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Martin Engineering, a well-known supplier of bulk material handling equipment, offers a somewhat different approach to help conveyor users reduce operating costs and improve safety, with inspection and maintenance programs designed specifi- cally for each individual system. Its "Walk the Belt" initiative provides regularly scheduled reviews of belts, cleaners, track- ing, chutes, dust control and other components by experienced specialists. The program establishes an evolving record of each belt for current analysis and future reference, and provides immediate transfer of data and photos to facility managers. By taking responsibility for routine maintenance and identifying potential issues before components fail, technicians assist cus- tomers in maintaining system performance and extending ser- vice life, while minimizing fugitive material and unplanned shutdowns. "Every conveyor is different, even within the same facility," said Martin Engineering Global Market Development Manager Mark Stern. "So, we create a specific inspection plan based on the design, capacity, throughput requirements and the desired level of fugitive material abatement." c o n v e y o r s y s t e m s c o n t i n u e d November 2014 www.coalage.com 31 Self-Adjusting Skirting Reduces Belt Maintenance A novel conveyor belt skirting system with a streamlined design has been engineered to fit virtually any conveyor with less maintenance and more efficiency. Martin Engineering's Self-adjusting Skirting prevents spillage and equipment breakdown caused by fugitive material by creating a constant tight seal to the belt. The unit self-adjusts to rubber skirt wear, regardless of material volume and size diversity, allow- ing it to be an adaptable solution for an entire bulk material processing system across many different industries. "As bulk material is processed, the conveyor belt speed, load and volume can change, which can affect the integrity of the skirting seal," said Dave Mueller, senior product specialist for Martin Engineering. "One skirting system across the whole line that adjusts automatically to these diverse variations dra- matically cuts man-hours needed to maintain it." As friction from the belt wears the seal strip of standard skirting systems, miners have to shut down the conveyor and use tools to manually adjust it. Without this type of regular maintenance, fugitive material escapes from the belt, getting into bearings and other components, which can cause expen- sive and unnecessary production delays. This problem has been solved with this new system by using a pressure arm attached to a clamp plate, which assures a constant belt seal, thus eliminating the need for manual adjustment. The skirt requires 1.25 in. of free belt area, making it the ideal fit for conveyors with chutes close to the belt edge. A ¾- in.-wide EDPM rubber sealing strip provides 2 in. of wear life, at speeds of up to 700 fpm. The sealing strip is supplied in continuous lengths up to 100 ft, reducing the chances of leaky joints. "Other skirts require manual adjustment, which means near constant monitoring," Mueller said. "Without monitor- ing — aside from the mechanical issues and product loss that accompany fugitive material — there are safety and regulato- ry problems that can arise, as well. By designing a self-adjust- ing skirting system, customers not only save time and money on maintenance, but also mitigate the potential for injury and liability." Changing the rubber sealing strip on most standard con- veyor skirting systems typically requires multiple tools, and some need two miners, depending upon the size and posi- tion of the conveyor. These maintenance requirements could demand conveyor systems to be placed farther apart, dimin- ishing production space. Martin designed a simple rubber clamp assembly requiring no tools to change the sealing strip. The low-profile skirting assembly needs only 6 in. of clearance, allowing installation of skirts in restricted space areas. The whole unit is compact, with the clamp assembly (wear strip and pressure plate) only 48 in. in length and each clamp section having built-in plug-weld guides to simplify installation. Honeywell's BeltAIS system uses specialized cameras to monitor belt condition. The self-adjusting skirting adapts to rubber skirt wear, regardless of material volume and size diversity.