Tag Archives: Dave Mueller

Martin Engineering ups the MINExpo ante with six new product designs to be featured

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining events, Mining safety, Mining services, , , ,

Martin Engineering will feature six new product designs at its booth at MINExpo 2024 in Las Vegas later this month, covering the latest innovations in belt cleaners, conveyor enclosure technology and flow aids.

Coming directly from the company’s Center for Innovation, these heavy-duty (HD) and extra-heavy duty (XHD) accessories are designed to significantly improve efficiency while reducing dust emissions and offering safer maintenance/replacement. The result is greater productivity with less labour for a lower cost of operation, the company claims.

“Martin is celebrating its 80th anniversary by rolling out some excellent new products that extend equipment life, improve safety and reduce maintenance, while also being better for the environment,” Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager for Martin Engineering, said. “We’re excited to be able to display and demonstrate several products at the booth and give visitors an idea of their performance in real-world mining applications. All the products have been thoroughly field tested to satisfy Martin’s high standard of quality and meet our ‘Absolutely No Excuses Money Back Guarantee’.”

Primary and secondary conveyor belt cleaners are going through a design renaissance as of late. Martin’s engineers have worked diligently to make installation and servicing easier and safer with less environmental waste.

Martin® ECOSAFE™ Primary and Secondary Cleaners XHD withstand heavy-duty environments while using less urethane in their construction. They are also mounted on a safe-to-service assembly with easily swapable individual cartridges. The design allows the majority of the urethane to be used for the blade, with less used at the support base, which features a removable and reusable metal insert. Using less urethane reduces waste while external servicing allows for easier and faster maintenance.

The CleanScrape® primary and secondary cleaners, Martin says, revolutionised conveyor belt cleaning with four times the equipment life of standard urethane blades and the elimination of the need for tensioning after installation. The next iteration is the Heated CleanScrape® Primary Cleaner, which is heat-traced within the blade, making it ideal for harsh sub-zero climates where frozen material build-up can affect performance and cause unnecessary downtime.

Requested by customers, the mining-grade Martin UBX Secondary Cleaner is designed as a longer lasting and user-friendly alternative to similar units on the market. Intended for wider and faster belts, the new Martin Engineering blade is made entirely of urethane, or urethane with an embedded cleaning element, that is more robust and longer-wearing than comparable blades on the market. The blade is held snugly to the belt by a mechanical spring tensioner as opposed to the competitors’ troublesome air-supplied tensioners, which, according to Martin, are unreliable, onerous to maintain and expensive to operate. The result is a more economical unit with longer lasting performance and less maintenance.

Wrapping up the new secondary blade offerings are the Martin SQC2S™ Cleaner with Orion HD and XHD Blades. Following the successful introduction of the standard model, the more rugged version for wider and faster belts is engineered to handle the most punishing applications. A two-tiered tensioning system with a spring tensioner on the assembly and another rubber tensioner on the blade attachment ensures the urethane and tungsten carbide blade needs considerably less monitoring and tensioning. This low maintenance approach is further supported by the attached polypropene deflector shield to mitigate build-up and usher material away from the main frame. An important safety feature is the slide-in/slide-out design which allows service and blade replacement to be performed outside the conveyor structure.

While maintenance access and safe monitoring are vital, so is retaining a sealed environment to control airflow and suppress dust emissions. The Martin Magnetic Inspection Door is a durable two-part design with a urethane shield and a strong magnetic seal that covers and protects a monitoring and maintenance space on the enclosure. Keeping the dust inside, it is easily pulled back for inspection or, during scheduled shutdowns, pulled all the way down or off for improved access, Martin says.

The Martin Urethane Skirting is a long-lasting wear strip placed outside of the skirtboard of a conveyor loading zone to seal the enclosure and prevent spillage and dust emissions. Produced to the belt’s specific trough angle, the urethane strip offers less friction on the belt edge of high-speed belts than rubber skirting for a longer belt life and less damage to the belt edge, according to the company.

In addition to the new equipment, MINExpo visitors will have a chance to see how the design of Martin Engineering products like Martin Air Cannons and Industrial Vibrators can significantly improve the material flow through a system. From choke points like silos and hoppers to screening and separators, strategically placed flow accessories prevent unscheduled downtime and improve safety by preventing manual clearing of obstructions, Martin says.

