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Papers:PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

PipeConveyorsDevelopmentandAdvantages

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G.A.Vaka
KruppRobins
1.Introduction
RobinsEngineers&Constructors,Inc.asheexclusiveUSlicenseeintroducedthepipeconveyortotheNorth
Americanmarketplaceearlyin1984.Thesaleofthefirstpipeconveyorin1985wasadifficulttasksincethe
conventionaltroughedbeltconveyorwastheacceptedandthemostwidelyusedmeansofcontinuous
transportationofbulkmaterialshandlingintheworld.initiallyourclientsviewedthepipeconveyorasa
departurefromthenormalandacceptedformofmaterialhandling.
Sincethen,theparentcompanyofRobinsEngineersmergedwithKruppofGermanytoformKruppRobins,Inc.
intheUSA.Todatethereareover750pipeconveyorsoperatingworldwidewiththemajorityofthelong
overlandsystemsdesignedandinstalledbyKruppRobins,Inc.Thepipeconveyorisnowbecomingthenorm,
viewedbythosewhoarefamiliarwithitscapabilitiesasthepreferredmethodoftransportationforallbulk
solids.
2.DevelopmentofthePipeConveyor
JapanPipeConveyorCompanywasresponsiblefortheinitialdevelopmentofthepipeconveyorandpatentedthe
originaltechnologythatledtoitsfirstsuccessfulapplicationbackin1979.BridgestoneCorporationhassince
obtainedalltherightstotheJPCsystemandhasgrantedKruppRobins,Inc.theexclusivemarketingrightsin
theUnitedStates.JointlyBridgestoneandKruppRobins,Inc.havedevelopedandrefinedthelimited
originaltechnology.Advancedtechnologyallowsbothinplantandlongoverlandpipeconveyorswithmultiple
horizontalcurves,tooperatewiththereliabilityofconventionalconveyors(Fig.1).Designsareprogressively
towardlongersingleflightconveyorswitheachnewcontract.Forexample,a4,500ftlongcoalconveyor,agold
oreconveyor6,575ftlong,anothercoaltransportationconveyor8,900ftlong,andyetanotherdownhillcoal
handlingconveyorthatis11,500ftinlength.Currentlythelongestsingleflightpipeconveyorinstalledisover
16,500ftinlength.Theconveyorcarriespetroleumcokeinonecontinuouslengthfromarefinerytoaport
facilitywhereshiploadingoccurs.

Fig1.TheHomestakemineinSouthDakota,showing
thepipeconveyorleadingfromthemine(foreground)
tothemill(background)transversingthroughthetown.

Theuseofthepipeconveyorisonlylimitedbytheimaginationoftheindividuallookingforthepossible
application.Todatewefindthatanymaterialthatcanbeplacedonthepipeconveyorcanbeconveyed.The
typicalmaterialshandledareores,coal,coke,limestone,crushedstone,shaleandoverburden.Someofthe
moredifficultmaterialsthatarebeinghandledonthepipeconveyorarecopperconcentrate,petroleumcoke,
clay,fluedust,readymixedconcrete,sludge,humidifiedflyash,coaltailings,aluminaandfilterdust.

