Rubber-textile Conveyor Belts Research Articles

Additive technologies use to create structures for technical fabric replacement

The production technology of one of the essential structural parts of rubber-textile conveyor belts, the textile carcass, has not changed much since the start of their use. Specific changes occurred only in the material used when various synthetic fibres gradually replaced cotton. However, with the development of additive technologies, the possibility of changing the production technology is coming to the fore, when industrial textiles produced by classic weaving will not be used to make the carcass but a structure built by 3D printing. Confirmation of this change would represent a revolutionary breakthrough in the technology for rubber-textile conveyor belt production. Based on these facts, the possibility of using continuous 3D printing technology was verified to print a structure that would replace the technical fabric used in the conveyor belt carcass. As part of the research, the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Stereolithography (SLA) technologies were verified. Experimental specimens with the dimensions of 145 x 145 x 185 mm were produced in three different positions: at an angle (45°), horizontally, and vertically. The specimens were made of three types of filament: SLA (Elastic 50A), SLS (TPU 1301), and FDM (Flexfill 92A); for each of the three positions of the specimen, filament consumption and printing time were determined due to the use of support material. Created specimens were then assessed regarding their production possibility and achievement of the desired structure.

Surface Evaluation of Gyroid Structures for Manufacturing Rubber-Textile Conveyor Belt Carcasses Using Micro-CT.

Gyroid structures are among the most widely used three-dimensional elements produced by various additive manufacturing technologies. This paper focuses on a metrological analysis of Flexfill 92A material specimens with a relative density (25 to 85%) using industrial computer tomography. The results show that for a given structure, the best method is to use surface determination with the closure of internal defects in the material. The analysis implies that the smallest deviations of the specimens' external dimensions were achieved with respect to the CAD model at the highest relative densities. The wall thickness shows the smallest percentage change of 0.5685 at 45% relative density and the largest at 25% and 85% relative density. The nominal-actual comparison of manufactured specimens to the CAD model shows the smallest cumulative deviation of 0.209 mm at 90% and 25% relative density, while it slightly increases with increasing relative density. All produced specimens have a smaller material volume than their theoretical volume value, while the percentage change in volume is up to 8.6%. The surface of specimens is larger compared with the theoretical values and the percentage change reaches up to 25.3%. The percentage of pores in the specimens increases with increasing relative density and reaches 6%. The acquired knowledge will be applied in the framework of research focused on the possibilities of using additive manufacturing to produce a skeleton of rubber-textile conveyor belts. This paper presents initial research on the possibility of replacing the carcass of rubber-textile belts with an additive technology use.

Application possibilities of virtual reality in failure analysis of conveyor belts

Failure analysis of conveyor belts is realised using a wide range of the scientific methods. Visualisation of damage plays a very important role in performing of the given failure analysis. Development of the exponential technologies offer a possibility to apply the damage visualisation for analysis of failures in the area of rubber-textile conveyor belts. Virtual reality enables to create an immersive display, what can be very beneficial in the process of failure analysis. The basic idea of this article is to verify whether application of the virtual reality is suitable for purposes of the failure analysis concerning the rubber-textile conveyor belts. Application possibility of the virtual reality will be investigated and presented on example of the failure analysis for a test specimen selected from the damaged conveyor belt. The main task of this analysis is to discover a damage in the conveyor belt specimen, to evaluate this damage and to analyse the damage status of the individual layers creating internal structure of the conveyor belt. At the same time, there is presented in this article a methodology how to realise the failure analysis using a support of the virtual reality. Till now, there is not known any scientific-research work focused on the failure analysis of the conveyor belts, which would be based on the virtual reality. This article emphasizes application possibilities of the virtual reality within the given research area.

