scraper chain conveyor
with plastic pushers

Drag chain conveyors for use in underground mining, could include interconnected, profiled conveyor chutes, containing guided conveyor chains.

Plastic carriers could be attached to the conveyor chains by being molded around annular conveyor chain links. At least one drive is provided for conveyor chains.
Plastic carriers and their connection with the chain links is produced in a single operation. Molding around chain links has the advantage that in the critical cross-sectional region, at the connection between chain link and carrier, a massive increase occurs.
Carrier geometry is to be designed so that critical weak points receive maximum cross-sectional area.

Chain options

Conveyor chains could be composed of individual, interconnected chain strands with plastic carriers molded thereon. Since the connection between plastic carriers and individual chain links is by molding of a plastic matrix, care should be taken that chain strands, with plastic carriers molded on, are designed in optimum lengths.
Length depends on application and on transport options. For example, chain strands of varying length could be provided as standard strands, adapter strands, or repair strands.

Carriers

Design of plastic carriers and their connection is a function of the design of the conveyor chains, having carriers as a chain unit. For example, carriers could be placed between two outward individual chains, or on a centrally extending chain, or on two spaced, centrally extending chains, forming a double central chain.

Plastics material choice

Manufacture of plastic carriers, including connection regions with chain links, requires a plastic material able to flow in manufacture, that is heat and flame resistant, as well as anti static.
A polyamide casting plastic can be used, or a thermoplastic polyamide PEI/PAI, or a polyether ketone PEEK.
Duroplastics could use an epoxy matrix, polyester matrix, or phenol matrix.

Reinforcing

Metallic or fiber reinforcing particles are cast at random distribution into plastic carriers. Reinforcing could be short or long, or over the length of the plastic carriers, or extend about the chain links, to pass through the chain links. Reinforcement could contain mesh, fabric, braids or knit, of carbon, aramid, or glass fibre. Construction of a drag chain conveyor with these features can be derived from the standard US 2004 /0140178.

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