Martin Engineering releases ‘game-changing’ conveyor belt cleaner

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , ,

Martin Engineering has announced the next generation of secondary conveyor belt cleaners engineered to reduce dusty carryback and lower maintenance time.

Designed to withstand the stress of heavier loads carried on wider, thicker belts at higher speeds, the Martin® SQC2S™ Orion Secondary Cleaner features individually cushioned tungsten carbide blade cartridges for effective cleaning without risk to the belt or splices, the company says. A two-tiered tensioning system means minimal adjustments and monitoring throughout the life of the blade. The heavy-duty blades are mounted on a slide-in/slide-out assembly for faster and safer one-worker external servicing. The result is improved belt cleaning with less dust and maintenance for greater workplace safety at a lower cost of operation, Martin Engineering says.

“We field tested the Orion over several months side-by-side with competitor designs in punishing mining environments and found that the new design significantly outperformed the competition,” Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager for Martin Engineering, said. “At the end of the testing period, customer participants started the process of replacing all their heavy-duty secondary cleaners with the Orion. We now view this design as the future of our secondary cleaner line moving forward.”

Secondary cleaners play an essential role in the belt cleaning process by significantly reducing the volume of dust and fines dropped as carryback on the belt return. Primary cleaners release most of the abrasive material remaining on the belt after discharge. Located below the head pully just behind the primary, secondary cleaners scrape off the fines and dust that hide in cracks and divots in the belt. Carryback is attributed to many environmental and operational issues such as air quality violations, fouling of rolling components and machinery, and increased labor for cleanup and maintenance.

The Martin SQC2S Orion Secondary Cleaner is appropriate for all bulk handling material applications. The unit is made up of individual 152.5 mm blades mounted on a square steel tube assembly. Not designed for reversing belts, it is suitable for 457-2,438.5 mm belt widths, belt speeds up to 6 m/d, and temperatures up to 121º C.

“What sets this unit apart from others on the market is the innovative, dual tensioning system with independent heavy-duty tungsten blades which are game-changing design features,” Mueller explained. “The first level of tensioning is supplied to the entire assembly using the heavy-duty SQC2S Tensioner which applies light upward torque evenly across the belt profile for less friction and no wear on splices.”

The second level of tensioning is on the individual blade assembly. Each Orion blade assembly is attached to a steel square tube assembly secured to a mounting plate. The square tube houses a rubber tensioner with a torsion arm bolted to each side. A specialised tungsten blade is attached to the arm. The whole system is mounted at a 90º angle then tensioned so each blade is vertical and perpendicular to the belt. As the belt runs, each blade assembly adjusts independently to precisely match the belt’s profile, permitting them to compensate for camber, flaws/blemishes, and stubborn material stuck to the belt’s face. To accommodate belt cupping and other uneven surfaces, the blade assemblies can be individually adjusted to match the belt profile.

The blades are specially designed for heavy-duty abrasive applications in both dry and wet environments. Tested on hard rock and slurry belts, the Orion blades offered superior cleaning results with a longer equipment life, according to Martin Engineering. This is due to the rugged tungsten carbide core surrounded by mild steel. Blades are also available in stainless-steel for specific corrosive materials.

The blade design features an attached deflector shield made from polypropene or rugged nylon for high temperature applications. Mounted directly to the blade in an outward scoop design, the shield ushers loosened material away from the mainframe and toward the discharge chute. This mitigates build-up on the assembly, extending the blade’s effectiveness and reducing the amount of maintenance.

Safety and ease of maintenance is a key feature and a core priority for all Martin Engineering designs, the company says. The slide-in/slide-out design allows a single worker to perform maintenance with easy access outside of the conveyor structure, eliminating the need to crawl underneath or awkwardly reach inside. This greatly improves workplace safety and reduces the amount of time and labor required for maintenance, significantly lowering the cost of operation.

“Every bulk handling operation is unique and requires equipment that is versatile and adaptable, and I think we’ve achieved that with the Orion,” Mueller said. “Martin Engineering products are developed to improve efficiency and safety, without compromising belt health. This design gives customers more options and superior results, regardless of the material or the process.”

Martin Engineering launches next-gen conveyor belt tracking tech

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , ,

Martin Engineering has launched what it says is the next generation of tracking technology for a global marketplace with its Martin® Tracker™ HD (heavy-duty) belt conveyor alignment system.