Identification with machine learning techniques of a classification model for the degree of damage to rubber-textile conveyor belts with the aim to achieve sustainability

This article presents the results of experimental research on belt conveyance systems. The main objective was to identify the correlations between the occurrence of significant damage in rubber-textile conveyor belts and the selected parameters (the type of falling material and the impact height). The conveyor belt specimens used in the experimental research were extracted from both a new and a renovated conveyor belt. Within the experimental research, four classification models were created, while the conveyor belt specimens used in the predefined experimental conditions were classified by assigning them to one of the two determined degrees of damage (significant or insignificant damage). The classification models were created by applying several machine learning methods, such as a regression analysis, logistic regression, decision trees, and the Naïve Bayes classifier. The quality of the models was verified using the training and testing groups and three coefficients (overall accuracy, Kappa coefficient andAUC). Ananalysis of the results indicated that the type of falling material and the impact height had significant effects on the degree of conveyor belt damage, regardless of the conveyor belt type (new or renovated). An evaluation of the models indicated that all the designed classification models provided similar results. As for the quality coefficients, the classification models that were created by applying the decision tree and theNaïve Bayes classifier exhibited the best classification and prediction abilities.

Proposal of digital twin for testing and measuring of transport belts for pipe conveyors within the concept Industry 4.0

The digital twin, as one of the basic key pillars of the Industry 4.0, currently provides a wide range of the applications not only in the field of measuring and monitoring the operation of various types of machines and machinery, but also in the area of testing. There will be presented in this paper a possibility to implement the FEM model into the concept of digital twins intended for measuring of the key properties and characteristics of the rubber-textile conveyor belts of the pipe conveyors, using a testing static stand with a length of 9000 mm and with a possibility to use variable selected dimensional characteristics, as well. The digital version (digital twin) of the testing stand is created using the software program Abaqus, whereby it contains 3 hexagonal idler housings with the conveyor belt, which is packed into the hosepipe shape with overlapping edges.

Monitoring dynamic loading of conveyer belts by measuring local peak impact forces

A conveyor belt represents a critical structural component of belt conveyors due to the frequent belt damage occurrences. To eliminate such damage, a belt’s performance characteristics, such as strength, service life and impact resistance, are crucial issues. This article presents the results of an experimental investigation of the impact resistance of three different types of rubber-textile conveyor belts. The effects of factors and the interactions between them were determined while applying the DOE method. Mathematical models were used to identify the relationship between the local peak impact forces and various values of the impact process input parameters. In the case of the first local peaks of the impact force, the existing multiple linear regression model was confirmed. Subsequent local impact force peaks were affected by the resulting damped motion of the material impacting the conveyor belt. As a result, different and simpler regression models were created for these subsequent local peak impact forces.

Classification of Impact Damage on A Rubber-Textile Conveyor Belt: A Review

A conveyor belt is one type of goods transportation in technological processes, particularly in the mining industry. The belt is the important material and principal part of the conveyor belt. The overall quality of the conveyor belt as its service life and impact loads are very important factors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to classify the types of impact damage that may occur in rubber-textile conveyor belts. In many works, many types of conveyor belts are tested at various levels and the type of impacting material. The level of damage occurred is investigated by using probability theory. Particularly, the evaluation of experimental test data and predictive modeling is carried out using the Naïve Bayes classification.

Failure analysis of the rubber-textile conveyor belts using classification models

In real operations, the requirements on conveyor belts are very high and are constantly increasing. They mainly regard high wear resistance and resistance to the effects of the transported material, long service life, high longitudinal strength, low weight, etc.The main purpose of the present paper is the classification of the damage to rubber-textile conveyor belts that occurs due to the impact of the transported material (at the impact of the material onto a conveyor belt at the chute). The experimental research was focused on the three types of conveyor belts of various internal structures, on the impact height, and the type of the material falling onto a conveyor belt and effects thereof on the incurred damage. The damage classification was carried out using two different models. The models were created using the classification tree and the multiple regression analysis. The models were created using the training set of 48 conveyor belt samples. The accuracy and predictive ability of the models were verified using the testing set of 16 conveyor belt samples.

