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operating ideas continued said. But most importantly, Hopkins said, the Chevron pulley has dramatically re-duced noise levels. "In fact, it is so quiet, we often check to see if the belt is even running," he said. Engineering Perspective Jarrod Felton, chief engineer of standard products for Superior Industries, said that in comparison to the standard wing pulley, for example, the V-shaped Chevron Wing Pulley provides smooth operation with less vibration, less belt wear, less of an impact and load on the bearings, and less noise. Felton points to the fact that the Chevron wing pulley has a round end view, which allows continuous belt contact. The belt is essentially rolling around a circle, which significantly reduces any beating action on the belt. On the other hand, the standard wing pulley is "apexed" or shaped as a manysided polygon. So the belt is always raising and lowering over one or two wings as the pulley is going around, which causes the belt to flap and results in more belt wear, and much more vibration and noise. As to the latter, Felton said it's similar to comparing a jet engine to a vacuum. Tests have shown the standard wing pulley operates at an average 120-dBa noise level, while a Chevron Wing Pulley averages only 70 dBa. According to Felton, when a conveyor belt stretches around a traditional wing pulley, it stretches over each wing bar. "That stretching is hard on the belt and the splice, and can cause damage. Our third-party testing (provided by Fenner Dunlop) revealed that the Chevron pulley's continuous belt contact greatly extends belt life over that of traditional options; and the resulting reduction in beating action means less vibration, and less potential for mistracking, rubbing, and creating sparks and fire hazards." Additionally, said Felton, the round end view design of the Chevron Pulley means it can be applied in a number of applications, including its use as a bend or snub pulley. "According to CEMA, a wing pulley should be used in a non-drive situation—either as a tail or take-up pulley—where there is 180° of wrap angle. But since the round surface of the Chevron Pulley allows it to operate so differently than the traditional wing pulley, April 2013 we can use it in non-180° wrap angle applications (bends and snubs) quite successfully." When downtime is so costly, it is extremely critical to prevent material buildup, wear and tear on a splice, or a breakdown of the belt carcass. With safety as an ongoing priority, reducing hazardous vibration and harmful noise levels is imperative. Upgrading operations with new conveyor component technologies is a welcome alternative. Boosting uptime and safety is a valuable payback. About the Author Wasson is a freelance writer who routinely writes about industrial applications. She wrote this article on behalf of Superior Industries and can be reached at: carolwasson@hotmail.com. www.coalage.com 63