Steve, Our Frame-Rite Construction System could be your cost effective solution. The product is easy to work with and would not require an outside firm to install.

Check us out on the Web at: www.agdproducts.com

Look at our Frame-Rite products or call me and I'll send you some literature.

David Sayers ■

We at Stephens-Adamson manufacture a conveyor hood that is both economical, easy to fasten to the structure and easy to open and close. You can view it at www.stephens-adamson.com/conveyorcover.htm. It comes standard with galvanized covers, bands, feet and retainer bars, and zinc plate hardware. It is also available in Aluminum, Stainless Steel and other materials. To make it as economical as possible there is a gap between the top of the stringer and bottom of the cover edge. At additional cost ths gap can be closed by extending the bands below the feet. You will see links on the website to Imperial dimension sheets. There is little problem handling various other dimensions, including metric. The largest size we can fabricate is with a band radius of 56-3/4" [1440mm] and bolt hole centres of 105" [2670mm]. This would cover a CEMA E idler for a 96" [2440mm] belt width. If you need more information please feel free to contact me. ■

Steve,

MIRS in Perth are able to supply such dust covers, made from plastic in any colour you wish, light and easy to operate, UV stablised and if required "fire resistant".

Martin Long ■

Dear Mr. Davis,

We at CAPOTEX manufacture and comercialize the covers your are looking for.

They are:

1) Low cost

2) Fixed from stringer to stringer, and self-supported (no need of additional structure)

3) Very easy to install and to access. We supply everything you will need to install them, including installation instructions. Access possible from either side of the conveyor due to our patented Lock/Hinge system.

4) We only use high corrosion resistant materials. You may choose galvanized steel, galvanized + prelaquered steel, Stainless steel, Aluminuim, and Polyester with fiberglass.

We have supplied these covers in Australia.

Please feel free to contact me for more information or visit our web page at www.capotex.com

Javier Saura

Export manager

www.capotex.com ■

Far from being an experienced person in regards to this subject I would never the less like to ask a question that might serve to answer the engineering specification you mentioned.

Is anybody doing anything with cloth or fabric conveyor covers?

The idea seems inexpensive and flexible, requiring few tools to assemble or disassemble and have easy access to the conveying line itself.

The fbric when saturated with dust will form its own barrier and mechanical shaking, such as used in a bag house, would free the fabric from accumulated weight of dust laden materials.

Simple hoops located along the conveying line could prove to be sufficient support and repair of any rents or tears would require only basic tools of which many are familiar.

Any response to this idea? ■

Tominer,

We have experience with fabric covers. Eventhough at first sight look the most logical solution, there are some disadvantages.

1.- They are much more expensive than galvanized steel covers

2.- They are not long lasting. Sun and rain are the worst enemies for fabrics.

3.- When they get teared up, the broken piece may get trapped in the rollers which is dangerous, no only for the equipment but also for the workers.

4.- In order to be resistant to wind, strong steel structures must be installed which increases the price of the material and installation. On the other hand, self-suppoted covers do not need any additional structure.

5.- Fabric covers are usually tighten with an elastic rope. These ropes last even less than the fabric; consequently, they need to be replaced quite often.

6.- As you say they accumulate dust. And this does not look very nice.

Fabric covers were used a long time ago when steel covers were very uncomfortable to open. Nowadays we manufacture a wide range of patented solutions that are very quick and simple to install and open.

I hope this is helpful for you. If you have any other question on covers feel free to ask. Our technical department is exclusively dedicated to design covers for belt conveyors. My father, who is now retired, founded CAPOTEX and I have spent all my proffesional life dedicated to this product.

Javier Saura

Export manager

www.capotex.com ■

Thank you for your very well considered response and added expertise to the question that I asked.

I would like to present one additional comment on fabric however.

The solutions associated with conveying as well as processing of bulk materials are Engineering Solutions. In that context, I agree whole heartedly with your response and have learned from your comments.

I would like to suggest however that there are certain advantages to fabric being used in the context of a social-economic model where in the use of a particular material is justified not necessarilly as initially being the best engineering solution, but justified because the use of a moderately compatabile material actually serves other functions which in the complete cycle serves the bulk handling industry better.

My point is that when considering development of what are currently considered as third world nations an economic planner must take into consideration the aggregate skills of a population as well as the natural resources readially available.

If fabric were used more often, is it not proabable that this would increase employment opportunities within a marginalized population and thus increase world-wide capital worth. Any increase in worth/value, represented in disposible wages would have an immediate impact on the bulk handling industry in general in that in every case, any consumer product at a minimum of at least one time in its manufacturing is transported as a bulk material.

By accepting certain inefficiencies with a greater return anticipated, and attained through anticipated future revenues via capital expenditures of a population that has been economically empowered - does not the use of a fabric justify itself.

I agree with you as an aspiring engineer that metal has particular advantages.

But to use cloth or fabric with wooden stays and abridgements (which I believe would be a better material to stand up to the constant vibration in mechanical machinery anyways) all of the sudden employes two resources commenly available in nations not fully industrialized and enrichen's the population.

Yes there are certain inefficiencies and certainly places where fabric and wood are entirely not employable.

However, I would like to suggest in a Business/Policitcal/Economic Model that maybe this idea should be considered as a product worth consideration of returning to the industry for reasons as stated above.

Any Capital enrichment of a marginalized population will/must benefit the Bulk Handling Industry. ■

Dear Mr. Nordell

I have been a member of this forum long enough to enjoy the dialogue between all involved.