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3.DesignDetails
3.1PipeConveyorBelt
ThebeltwasdevelopedforthepipeconveyorbyTheBridgestoneTireCompany.Itissimilartotheconventional
conveyorbeltbutincorporatesseveralimportantfeaturesinitsdesign.Thepipeconveyorbeltismanufactured
byBridgestoneinJapanand,underlicense,byGoodyearintheUSA.
Withtheneedforbothstiffnessandflexibility,aspecialcarcassconstructionisemployed.Thebelthastohave
sufficientstiffnesstoformandmaintainthepipeshapeasitpassesthroughthecircleformingidlerrolls.Atthe
sametimeitmustremainflexibleforthetransitionfromtheflatshapeatthepulleystothepipeshapeatboth
theloadinganddischargeendsoftheconveyor.Thisisaccomplishedbyplacingalayerofrubberbetweeneach
fabricplyinthebelt.
Thebeltedgestiffnessisreducedtoassurethatasealismaintainedattheoverlapsothatmaterialdoesnot
escape.Further,thetopandbottomrubbergradesandcuringtimesarecontrolledtoenhancethebelt'snatural
tendencytoassumethepipeshape.
Forlongsingleflightapplications,thepipeconveyorbeltisalsoavailableinsteelcordconstruction.Inthiscase,
alayeroftransversefabricisusedbothaboveandbelowthesteelcables.Again,aswiththefabricconstruction,
alayerofrubberseparatesthefabricandthesteelcords.
Forpurposesofemergencyrepair,metalfastenerscantemporarilybeusedoraconventionalbeltcanbe
substituteduntilapermanentrepaircanbemade.Theconventionalbeltdoesnothavethenecessarystiffness
andflexibility.Itwouldrestmainlyonthebottomsupportidlersandconsequentlywouldsufferpremature
crackingandfatigueorcouldcreateotherunforeseenproblems.Thebeltlifeofapipeconveyorbeltandthe
conventionalbelt,whenusedonconventionaltroughedconveyorapplications,arevirtuallythesame.
Beltcleaningisaccomplishedwiththesameequipmentthatisusedonconventionalbeltapplications.Single
bladeandmultiplebladebeltscrapersaswellasrotarybrushesandreturnbelt"V"plowsmaybeused.
Hotmaterialscanbehandledonthepipeconveyorthroughtheuseofbeltsthatarespeciallymadeforthe
purpose.Standardgradebeltingisusedfortemperaturesupto140degF.Twohotmaterialgradesofbeltwill
allowtemperaturesupto230degFand320degFrespectively.
Specialconsiderationtobothlumpsizeandbeltsurfacetemperaturemustbegivenfortheproperselectionof
belt.Extremeheatconditionsatthebeltsurfacewillhaveapronouncedeffectonbeltlife.
3.2IdlersandSpacing
Whenthepipeconveyorisstraightandwithoutanyverticalorhorizontalcurves,thebottomthreeidlersofthe
toporloadcarryingsideofthepipeconveyorsupportsthebeltandmaterialload.Thetopthreeidlersmaintain
thebeltinitspipeshape.Shouldtheconveyorhavebothverticalandhorizontalcurvesections,thentheother
idlersthatsurroundthebeltmaybetheloadsupportingidlerswhiletheremainingidlersmaintainthebeltinthe
pipeshape.Thesameappliestothebottomorreturnbeltsideofthepipeconveyor.Thereasonthatthebottom
orreturnstrandofthebeltiskeptinthepipeshaperatherthantheflatshape,asonaconventionalconveyor,is
topermitthesamesizestructuretobeusedandtoguidethebeltthroughtheverticalorhorizontalcurves.
TheidlersthatsurroundthebeltareaptlycalledthePipeShapeKeepingIdlersorPSKIdlers.Thediameterand
spacingofidlersetsisdeterminedbythesizeofthepipeconveyorandthematerialthatitconveys.Duetothe
rigidityofthepipeshapetheidlerspacingcanbeincreasedwithoutexcessivebeltsagaswithconventional
conveyors.Table1showsthetypicalspacingusedforstraightpipeconveyors.Theidlerdiameterrelativetopipe
conveyorsizeisshowninTable2.
Table1.IdlerSpacing

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PipeDiameter

Spacing

mm

in

50ft3

75ft3

100ft3

150

5'6"

5'0"

4'3"

200

6'0"

5'3"

5'0"

250

10

6'3"

5'6"

5'3"

300

12

6'6"

6'0"

5'6"

350

14

7'0"

6'3"

6'0"

400

16

7'3"

6'6"

6'3"

500

20

7'3"

7'3"

6'6"

600

24

8'0"

7'9"

7'3"

700

28

8'3"

8'3"

7'6"

850

34

8'6"

8'3"

8'0"

Table2.IdlerRollDiameter

PipeDiameter

IdlerRollDiameter

(in)

(in)

4or5*

10

4or5*

12

14

16

20

24

28

34

6or7*

*DependingonloadimposedandidlerRPM

Idlerspacingforpipeconveyorswithhorizontalcurvesmayhavetobereducedinareasofthecurves.Inall
casesthefinalselectionofidlerspacingisbasedonacompletereviewofthestaticanddynamictension
conditionsoftheindividualpipeconveyorandthetypeorcombinationofcurvesthatmaybeused.
Intheareaoftransitionatthetallendwherethebeltgoesfromtheflattopipeshape,thebeltissupportedby
idlerswithvariableinclineendrollssimilartotheconventionalconveyorbelt.Inthislocationthebeltisloaded
bymeansofaloadingchute.Theidlersbeneaththeloadingskirtboardsarespacedatcentersthatwillabsorb
theimpactoftheloadedmaterial.Atthebeginningofthepipeshapeaspecialidlersetisusedcontaining12
idlerrollsarrangedasoffsethexagons.Theresultingtwelvesidedfigureapproximatesacirclecloserthanthe
standardsixsideidlerhexagonandiscapableofwithstandingthehigherloadsoftheclosingbelt.Inadditionto
theseidlers,aspecialsinglerollguideidlerisusedtopressoneedgeofthebeltbelowtheotheredgeasthe
beltcomestogether.Thisidlerisinstalledjustaheadofthefirstcircularidlerset.Theidlereliminatesbelt
edgeabrasionandallowstheproperoverlapclosingofthebelt.
Idleralignmentandproperbeltloadingplayakeyroleinthestabilityandtrackingofthepipeconveyor.Ona
conventionalconveyorstructuretheidlersupportsteelandhorizontalandverticalalignmentarecriticalfor
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properbelttrainingandsuccessfuloperation.Impropertracking,orbeltmisalignment,iscorrectedthroughthe
useoftrainingidlers.Withthepipeconveyorbeltguidedbyidlerssurroundingthebeltonallsides,theconveyor
isabletonegotiatecurvesandcenterlinemisalignments.Duringcommissioningofthepipeconveyor,idler
alignmenttothebeltisadjustedtomaintainthebeltoverlapinapositionthatislocatedasnearthetopas
possibleonthecarryingside.However,whatactuallyassistsmostinbeltstabilityandkeepstheoverlapator
neartheupwardpositionistheweightofthematerialconveyed.Theheavycenterofgravityinthelower75%
crosssectionmaintainstheproperdynamicattitudeoftheconveyorbelt.Onthereturnoremptyside,thebelt
overlapislocatedatthebottomofthepipeshape.Theextraweightoftheoverlapmaintainstheproper
dynamicattitudeonthereturnrun.