This system comes with widely available plate steel to increase availability and affordability across all six continents the company serves.

A mistracking belt produces excessive spillage, which increases labour costs for clean-up and may cause contact with the mainframe. This damages both the belt and the structure and increases the potential for a friction fire, according to the company. The Martin Tracker HD upper and lower units provide immediate, continuous and precise adjustment of the mistracking belt. The result is greater productivity with less unscheduled downtime from both equipment replacement and spillage cleanup for a lower cost of operation, Martin Engineering says.

“Since most OEM mistracking devices are only designed to prevent contact with the stringer and don’t actually realign the belt, operators can spend a lot of time monitoring the system and adjusting idlers to achieve consistent alignment,” Dave Mueller, Product Manager for Martin Engineering, said. “With enough manual adjusting, operators find that idlers must be recentred if there’s a change in cargo characteristics or to install a new belt. The Tracker HD automates the alignment process, eliminating the need for constant monitoring and manual adjustments, reducing the labor and downtime for maintenance.”

The Martin Tracker HD’s precision comes from sensing rollers that ride either side of the belt edge and are attached to the end of an arm assembly. As the rollers detect slight variations in the belt path, the force of the wandering belt causes the arms to automatically position a pivoting idler in the opposite direction of the misalignment. The lever action requires less force to initiate the correction and only slight adjustments mean the consistent contact between the belt and idlers reduces the energy needed to bring the belt back into alignment, the company explains.

“Certain countries can’t buy the square tubing, so we’re now manufacturing the equipment from readily-available plate steel without any changes to the performance or life of the unit,” Mueller said. “This allows the Tracker HD to be produced and supplied across all global business units.”

The upper unit of the Tracker HD comes with the specified trough angle of the conveyor system

Easy to install and designed to withstand the stress associated with wider, thicker belts moving at higher speeds and carrying heavier loads, the Martin Tracker HD is suitable for a belt thickness up to 28.5 mm and speeds up to 4 m/s. Both the upper and lower units accommodate belt widths of 915-1,828 mm with an effective tracking distance of 45.72 m.

Available in 20°, 35° and 45° trough angles, there are options for the addition of a Martin Trac-Mount™ Idler, which allows the entire troughed idler unit to be slid away from the mainframe and safely serviced from outside of the system by a single worker, the company says. This safety element can considerably reduce the amount of labour and maintenance time for the replacement of broken or frozen idlers. Also available are rubber-lagged rollers on the lower tracker and a grease kit for both the upper and lower assemblies. The unit is not suitable for reversing conveyors, belts with substantial rollback, or paddle or chevron belts, Martin Engeering clarified.

It is recommended operators install Martin Tracker HDs after the load zone on belts wider than 610 mm with additional units placed down the system to keep the belt centred and tracking. By placing an upper unit before the discharge, operators ensure the belt is centred on the head pulley allowing for optimal belt cleaning with maximum cargo discharge.

The lower tracker has been redesigned to include an extra safety feature not found in competitor units, the company says. Regardless of the conveyor, return rollers have been known to detach and drop, creating a serious safety issue, so the Martin Tracker HD has been equipped with safety guarding on the steering roll to prevent the roller from coming off or putting workers in harm’s way. On the return, it is recommended to place a tracker after the discharge zone or take-up pulley, as well as periodically down the system depending on length. To ensure centred loading, the belt must enter the loading zone aligned, so installing a lower unit approximately five times the belt’s width in distance from the tail pulley will support an efficient loading process.

Since the basic design of the Martin Tracker HD is similar to that of its predecessors with square tube construction, the testing that has taken place focused on performance, durability and installation time. Tested in bulk handling operations including mining and cement where mistracking leading to spillage had historically been a concern, the unit performed up to Martin Engineering’s high standards, the company said.

“Martin Engineering believes safety should be a core function in any conveyor accessory we design, and the Tracker HD is no different,” Mueller said. “By automating consistent belt tracking, this solution reduces equipment wear, maintenance time and downtime. These factors lower the cost of operation offering the best return on investment of any tracker on the market.”

