Form force behaviour of pipe conveyors in different curve radii

For a reliable operation of the pipe belt, the bending stiffness in transverse direction has a great importance. Form forces should neither be too small, not too high. Moreover, a minimum bending stiffness of the belt is necessary, to ensure the required form stability of the belt and to prevent the belt from collapsing or buckling in curves. In the context of a research project in cooperation between the Phoenix Conveyor Belt Systems and the Institute of Transport and Automation Technology (ITA) the distribution of the belt stiffness resulting from the belt construction and the minimal feasible curve radii was determined, and a test rig was designed to examine the form forces of the belt dependent on certain conveyor belt and plant parameters.