 7 , R o c k f e lle r C e n te r , New York 20, U n ite d
S ta te s Rubber Co . , 1957.
10. N a tio n a l E l e c t r i c a l M a n u fa c tu re rs A s s o c ia tio n
s ta n d a r d s f o r m ining b e l t c o n v e y o rs, C irc. No MB-1,
1956.
11. P e r m is s ib le mine equipm ent approved d u rin g th e
c a le n d e r y e a rs 1 9 5 5 -5 6 . USBM I n f o r . C i r c . No 7840.
12. R/M E n g in e e rin g g u id e f o r conveyor b e l t i n g T P a s s a ic ,
' New J e r s e y , R a y b e sto s-M a n h a tta n , I n c . , 1956.
13. W. G. Hudson, C onveyors and r e l a t e d eq u ip m en t. New
Y ork, John W iley , 1949•