Utilisation of measurements to predict the relationship between contact forces on the pipe conveyor idler rollers and the tension force of the conveyor belt

Operating conditions of rubber-textile conveyor belts represent a source of information providing a wide spectrum of operating characteristics. Various theoretical and experimental methods, mostly based on ex post approach, have been recently employed for the identification of such operating characteristics. However, this approach is not very effective and is used as a source of data for various follow-up analyses. On the other hand, the operation of conveyors requires the prediction of needed forces and adjustments of operation based on such forces. This is called ex ante approach. The paper covers an introduction of the option allowing operating characteristics to be predicted based on a tool basis determined by experimental measurements. The whole procedure is demonstrated by a specific example focusing on the prediction of the contact force – tension force relationship. The presented results have been derived using the tools of statistical analysis. The article presents only the first part of the research in which data was recorded without the material being transported, there are two reasons for this:1.Finding information about the behaviour of the conveyor belt when it has been implemented and started without the material being transported,2.Detection of changes occurring in the conveyor belt when burdening it with conveyed material.

Classification of impact damage on a rubber-textile conveyor belt using Naïve-Bayes methodology

The selection of the proper materials is an integral component of most technological processes, and the selection of durable conveyor belt materials is a principal example. The overall quality of a conveyor belt and its service life under impact loads are very important factors. Accordingly, the purpose of the present work is to classify the types of impact damage that occur in rubber-textile conveyor belts. Under laboratory conditions, different types of conveyor belts (unused, used, used with a subsequent top cover layer renovation) were tested. They were subjected to variables such as the drop height and the type of impacting material. The severity of the conveyor belt damage was categorised using four degrees. An examination of the effects of the selected factors on the degree of damage was carried out using probability theory. In particular, an evaluation of the experimental test data and predictive modelling was conducted using the Naïve Bayes Classifier.

Analysis of defects in carcass of rubber–textile conveyor belts using metrotomography

Rubber–textile construction of conveyor belts is widely used in various continuous transport systems. Due to the fact that complex carcass is vulcanised, its observation and analysis are very diffi...

Measurement and simulation of impact wear damage to industrial conveyor belts

Increasing the reliability of commercial conveyor belt systems results in an improvement of the service life and the economics of the belts as well as other technological components. The operational service life of a conveyor belt depends on several factors, such as the type of transported material, operating conditions, conveyor belt quality, and belt material properties. Important factors also include the methods used for conveyor belt storage. Long-term storage, which is not compliant with the applicable standards, contributes to the shortening of a belt’s service life. The main objective of this article is to identify the effects of selected factors (i.e. storage, drop height, type of transported material) on the wear of rubber-textile conveyor belts. These experiments involved testing unused conveyor belts in two different phases of their life cycle: (1) a conveyor belt stored for 24 months, and (2) an unstored conveyor belt, put into service right from the factory, i.e. in the beginning of its life cycle. In total, 42 test samples were used. An analysis of the relative risk, and the use of decision trees, established the relationship between the selected variables.

The use of industrial metrotomography in the field of maintenance and reliability of rubber-textile conveyor belts in closed continuous transport systems

With increasing environmental awareness of the public as well as international and national laws on emission control it becomes more and more difficult to operate large industrial plants, particularly near residential areas. In the specific case of bulk materials handling in coal power stations, cement plants and steel works, understandable demands with respect to complying with the limits of dust, odour and, in particular, noise emissions require a modern, environmentally friendly design based on the use of very low-noise plants. Closed transport systems are more and more widely applied in various bulk solids handling businesses. This results from the unique character of these systems, where material is fully enclosed by belt [8]. The use of a closed conveyor for transportation of bulk material gained huge popularity abroad over the past years. The closed conveyor is a modern way of transporting bulk materials [7]. The popularity of the enclosed conveyors lies in their eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness which means low labour and operating costs [1].The best known representatives of closed transport systems are tubular conveyor belts. In the 1970s Japan Pipe Conveyor Co. Ltd. developed a pipe or tubular belt conveyor which was first installed in 1979 [6]. The problem of tubular belt conveyors has been examined in many research projects, one aspect of this research being traffic routes. Kulagin [9] deals with bending radius of the tubular conveyor in the horizontal plane by computer modelling. Another significant field of research concerning tubular conveyor belts is the behaviour of a transporting belt. Baburski [3] analyses the mechanical properties of conveyor belts at three main stages of production. In his other research, he investigated the effect of pipe conveyor belt pressure on the rollers on its circuit [4]. This type of research requires knowledge Gabriel FEDORKO Vieroslav MOLNAR Miroslav DOVICA Nikoleta HUSAKOVA Jan KRAĽ jr. Miroslaw FERDYNUS

