Bucket elevator

01

Choose centrifugal or continuous discharge

FEECO, a bucket elevator manufacturer, explains that the first sizing step is choosing between continuous and centrifugal designs: fragile materials or those needing gentle handling suit continuous elevators, while centrifugal elevators are chosen where degradation is not a concern and rely on speed to throw material out at the head. It notes two exceptions: potash elevators are almost all continuous and sand elevators almost all centrifugal. [2]

FEECO writes that "The most common types of buckets used with centrifugal elevators are the AA and AC designs", which dig and scoop material from the boot, and that with a continuous elevator "medium-front (MF), high-front (HF), and super-capacity (SC) are the most common selections"; continuous elevators which use the back of the preceding bucket to guide material into the discharge chute. [2]

Bucket spacing is set by the discharge action: FEECO notes that centrifugal belt elevators allow minor spacing adjustment, while continuous and chain elevators do not. [2]

Give the supplier the material name, bulk density, particle size, temperature, moisture and whether it is fragile, abrasive or easily aerated. These decide the discharge type before capacity is considered.

02

Size buckets, fill, spacing and speed for capacity

FEECO explains that bucket volume is rated on water-level capacity, that solids can heap so fill can exceed 100% in some materials, and that bulk density converts volume into tonnage. Belt or chain speed must stay in the range that gives the right discharge, so it allows only small capacity changes. [2] [3]

As an editorial calculation example only: 5 L buckets at 80% fill, spaced 0.3 m apart on a belt running at 1.5 m/s, pass 18,000 buckets an hour and lift about 72 m³/h; at a bulk density of 0.75 t/m³ that is about 54 t/h. Ask the supplier to confirm fill and speed for your material.

For more capacity on an existing leg, FEECO lists raising speed, increasing fill, reducing spacing on centrifugal units, or changing bucket style, and warns that faster chain elevators wear faster and may need a new drive; for a significant increase FEECO says "replacement often becomes the only option", because the casing size must also be increased. [3]

03

Fit the safeguards required for dusty materials

OSHA's grain handling standard (29 CFR 1910.272), which applies to grain elevators, feed mills, flour mills and similar plants, requires that bucket elevators not be jogged to free a choked leg, that belts bought after 1988 be conductive (surface resistance not over 300 megohms), and that the head and boot have access for inspection and clean-out. [1]

The standard also requires bearings mounted outside the leg casing or monitored for vibration or temperature, a motion detector that shuts the elevator down when belt speed drops by no more than 20%, and a belt alignment alarm or automatic tracking; some of these do not apply where an operational fire and explosion suppression system protects head and boot, or dust is kept at least 25% below the lower explosive limit. [1]

Even outside grain plants, ask the supplier which speed, alignment and bearing monitors and explosion protection are offered, and which standards the elevator is built to for your material and market.

04

Ring-chain and plate-chain legs for cement, belt elevators, a feed elevator and a Z-type packing feeder

The listed elevators range from ring-chain and plate-chain legs for cement and minerals to Jochamp's Z-shape bucket elevator feeding a pouch packing machine. [4] [5] [7]

Pingyuan lists belt, ring-chain, plate-chain, cement and silo bucket elevators; Excellent lists belt and chain bucket elevators with a cement project; Deci lists a feed bucket elevator. [4] [5] [6]

05

Buckets, belt or chain, head drive, boot, casing and monitors

Three rows carry OSHA requirements for grain plants: the conductive belt, inspection access at the boot, and the speed, alignment and bearing monitors. [1]

06

Capacity, lift height, belt speed, bucket volume, drive power and belt material for an elevator order

Capacity follows from bucket volume, fill, spacing and speed, as in the 54 t/h example above; give the bulk density so the supplier can convert volume to tonnage.

07

Send the material, capacity and site data together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Material: [name; bulk density; particle size; temperature; moisture; fragile, abrasive or aerating; dust explosion data]
Capacity: [t/h or m³/h; peak; operating hours]
Geometry: [lift height; inlet and discharge positions; space limits]
Type: [centrifugal or continuous; belt or chain]
Safety: [speed, alignment and bearing monitors; explosion protection; access doors]
Drive: [motor; backstop; supply voltage]
Documents: [capacity calculation; drawings; belt conductivity certificate]

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