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production & processing: 49
Conveyor belt cleaning tool
Hanson Aggregates > Stanton Harcourt Quarry, Oxfordshire > 01865 882210
Processing
The processing plant at this Oxfordshire quarry is fed via
a conveyor belt line measuring around 1.2 kilometres. A
major issue for production staff is to prevent the belt line
and head becoming clogged up with as-dug sand and
gravel.
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Traditionally, this was conducted by hand with a shovel,
with the potential for back strains and other injuries. To
both save time and reduce the risk of injuries, the plant
supervisor designed a cleaning bucket attachment for
a telehandler, already present on site, to mechanise the
process at a cost of only £300.
Plough removal of snow from conveyer belts
Tarmac Central > Lound Quarry, Nottinghamshire > 01777 818325
Throughout winter, when snow or rainwater falls on field conveyor belts, it collects in the trough of the
belt, freezes and turns to ice overnight. The following morning when the conveyors are started, the snow
and ice is carried along the belt and is deposited into the drive-head transfer chutes, which frequently
become blocked and need to be cleared before work can begin.
Operatives have to be deployed to manually dig out the blocked chutes using shovels and scrapers,
exposing them to manual handling risks as well as the risk of slips, trips and falls from working on frozen
ground or from climbing onto icy conveyor structures to gain access to the chutes.
At Lound Quarry, Tarmac designed and built a snowplough that could be fitted to the conveyor. The
plough is mounted permanently on the conveyor structure, and consists of a box-section steel frame
mounted over the belt and a hinged-arm with a plough attachment fitted on the end fixed to the frame.
‘Skirting-rubber’ is used for the face of the plough to prevent risk of damage to the conveyor belt. When
the plough is needed, the arm is lowered onto the moving belt and the plough then deflects snow and ice
off the conveyor before it can reach the transfer-point. When not required, the plough is locked out of the
way in its raised position.
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Compare with entry 30 on page 14 of the 2002 Quarry Products Association Health & Safety Best Practice
Awards Guide.
Conveyor belt ice and water shedder
Tarmac Northern > Newbigging Quarry, South Lanarkshire > 01555 840361
In South Lanarkshire, an interesting and effective innovation has been developed at Tarmac
Northern’s Newbigging Quarry where, in winter, overnight, snow creates delays starting
up field conveyors. At any time of the year, there can also be significant accumulations of
water in the troughed belt conveyors.
on
video
A return roller has been fitted above the conveyor with a two-position fixing on one ride. When secured in
the lower position, the belt on that side is forced downwards allowing the trapped water to flow off the
belt. The simple system precludes manual intervention with its attendant risks.
A second device, integrated with the water shedding top roller, is effectively a snow/ice plough shaped
and angled such that it scrapes the snow or ice onto one side of the belt from where it falls to the ground
due to the action of the lowered top roller.