Extension of inner structures of textile rubber conveyor belt – Failure analysis

Abstract Paper deals with a description of new, yet unpublished, methodology of a failure analysis of textile rubber conveyor belts loaded by a tensile force. The paper further describes technical and technological measurement assurance and it points out the possibility of achieving new results. Presented measurement method arises from existing norms. However, these norms are extended significantly while showing the possibilities of new knowledge and information gathering. The presented procedure enables to perform such kind of measuring, which could not be realised up to now. The final obtained result consists in recording of changes and processes occurring in the inner structure of the rubber-textile conveyor belt. The proposed equipment enables monitoring of the initial damage phases and their propagation. In this way it is possible to analyse degradation processes in the rubber-textile conveyor belts in more detail.

Test Equipment for Analysis of Samples Rubber – Textile Conveyor Belts by Help Industrial Metrotomographs

The test equipment of samples for analysis of rubber-textile conveyor belts is a device designed to create tension and tracking the deformation in different cross sections of conveyor belts in one axis X. This construction is designed tensioning device, which allows the development of automatic tensioning force in one axis X-tensioning force F is exerted screw the nut with a torque wrench and a controlled strain-gauge sensor. Measured sample-textile conveyor belt is clamped in two adjustable clamping jaws ribbed belts for different thicknesses. Ribbed clamping jaws on one side of the tensioning device is attached to the frame and on the other hand are attached to the runner associated with the movable tensioning screw.

Using logistic regression in tracing the significance of rubber–textile conveyor belt damage

The main purpose of this work is to investigate different levels of damage that occur on rubber–textile conveyor belts. The conveyor belt damage depends on the heterogeneity of the transported material, transporting conditions and on attributes of the conveyor belt itself. The conveyor belts that are used in this study were divided into three categories: new, worn and renovated. In total, 67 test specimens were examined. The logistic regression method was selected in order to analyze individual levels of conveyor belt damage. Using this method, two differently shaped impact drop hammer tips (spherical and pyramidal) were applied and analyzed. Impact height of the drop hammer and the type of conveyor belt were treated as the independent variables. The output variable was selected as the one that best differentiated between significant and insignificant belt damage. The result of the work enables to estimate the odds of formation of the significant conveyor belt damage for the individual variables. A surprising result, which is obtained from the performed tests and model analyses, is a fact that application of a new, unused conveyor belt, leads actually to increased odds of the belt׳s significant damage.

Optimization of conveyer belts fire-resistant rubber properties using a mathematical model of desirability functions

Rubber textile conveyor belts used in underground coal mines require strong and standardized fire-resistant properties in order to guarantee the safety of the work. The Purpose of this work is the optimization of the rubber ingredients which are the main factors that give flammability to conveyor belts. The ingrediends taken into consideration as factors are Sb2O3 (X1), chlorinated parafins (X2) and clay (X3). The experiments were designed using central composite rotatable design (CCRD) of second order, according to the mathematical model of desirability functions. The fitted responses for flammability were Spirit Burner test (Y1), Surface resistance test (Y2), and Limit oxygen index, LOI (Y3). The obtained Optimized Global solution was: X1 = 0.2889; X2 = 0.39 and X3 = -0.832, while composite desirability was 0.932 which is an efficient value for desirability.