Grain Bucket Elevators
Bucket elevators are mechanical systems used to lift grain to a distributor, from which it falls through spouts and/or conveyors and into one or more bins or silos.
Specifications:
1. Capacity from 150 bph to 30000 bph (4 t/hr – 800 t/hr)
2. Power range from 5 hp to 200 hp (2 kw – 150 kw)
3. Height 30 ft – 250 ft ( 9 m – 75 m)
4. Speed belt 180 ft/min – 700 ft/min ( .9 m/s – 3.5 m/s)
Components:
Boot section, trunking section, head section, belt, buckets, drive, pulleys, motor , take-up, ladders and safety cages , platforms .
Design:
1.The bucket elevator must be designed by/or on supervision of, a qualified mechanical engineer.
2. Having as initial data the height and capacity of elevator calculate the power and the torque necessaries.
3. Choose the strength of the belt in PVC or rubber, choose the buckets size, model, capacity, high quality polyethylene or steel bucket in option, chose the pulley for head and boot.
4. Select the gearbox, on power/torque/diameter of shaft data, select the motor, voltage, frequency.
5. Design all components: head, boot, trunking, head and boot shaft , drive, accessories .
Always consider the additional weight of live loads, dead loads, wind loads.
Calculation of the strength of components and structures, determining the distribution of internal forces, evaluating the safety margins with traditional methods such as the resistance of materials, using the finite element method to evaluate the stresses, fatigue calculations to evaluate the durability of components, other calculations in statics, dynamics, etc. .
Since these elevators are installed vertically, the installation is complex, generally, with anchor cables or towers and the collaboration of a qualified civil engineer is necessary for the design of the foundation .
6. Approve, validate, sign and seal plans.
7. The manufacturing of equipment , as the installation by qualified contractors.
Tool Design Calculator coming soon
