Pulley lagging

Details Pulley lagging Pulley lagging

1998-04-17

2001-01-02

Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)

Endless belt power transmission systems or components

Friction drive pulley or guide roll

Including nonmetallic belt-engaging surface portion

C474S191000, C428S835000, C428S843000

Utility Patent

active

06168544

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates to lagging material for use with pulleys, conveyor drums and the like but more particularly relates to improvements in said laggings which results in wider versatility in fitment and improved performance. The invention also relates to a method of attaching such lagging material to the surface of such a pulley or conveyor drum. The present invention is particularly applicable for use in materials handling equipment and apparatus, such as mineral conveyors, grain elevators and the like. This is however by way of example only.
Throughout the specification and claims the term “pulley” should be defined as covering pulleys, drive wheels, drive rollers, conveyor drums and the like.
It is well known that the performance of pulleys in for example conveyor systems can be considerably enhanced by increasing the coefficient friction between the conveyor belt and the pulley. Increasing traction between the belt and pulley has a number of advantages, including reduction in slippage and corresponding increase in the life of the conveyor belt. Also, it results in reduction in the power required to drive the belt and, to a certain extent, a reduction in the size of a drive pulley required for certain uses and applications. In some cases, the ability to increase the coefficient of friction on drive pulleys is highly desirable. Further, it has been known for some time to provide materials for lagging pulleys, however many of these have been unsatisfactory and inefficient in use. It is a particular disadvantage with lagging known up until this time, that such lagging suffers from excess wear over a relatively short period of time, and is generally prone to allow unwanted slippage of the belt about the pulley resulting in reduced performance efficiency. This slippage can arise from an aqua planning effect which occurs when liquids such as water lie between the belt and the lagging over the contact areas.
Australian patent specification No. 575408, in the name of Flexible Steel Lacing Company, provides a lagging material having an upper surface with raised portions of a general diamond configuration. The contact surface of this lagging is generally quite smooth and where water penetrates between this surface of the lagging and a conveyor belt, slippage can occur.
It has also been known for some time to provide means for lagging pulleys with material having a high coefficient of friction. However, many such lagging materials have included metal backing plates or sheets, which have required specific attachment to the outer surface of a pulley. When it is desired to replace such lagging, it is necessary to detach the metal backing and the lagging attached thereto, this being time consuming and expensive, both from a material and labour point of view. Further, the time and expertise required in attaching and detaching such metal backed lagging, has meant that it is very difficult if not impossible to carry out replacement and repair in situ. Clearly, where many conveyor systems are used in mines and the like, there is a substantial advantage to be gained if lagging, repair and re-lagging can take place in situ and at the site of operation. In many known arrangements used up until this time, it has been necessary to take pulleys back to workshops or original places of manufacture, in order to successfully have the pulleys repaired or re-lagged. Lagging material including metal inserts, which operate in a similar manner, are also known and suffer from similar disadvantages. For example, such lagging is known from Australian patent specification No. 74155/81 (Holz).
Australian patent specification No. 584013, in the name of Flexible Steel Lacing Company, provides a lagging material wherein the upper surface includes ceramic material in the form of plates or tiles, to reduce wear on the lagging, slippage may still occur between the belt and ceramic lagging where water penetrates there between. This occurs to a greater extent where there is no give in the contact surface of the lagging as it is easier for a belt in this instance to overcome the coefficient of friction.
Effective gripping engagement between the underside of a conveyor belt and the outer contact surface of pulley lagging is dependent upon a number of factors which include:
a) coefficient of friction between belt and lagging;
b) amount of fluid collection between belt and lagging;
c) the material of the lagging;
d) the degree if any, of give in the lagging material at the belt surface/lagging contact surface interface;
e) total area of surface contact between belt and lagging;
f) ability of lagging surface configuration to dissipate water or other fluid which may otherwise reduce the coefficient of friction;
g) forces applied by the conveyor belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that the coefficient of friction is optimised where the lagging effectively dissipates fluid between belt and lagging, and where a lagging configuration and material is used which includes nodules which may deflect slightly under load to arrest slippage which would otherwise occur where the contact elements are rigid with no give or ability to deform or deflect, and where water or other fluid can be evacuated from between the belt and lagging by deformation of the material. This may be achieved by means of an array of nodules having interstitial spaces therebetween which allow axial and lateral deflection of each nodule and substantial passages for water dissipation.
Present invention to provide an improved lagging with wider versatility in fitting and overall improved performance and which overcomes or at least minimises one or more of the problems set out above and to provide a lagging material in which wear is decreased or minimised and in which inherent features of gripping and engagement (such as between the pulley surface and a conveyor surface) are enhanced.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a lagging material and method of lagging whereby pulleys can be repaired and have the alternative lagging attached thereto in a straightforward and efficient manner. An arrangement in accordence with the invention provides a lagging material and method of lagging, wherein the lagging can be applied to a pulley substantially in situ in a substantially straightforward and efficient manner. Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided lagging material for application to the surface of a pulley, said material being integrally formed in elongate strip form and having an upper surface comprising a plurality of raised protuberances according to a predetermined pattern, and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart, elongate and transversely extending cutting sipes, defining raised portions therebetween. Preferably elongate trim lines being integrally formed or provided at predetermined intervals, e.g. between each row of protuberances on the upper surface of the lagging material. The protuberances may be formed by nodules or discrete elements attached to an upper surface of the lagging and which are capable of at least some deflection.
An arrangement in accordance with another aspect of the present invention may comprise,
a lagging material for application to the surface of a pulley, said material being integrally formed in elongate strip form and having an upper surface comprising a plurality of raised protuberances arranged according to a predetermined pattern and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart elongate and transversely extending cutting sipes defining raised portions therebetween;
wherein the lagging comprises an array of nodules forming said protuberances on said upper surface such that the pattern formed by the nodules allows cutting of the lagging in either the transverse or longitudinal directions and results in an increase in the coefficient of friction between the nodules and a conveyor belt surface.
An arrangement in accordance with another aspect of the pres

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