Pipe Conveyors are an environment friendly solution for conveying bulk material with zero spillage. They have the ability to cover difficult terrain which conventional conveyors would find difficult to negotiate.
Pipe conveyors are similar to a conventional belt conveyor at the material receiving area and discharge area. Thereafter the flat belt is slowly shaped to trough belt through transition and carrying idlers. At the end of loading zone, the conveyor belt gradually takes on a pipe formation with the help of variable off set rollers, finger rollers and pipe forming idlers.
The bottom three rollers at the carrying side of a Pipe Conveyor support the belt and material load whereas the top three rollers maintain the belt in its pipe shape. At the horizontal and vertical curved sections, rollers surrounding the belt support the load depending on the direction of the resultant force. The same applies to the bottom or return belt side of the pipe conveyor which may be utilized to transport a second material, thereby reducing capital and operating cost.
Development of suitable high resilient flexible belting has acted as a catalyst for the growth and popularity of pipe conveyor installations for several industries.
Pipe Conveyer's advantages over conventional conveyors:
- Enclosed, clean and environment friendly transportation eliminating spillage, scattering and return dropping of materials.
- Non-exposure to atmosphere resulting in retention of material properties.
- Curvature possible in both horizontal and vertical planes associated with steeper angle of inclination.
- Option of transporting second material through the return side pipe of the system.
- Overall savings in space requirement, structural and foundation cost.