Martin Engineering looks to shore up bulk material transfer with the Martin Transfer Point Kit

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , ,

Martin Engineering, a leader in conveyor accessories, says it has reimagined the bulk handling transfer chute to reduce downtime for installation and offer more options for future modifications.

The Martin® Transfer Point Kit from Martin Engineering includes modular horizontal loading zone, settling zone and stilling zone configurations, providing easier installation and a wider variety of chute options while facilitating future upgrades, according to the company. The kit simplifies the installation process, reducing the amount of labour required for assembly and allowing the system to be pre-built prior to installation for reduced system downtime. The result is faster installation with less laboeur and shorter shutdowns, increasing the return on investment.

“This is a rugged one-kit solution designed to fit most standard conveyors and belt widths, regardless of what material is being transferred,” Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager at Martin Engineering, said. “Our Center for Innovation is constantly looking for ways to engineer equipment with safety and our customer’s bottom line in mind. That’s why the kit doesn’t just streamline labour, time and production, but it’s also a logistical solution by shipping it in one crate.”

The Martin Transfer Point Kit is a heavy-duty horizontal enclosure for the loading zone. Each kit is either ordered as a loading zone, settling zone, or stilling zone. The width and length of the kit are determined by the receiving belt’s width and speed and the dust characteristics of the material being transferred. Dustier applications may require a longer settling zone.

This innovation solves three common problems. The first is that transfer chutes are normally shipped in different packages that sometimes don’t arrive at the same time. Upon delivery, inventory is stored until scheduled downtime, increasing the chance of loss or misplacement. Another problem is, for most new transfer chutes on the market, some components can be prepared and assembled beforehand, but, generally, new chutes need to be completely fabricated during downtime. The inability to build the structure before a shutdown increases the project budget and contributes to lost production time. The third problem is, after construction, horizontal transfer point chutes are commonly a single system that requires significant engineering and construction to be modified. Changes to existing transfer points can be challenging, but to accommodate new belt support equipment or adapt to increases in production, the chute is often raised or lengthened.

To address these problems, the chute sections are 1) delivered in a single crate with every component for assembly included; 2) able to be assembled prior to the shutdown and installation, saving time and money; and 3) fully modular, making future changes easy without expensive construction projects.

The transfer point system accommodates belt widths of 450-1,800 mm and an internal chute width of 228-1,498 mm. Each modular section is either 1.21 m or 1.82 m long and constructed of mild steel, 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel, with a thickness of 6.35 mm, 12.7 mm, or 19.05 mm to accommodate a wide variety of materials and conditions.

The taller loading zone controls air turbulence and connects to both the drop chute and settling zone. When cargo hits a belt with great velocity, fines and lumps splash up the sides of the belt. Without a properly sealed enclosure, the material will spill underneath the conveyor, creating a hazard, restricting access and fouling other components. The settling zone follows the loading zone and helps mitigate dust emissions. Dust is collected, mechanically filtered or settled back into the cargo stream prior to leaving the stilling zone and continuing as a conventional open air conveyor.

Listed under a single part number, the kit includes a chutewall weldment, wearliner assembly, wearliner plate, outer chute supports, top cover, tail panel/clamp/rubber sheet, installation hardware and an owner’s manual. The skirt seal is sold separately, since it is a single piece that runs the entire length of the chute and skirting is the most frequently replaced wear part in most transfer points.

“After installation, Martin Territory Managers or partner distributors are available to offer support,” Mueller added. “The feedback for the kit has been excellent. Customers get the heavy-duty Martin quality they’ve come to expect in a more convenient, efficient and sustainable package.”

Martin Engineering sets ‘new standard’ in conveyor wear liner technology

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , ,

Martin Engineering has introduced what it says is a new standard in wear liner technology with the Manufactured Canoe Liner.

Made from durable urethane moulded around a rugged steel plate to absorb impact and abrasion from the punishing bulk handling environment, the Manufactured Canoe Liner is expected to deliver extended equipment life, longer periods of dust and spillage control, improved safety and less maintenance, reducing the overall cost of operation, according to the company.

With the protective plate integrated directly into the urethane liner, the design delivers superior shielding of the skirt sealing system and chute wall from heavy, fast-moving cargo, it says.

“This is a shift in the engineering and role of wear liners,” Dave Mueller, Manager of Conveyor Products for Martin Engineering, said. “Like most conveyor components, the design has evolved into a component that is more effective, safer to maintain and more reliable.”

