Unlocking the Secrets: Prolonging Conveyor Idler Life

As conveyor systems continue to advance towards high capacity, high-speed, long-distance, and efficient operation, industries are placing increasingly higher demands on equipment reliability, engineering investments, and energy-efficient and environmentally friendly performance. Especially in today's era of promoting an eco-friendly society, reducing initial investments and operational costs, enhancing equipment reliability, and improving operational efficiency are of paramount importance to end-users.

Conveyor idlers, being the most abundant components in belt conveyor systems, play a crucial role in influencing engineering investments and operational costs. The service life of conveyor idlers is impacted by numerous factors. In this article, we analyze several key factors affecting the service life of conveyor idlers from the perspectives of design, manufacturing, and application. This analysis is based on both domestic and international engineering applications and is intended to serve as a reference for industry professionals.

1. Operating Conditions of Conveyor Idlers

The operating conditions of conveyor idlers encompass various parameters, including material properties, drop height, material flow rate, belt speed, belt load, ambient temperature, idler arrangement, belt sag, dust, rain, and more. Material properties refer to the density, particle size, and feed uniformity of the transported material. Drop height is a significant parameter that affects the impact load on idlers at the loading point. Flow rate and belt load directly affect the load carried by the idlers. Belt speed is proportional to idler rotation speed but inversely proportional to idler lifespan. Belt sag impacts the resistance and idler impact during belt operation. The arrangement of idlers influences the actual load borne by the idlers. Environmental conditions such as temperature, dust, rain, etc., have an impact on lubrication effectiveness.

In most cases, material drop height and idler arrangement can be adjusted through the overall process layout of the conveyor system. Belt sag can be managed by adjusting tension. Other conditions require specific solutions in the following sections.

2. Proper Selection

2.1 Bearing Selection

Typically, bearing damage is a primary indicator of idler failure. Therefore, idler selection primarily involves determining bearing specifications and allowable angular misalignment under different operating conditions.

The theoretical life of bearings is calculated as follows:


Where:

• C = Dynamic Capacity (dN or Lbs)
• P = Equivalent Bearing Load (N or Lbs)
• N = Rotating speed in RPM
• e = 3.0 for ball bearings, 10/3 for roller bearings

L10 represents the bearing life at which there is a 10% probability of failure. To meet stricter reliability requirements, a failure probability coefficient (a1) can be introduced into the formula.

An important condition for the normal operation of the bearing is that the deflection angle of the shaft cannot be greater than the allowable deflection angle of the bearing. When the deflection angle of the shaft is greater than the allowable deflection angle of the bearing, the service life of the bearing will decrease sharply. Therefore, during the selection process of the roller, the stiffness of the roller shaft must also be checked so that the deflection angle of the shaft at the bearing position meets the use requirements of the bearing.

2.2 Seal Structure

The sealing of idlers is essential to prevent contaminants, such as dust, from damaging the bearings. There are two main types of sealing structures: non-contact seals and contact seals. The choice should be made based on the specific operating conditions.

Non-contact seals: These seals do not touch during rotation and rely on labyrinth designs or other configurations to maintain the seal. They are widely used in the market due to their low rotational resistance.

Contact seals: These seals rely on sealing rings that make contact with non-rotating parts to create a seal. They provide better sealing performance and are suitable for harsh environments with high dust or water exposure.

2.3 Shaft Structure

The stiffness of the shaft must be verified to meet the allowable angular misalignment conditions of the bearings. Proper shaft stiffness can be achieved by adjusting the diameter of the shaft, especially in cases where the allowable angular misalignment is not met.

2.4 Bearing Type

Deep groove ball bearings are commonly used for conveyor idlers. However, for heavy loads, high speeds, and impact loads where deep groove ball bearings may not be economical or suitable, tapered roller bearings or spherical roller bearings with higher load capacity can be considered.

2.5 Material Selection

Steel Pipe: The roundness, outer diameter, and wall thickness deviation of the steel pipe used for idlers directly impact radial runout, additional load on the bearings, and conveyor vibration and noise. For high-speed applications with low vibration and noise requirements, higher-grade products specified in "Steel Pipes for Conveyor Idlers" or alternative materials such as composites may be used.

Seals: The choice of idler seal materials depends on the specific environment. Different materials have different characteristics and are suitable for different conditions. Consideration should be given to factors like moisture absorption, low-temperature brittleness, resistance to UV exposure, and resistance to alkaline environments.

Lubricating Grease: Selecting the appropriate lubricating grease based on environmental temperature and load conditions is crucial to maintaining effective lubrication and ensuring stable idler operation.

3. Manufacturing Factors

3.1 Bearing Seat Assembly

The degree of alignment between the two bearing seats of an idler directly affects the idler's rotational resistance and the additional load on the bearings. The assembly and welding processes of idler bearing seats significantly impact the manufacturing quality of idlers.

3.2 Internal Rust Prevention and Sealing

To prevent rust on the inner wall of the steel pipe, which could result in debris entering the bearings, anti-rust paint can be applied to the inner wall of the idler. Additionally, appropriate sealing measures should be adopted on the inner side of the bearing seat.

4. Installation, Operation, and Maintenance

In addition to the factors mentioned above, aspects related to installation, operation, and maintenance play a significant role in idler service life.

4.1 Installation Precision: Improving the precision and reliability of the conveyor frame and idler assembly can reduce the forward tilt angle of the idlers, lower additional loads on the bearings, minimize equipment vibration and noise, and enhance idler service life.

4.2 Control of Material Flow: Keeping material flow within the rated capacity range ensures that the actual load on the idlers matches the design load, which is crucial for idler service life.

4.3 Timely Replacement and Maintenance: In routine conveyor maintenance, damaged idlers should be replaced promptly, and loose bolts should be tightened. These actions protect neighboring idlers, effectively reduce additional loads on the bearings, and decrease equipment vibration and noise.

5. Conclusion

In summary, factors influencing the service life of conveyor idlers include the overall process layout of the belt conveyor system, bearing selection calculations, material choices, manufacturing processes, and installation, operation, and maintenance considerations. To improve idler lifespan, reduce engineering investments, and lower operational costs, comprehensive control of design, manufacturing, installation, and operation is necessary.