May I say that at the end of every thread I always expect one of the several moderators or "experts" to sum up the discussion and your name is one of those who has an opinion to respect.

I agree with the need to utilize engineering techniques to find solution to engineering problems. My question as to the utilizing of fabric to cover conveyors (in situations that may provide allowances for this material) as part of a global approach to stimulate marginalized economies through the utilization of requisit skills and resources particular to those economies, as a method to accomplish an economic gain which eventually will benefit the whole bulk materials industry is a rhetorical question at the moment and one possibly not suitable for an engineering forum.

The exceptions that may justify consideration of this idea are:

Targeting development of Industry Production Equipment needs in a manner to stimulate economies

Targeting development of Industry Production Equipment needs in a way to increase globle wealth through maximization of available natural resources and population skills (especially in marginalized economies)

Targeting development of Industry Production Equipment development as a function to increase global wealth that will compensate the industry due to increases in demand for products that often require bulk handling.

My question is one possibly worth consideration:

Do we too often stress efficiency in a way that costs us more in revenues in the long run due to the effect Efficiency has in reducing circulating capital in the form of industrial wages and micro-contract-wages, which if in circulation would create an increase in demand for products and thus stimulate increases in utilization of resources such as those associated with bulk material handling?

A simple product such as fabric conveyor covers might seem very archaic to an engineer while a global economic development incentive to a forester or craftsperson stitching the material.

Your response is right on the mark and in fact I too have a bias towards efficiency - with one exception.

When efficiency becomes so effective as to reduce the amount of capital circulating in either a micro or macro economy, we all loose.

Inefficient cloth covers might be exactly what the world needs if your a citizen living in a marginalized economy, and if that citizen spends their surplus income - inefficient cloth covers (used in the most responsive applications) might be a benefit for the whole industry.

In sumation: What I am asking is weather developments in the industry should occurre without consideration as to the effect they might have to the world economy should other factors be considered along with "efficiency".

I shall read your papers presented on the topics noted.

Thank you. ■

I see your point regarding the three senarios that you mentioned and sadly more often than not these senarios actually occure - but may I suggest:

These senarios only exist when the decision making apperatus is of the assumption that the economy is a "Zero-Sum" Economy which means all resources are fixed and thus if you gain, your gain must have a corresponding loss sufferred by another.

Mr. Nordell, I have as much an inclination towards finding efficient means by which to produce a product as any engineer. However, efficiency is not always appearent.

If a region can be economically impacted by targeting product development in a whole industry to accomendate the resources available in what may be a marginalized region, for the purpose of enriching that region and for the additional prupopse of:

Once enriched this region will utilize products that undercapitalized the region is unable to utilize, then I think what we have developed is a "Non-Zero-Sum" Economic Development Program which I very capital friendly.

In the case of fabric covers for conveyors (used where determined as moderately adaptable to the process) the utilizartion of fabric would be developmentally friendly to regions that have a scarsity of the kinds of technologies and resources that produce higher technologically based conveyor covers.

Nevertheless, human populations throughout the world have identical needs.

To economically empower marginalizzed populations with the intent to increase their purchasing power (as well as imporving their quality of life) has a duel function, benefiting not only the marginalized but the industries that will supply to their demand.

My interest is basic in many ways - those being to find a method to expand economic growth as a function to improve demand for goods and services that will expand the entire world economy, to everybody's gain.

In my home city, we have become so efficient in production and providing services that less and less available disposible capital exists and my suspicion is that efficiency taken to an n'th degree can actually do more harm to an economy than benefit the economy.

I do not believe that Karl Marx invisioned in his economic philosophy the increasing of available surplus capital through accepting certain targeted inefficiencies to stimulate economic

growth!

Might I add with a little humor that I'm throughly enjoying our conversation on "Fabric Dust Covers for Conveyors"!

The forum seems somewhat quiet, or possibly reluctant to join us in this discussion! HOpe others lend a comment!

Sincerely,

Tominer ■

Simar-Dacon Inc manufactures customized heavy duty conveyor belt covers. Our selling prices are very competitive and these items are quite easy to install.

Hoods are made from G90 galvanized material (or aluminum, stainless, carbon) and designed in a way that avoids the normal water trap found at the end of the sheets on other models, providing the user with years of rust free use.

We supply pre-assembled eyebolts, reducing your on site installation time. Hoods can be supplied for opening on both sides of the conveyor and have optional wind proof attachments preventing the hood sheet from blowing over to the non servicing side of the belt.

No tools are needed for inspection or maintenance since covers are supplied with eyebolts and wing nuts. Other options are available for instant opening as well (rubber latches; Dacon's quick pin release mechanism).

We can extend the hoods to meet the conveyor frame thus closing the 3" gap normally situated between the end of the sheet and the channel or truss frame of the conveyor.

Please visit our web site at www.daconv.com ■

Dear Steve,

Some things you say are completely right, but some are not.

1.- It is correct that the transfer points have a high dust emission problem. And this is specially important in short conveyors where the percentage of emission is higher on these points. But if you consider a long conveyor carrying thin material in a windy area, then the emission is much higher along the conveyor than in the transfer points.

2.- It is correct that some hinged covers do not allow access from one side of the belt. But our patented CAPOTEX MADRID model is hinged and allows access from either side of the conveyor. Even though, we also manufacture lift off covers, I will always recommend hinged covers due to speed of maintenance and safety.

Javier Saura

www.capotex.com ■