Previously, most wear liners were sheets of steel welded onto the internal chute wall of the conveyor loading zone. These protected the wall from the punishing effects of splashing, shifting and abrasive material. But since they are wear parts, periodic replacement of these early designs involved enclosed chute entry and hot work using a blow torch, which required certification and supervision, while running the risk of igniting explosive dust. The steel plates generally did not effectively protect the rubber skirt seal, leading to more frequent skirt replacements.

Moreover, the wear liner’s position often left a gap between the liner and the skirting, which captured small lumps of material that could damage the belt. These design issues resulted in excessive downtime, premature equipment replacement and extra labor to monitor and maintain.

The Martin Manufactured Canoe Liner is an engineered urethane strip moulded directly around a protective steel plate.  The unique approach avoids the bonding issues common to previous designs, preventing urethane separation from the plate that could damage the belt and enclosure, the company says.

Each section has a series of 2 in (51 mm) long bracket holes for vertical adjustment. The bottom “belt side” of the liner is cut to an optional 20º, 35º, or 45º angle to maximise belt sealing and protect the softer material of the skirt seal from premature wear. Depending on the weight and abrasiveness of the conveyed material, customers can choose a urethane thickness of 1.3-2 in (33-51 mm).

Delivered in storable cartridges 48 in (1,219 mm) in length, the units can be cut on site to match the needs of the chute. The cartridges can also be installed vertically on top of one another to accommodate taller chute walls or raised enclosures. Like the lower sections, the upper units can be adjusted as well, Martin Engineering added.

As material gradually erodes the Manufactured Canoe Liner, the bottom trough angle continues to protect the skirting. If there are significant gaps between the belt and liner, each individual cartridge can be adjusted by a single technician using a socket wrench, the company claims. Replacement is carried out by removing the worn units, mounting each new cartridge and cutting the end piece to fit. This reduces what used to be a one or two day job to one to two hours, according to the company.

“Martin is constantly seeking to innovate every aspect of the bulk handling process with the goal of making it safer, more effective and easier to maintain,” Mueller said. “The introduction of the Manufactured Canoe Liner achieves our objectives by improving efficiency and lowering the cost of operation.”

Martin Engineering highlights importance of tension in conveyor belt cleaner operations

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

There are many issues to consider when specifying the most appropriate conveyor belt cleaner, not the least of which is maintaining proper tension to achieve optimum cleaning performance without introducing related problems, Martin Engineering says.

Inadequate tensioning causes carryback to cling to the belt and spill along its path, piling up under the conveyor and emitting excessive dust. This requires extra labour for cleanup and can affect air quality. Over-tensioning leads to friction damage to the carrying side of the belt, premature blade wear and potential splice damage. Both scenarios contribute to unsafe work conditions and raise the cost of operation.

“There are two basic approaches to applying tension to the belt cleaner: linear and rotary,” Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager for Martin Engineering, says. “The blade’s cleaning position and angle of approach to the belt often dictate whether a linear or rotary tensioner is used.”

The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association defines the cleaning positions as primary, secondary or tertiary. Primary cleaners typically function with a “peeling” action, while secondary and tertiary cleaners are usually scrapers. Belt cleaners mounted in the primary position generally employ a rotary-style tensioner, while most units mounted in the secondary or tertiary positions use linear style tensioners, Martin Engineering says.

In most cases, belt tensioners have to be monitored and adjusted manually so they can maintain optimum pressure and carryback removal, according to Martin Engineering. Estimating when blades need changing is often a guessing game that, if left too long, could lead to unnecessary complications.

Linear tensioners
“Linear tensioners are most often applied where the compensation for wear is required in small increments, such as with hard metal-tipped cleaners located in the secondary cleaning position or with brush cleaners,” Mueller said.

The simple design of linear tensioners often allows just one setting for full blade wear. Further, these tensioners can accommodate actuator deflection for accurate adjustment of cleaning pressure, delivering the ability to accommodate uneven mounting positions or asymmetrical blade wear.

Rotary tensioners
The required tensioning forces can be applied by springs, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, electric actuators or from torque stored in an elastomeric element. Rotary tensioners like the Martin® Twist™ Tensioner are often used with urethane blades, where the change in blade height and thickness as its wear is significant, the company says. Rotary designs tend to be compact and, in most cases, the actuator(s) can be mounted at any orientation, which provides options for installing the belt cleaner in the optimum position.

