Bucket ELEVATOR TROUBLESHOOTING Causes, Effects, Solutions

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Bucket ELEVATOR TROUBLESHOOTING Causes, Effects, Solutions

 

 

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Three Categories

  • Discharge ( Down-legging – Back-legging)
  • Bucket Filling ( Uneven Fill – Incomplete Fill )
  • Premature Bucket Failure ( Wear – Cracking )

 

Discharge Back-legging

-Back-legging describes elevated material falling down the up leg.

-Causes

  • Speed too fast
  • Buckets worn
  • Obstruction in head or throat
  • Pressure vent or internal structure

Typical throw Pattern for High Speed Grain Leg

 

Shroud in Head

Helps control material flow and reduce discharge problems

 

Discharge Down-legging

Down-legging describes elevated material falling down the down leg.

-Causes

  • Speed too fast/slow
  • Wiper damaged or missing
  • Throat position too high
  • Buckets un-vented
  • Obstruction in Throat
  • High moisture/Sticky Material
  • Air Pressure in Leg

Bucket Discharge

  • The point at which material starts to exit the bucket is determined by belt speed, and commodity being conveyed.
  • A high speed elevator will begin to discharge at about 30-40 degrees before top dead center
  • Complete discharge should occur at approximately 100 degrees below top dead center.

 

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Discharge Position

  • As speeds and capacities have gone up, throat position has gone down
  • Most manufacturers have a minimum position of 45̊ below centerline of head shaft

Bucket Discharge

  • In theory, capacity can be gained by increasing belt speed.
  • Practical application can be tricky

Speed Increase Effects

  • Earlier Discharge
  • Higher throw trajectory
  • Increased air volume
  • Reduction of time window
  • Increase in commodity damage

Bucket Fill Problems

-Causes

  • Misguided inlet
  • Buckets un-vented
  • Pulley/inlet position not optimal
  • Speed too fast
  • Vertical spacing
  • Buckets worn
  • Obstruction

-Upside Feed Optimal Pulley Position

To Vent or Not to Vent

  • Conveying meals or soft stock materials
  • Sticky or high fat content
  • Any light test weight materials
  • Powders or flours
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, VENT YOUR BUCKETS!

Bucket Venting

 

PREMATURE BUCKET FAILURE

-Causes

  • Improper hardware selection
  • Over-torqued hardware
  • Incorrect bucket or belt size
  • Misaligned belt
  • Excessive digging
  • Poor inspection practices

-Solutions

  • Must install a locking device
  • Use proper torque settings
  • Ensure buckets and belting are proper widths
  • Install digger buckets
  • Regular inspections to replace damaged buckets

Excessive Bucket Wear

  • Misguided or poor feeding
  • Improper bucket Material
  • Application tends to cake or build up in trunking
  • Severe downlegging causing heavy digging

-Bucket with holes in belly

Urethane buckets in mash leg at Prestage Farms.

 

-Cracked bolt holes

 

Cracked Bolt Holes – Cause

BUCKET MATERIALS

  • Prime Virgin Polyethylene
  • Zytel Nylon
  • Urethane – 55 Durometer

Polyethylene Vs Urethane

 

The Cost of Bucket Wear

  • 10×6 poly bucket
  • 10×6 poly bucket
  • 1” wear on front lip =164.15 cubic inches
  • 1” wear on front lip =164.15 cubic inches
  • Water level new = 356.4 cubic inches
  • 1” wear on front lip = 265.35 cubic inches
  • ,Loss of 25.5%

 

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