Air tensioners
Air tensioners use the resilience of a pneumatic cylinder to cushion impact. The tensioners can use Martin’s Air Connection Kit to plug them directly into an existing air system, allowing for a more streamlined installation process.

Spring tensioners
Spring tensioners maintain efficient belt cleaning with a rugged coil spring. The Martin XHD Spring Tensioners deliver effective cleaning while cushioning splice shock to prevent damage, well suited for tensioning heavy-duty belt cleaners while standing up to tough conditionst, according to the company. Dual tensioning is recommended for belt cleaners installed on belts wider than 1,200 mm. However, dual tensioning does not change the fact that regular adjustment is required to maintain suitable cleaning pressure on the belt, which is where Martin’s N2® Smart Technology comes into play, the company says.

Auto tensioner/Position Indicator
Martin Engineering’s smart technology platform includes the company’s patented N2 Position Indicator (PI) to monitor primary cleaner blade wear and inform operators when the blade needs changing. The system uses a cellular gateway that relays data to the cloud and then to the user, delivering actionable information in real time, the company explains.

The N2 PI and Smart Device Manager App ease the burden on managers and workers so they can focus their attention on other critical details of the operation, Martin Engineering says. Precise tensioning and improved belt cleaning reduce the volume of dust and spillage from carryback, improving workplace conditions and decreasing the labour needed to maintain and clean around the discharge zone.

The company concluded: “While manufacturers continue to improve belt cleaner effectiveness, it has become clear that there is no single or ideal solution for belt cleaning and tensioner selection. Safety of personnel and the belt itself is the primary consideration when selecting a tensioner. Ease of inspection and maintenance is critical for belt cleaner effectiveness, so the tensioner must allow quick and safe service. Martin Engineering offers the services and tensioning products that are necessary to meet the multifaceted demands of belt cleaning.”

Martin Engineering cleans up conveyor operations with DT2S, DT2H

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, , , , , ,

Martin Engineering, a leader in bulk material handling technologies and training, has announced the availability of two rugged secondary conveyor belt cleaners, both engineered for fast and easy maintenance.

The innovative design of the DT2S and DT2H reversible cleaners from Martin Engineering reduces system downtime and labour for clean up or service, while helping to prolong the service life of other conveyor components, the company says.

The models feature a unique split-track blade cartridge that slides in and out on a stainless steel mandrel, meaning the cleaners can be serviced or replaced without stopping the belt when on-site safety approvals are in place, Martin Engineering claims.

Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager for Martin Engineering, says: “Even when the cleaner is encrusted with material, one half of the split frame can be removed so the cartridge can be changed in just five minutes. This allows users to have a spare cartridge on hand and quickly change it out when the blades need replacement. Then they can take the used cartridge back to the shop, clean it up and change the blades so it’s ready for the next service.”

These secondary cleaners serve a wide variety of applications, including mining. Both products significantly reduce material carryback, and arr engineered to accommodate reversing conveyors to avoid damage to the belt or splicing, the company says. With steel blades and tungsten carbide tips set into a flexible base, the DT2 cleaners offer simple, effective solutions that can solve a number of carryback-related problems.

Martin DT2H Reversing Cleaner XHD

Designed for particularly demanding conditions, the DT2H Reversing Cleaner XHD is suited for heavy material loads on belts ranging from 400 to 2,400 mm wide that operate at speeds up to 6.1 m/s. 

The company explains: “Carryback accumulations along the return run of the conveyor can occur when the cleaning systems on a conveyor fail to remove most of the material that adheres to the belt after unloading its cargo. Increased build up results in unnecessary labour costs for clean up, and can lead to premature failure of conveyor components if left unchecked.”

Mueller said: “Carryback can have an extremely sticky texture and abrasive nature, which can muck up conveyor components and contribute to premature failure. One key to the success of these cleaners is the blade’s negative rake angle (less than 90 degrees). With a negative angle, you get a ‘scraping’ action that mitigates potential belt damage, while delivering outstanding cleaning performance.”

Martin DT2S Reversing Cleaner

Like its larger counterpart, the Martin DT2S reversing cleaner can be installed on belts ranging from 400 to 4,800 mm wide. But, unlike the DT2H, the DT2S is designed for a lower maximum belt speed of 4.6m/s on belts with vulcanised splices. Mueller pointed out that this is primarily due to the difference in applications: “The DT2S has a slim frame that allows it to fit in spaces as narrow as 7 in (178 mm). As a result, the DT2S can be attached to belts that may be too small for primary cleaners.”

Both of the DT2 cleaners can be used in medium- to heavy-duty environments, providing a lasting solution to a diverse array of complex problems that are caused by carryback and minimising  fugitive material, the company says.

Pueblo Viejo case study

An example of the cleaners’ performance can be found at the Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (PVDC) mine in the province of Sanchez Ramirez, about 89 km northwest of the city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Operators at the operation, majority owned by Barrick, were experiencing excessive carryback and dust on its conveyor system, resulting in expensive equipment failures, unscheduled downtime and increased maintenance. Production is 365 d/y, but, between April and October, moisture can cause cohesion in fine clay particles, causing the cargo to become sticky. The substance had the consistency of thick toothpaste, which was also able to adhere small chunks of aggregate to the belt, causing destructive carryback that damaged pulleys and headers.

In just two weeks, Martin Engineering technicians replaced the existing belt scrapers at 16 locations with Martin QC1 Cleaner XHD primary cleaners fitted with low-adhesion urethane blades specifically designed for tacky material loads, along with DT2H secondary cleaners. The secondary cleaner blades can endure hot summer temperatures, high moisture content and constant production schedules, according to the company.

Following the upgrades, operations are now cleaner, saferand more productive, giving executives and stakeholders more confidence in the sustained operation of the mine, which is projected to be profitable for the next 25 years or more.  

Martin Engineering sizes up new compact conveyor belt cleaner

Base metals, Bulk handling, Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Steel and iron ore, , , , ,

Martin Engineering addressed the problem of installing conveyor belt cleaning technology in areas where space is limited with the development of its new design SQC2STM RM (Reduced Mini) cleaner.

The SQC2STM RM is a compact secondary belt cleaner built with a narrow profile that resists material build-up.

Patented rubber buffers maintain cleaning pressure on the new design, engineered to deflect and allow splices to pass without damage to the belt or cleaner, even on reversing belts. The construction incorporates individually-cushioned stainless steel blades with tungsten carbide tips for effective cleaning with negligible risk to belt, splice or blade, and it can withstand even punishing operating conditions, including corrosive environments, high-speed belts and high-tonnage loads, according to the company.

The SQC2S RM requires just 134 mm (5.27 in) of space from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the mainframe, the company says.

Dave Mueller, Conveyor Products Manager at Martin Engineering, said it is not just the size of the cleaner that is a major selling point.

The blades of the cleaner conform to the belt profile and adjust individually to deliver continuous contact across the belt, he said.

“In a perfect world, bulk materials would load uniformly, wearing the blade evenly, but that rarely happens. By having multiple segments attached to a single rigid assembly, the tension can be maintained and adjusted accurately, quickly and safely,” he said.

Like the other designs in the SQC2 product line, blade removal and replacement is carried out by removing the lock pin from the main support assembly and sliding out the cartridge.

“The lock pins are a key component to Martin Engineering’s ‘no-reach design’, which allows workers to conduct their lockout/tag-out procedure more safely,” Martin Engineering said, adding that the unit is one of its Safety First™ family of products, helping customers achieve OSHA compliance.

The cleaner is suitable for belt widths from 450-1,829 mm (18-72 inches) and operating speeds up to 3.81 m/s (750 ft/min). It can be used in applications involving operating temperatures between -34°C and 149°C (-30°F and 300°F) and the design features all-steel powder coated construction (except for the rubber buffer).

Additionally, a dust-tight door to cover the opening for the mainframe has been designed to fit the reduced component size, for a clean, efficient installation, Martin Engineering says.

Similar to the original design, when the blade wears out, the removable cartridge allows easy replacement, so the end user can have a spare cartridge on the shelf and the service can be carried out in a “matter of minutes”, the company says.

Martin Engineering expects the SQC2S RM to be in demand in applications where installation space is at a premium, including biomass, recycling, waste-to-energy, trash sorting, foundries and steel production.