CurvedsectionofthepipeconveyorasitapproachesthedischargepointatAES(AppliedEnergySystems)
BarbersPoint.
Uniformfeedtothepipeconveyorisimportanttoitsstabilityandtracking.Forthisreasonitisrecommended
thatthematerialisfedthroughtheuseofabeltfeederorvibratingfeederthatwillprovideaconstantand
uniformflow.Ifitisnotpossibletoprovideaconstantanduniformfeedthenamaterialcrosssectionmonitor
andavariablespeedpipeconveyordriveisemployedtocreateadesirablecrosssectionthatissuitableforthe
application.Thecrosssectionmonitordetectsthematerialloadattheloadingchuteandprovidesasignalto
varythepipeconveyorbeltspeedtofacilitateauniformcrosssectionatalltimes.
Table3.Transitiondistance,minimumconveyorlength.

FabricBelt

SteelCOrdBelt

PipeDiameter

Transition

MinimumConversion

Transition

MinimumConversion

Length*

Length

Length

Length

Length

(in)

(ft)

(ft)

(ft)

(ft)

12.5

59

25

118

17.0

65

34

130

10

21.0

75

42

150

12

25.0

82

50

164

14

29.0

98

58

196

16

33.5

114

67

228

20

42.0

131

84

262

24

50.0

164

100

328

28

58.5

196

117

392

34

71.0

229

142

458

*Basedonstraightconveyorswithnocurves.

Thelengthofthetransitionbetweenthetailpulleyandthepipeshape,andfromthepipeshapetothedischarge
pulleyisafunctionofthepipeconveyordiameter.Duetothetransitiondistancesatboththeheadandtailend
oftheconveyor,aminimumpipeconveyorlengthisalsorecommended(Table3).

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3.3Curves
Asstatedpreviously,asignificantadvantageofthepipeconveyoristheabilitytonegotiatecurvesofatight
radiusascomparedtotheradiusrequirementsoftheconventionalconveyor.Thisfeaturecombinedwithits
narrowprofileenablesthepipeconveyortobeinstalledwherephysicalconstraintswouldnormallyexclude
conventionalbeltconveyorsorrequiretheuseofseveraltransferpoints.
Sincethepipebeltistotallycontainedbythesurroundingidlers,sidedriftdoesnotoccuraswithconventional
conveyors.Asanexample,thehorizontalcurveforaconventionalconveyorisgenerally,ataminimum,2,500
ft.Theconveyorbeltsizeisthenusuallyincreasedbyonesizetoallowforsided@ftbetweenemptyandloaded
conditions.Temperaturechangeandweatherconditionsarealsocriticalfactorsinsizingcurveradiiwiththecon
ventionalbeltconveyor.
Thepipeconveyorcanbecurvedinboththeverticalandhorizontalplaneaswellasincombinationofthetwo,
eliminatingtransfersorpassingaround,overorunderexistingplantequipment(Fig.2).Thecurvedsectionsare
begunonlyafterthebeltpassesthroughthetransitionsectionandisinthepipeshape.Thecurvedsectionsmust
becompletedwhilestillinthepipeshapepriortoexitingthroughthetransitionsectiontothedischargepulley.
Thetransitionsectionsmustbestraightatbothends.
Theradiusofthecurvesaregenerallyafunctionofthepipeconveyordiameter,thetypeofbeltandcurveused.
Ingeneralthestandardminimumrecommendedradiusforhorizontalorconcavecurvesforafabricbeltis300
timesthepipeconveyordiameterandis700timesthediameterforasteelcordbelt.However,shouldan"S"
shape,convexorcombinedhorizontalandconcavecurvebeusedthentheminimumradiusis400timesthe
diameterforfabricbeltand800timesthediameterforsteelcordbelt.Inthecaseofacombinedhorizontaland
convexcurvetheminimumradiusisthen500timesthediameterforafabricbeltand900timesthediameter
forasteelcordbelt.Theforgoingisonlytobeusedasageneralguide.Inallcasesthefinalselectionofradiiis
basedonourengineer'scompletereviewofthestaticanddynamictensionconditionsoftheindividualpipe
conveyorandthetypeorcombinationofcurvesthatareused.
Table4.Pipeconveyorcapacity.

Pipe

Cross

diameter

section*

Beltspeed**FPM

NormalCapacity

Max.Lump

mm

in

ft2

Norm

Max

50lb/ft3

100lb/ft3

in

150

0.140

394

541

84

166

1.25

200

0.248

427

541

159

318

2.75

250

10

0.441

459

591

304

608

3.5

300

12

0.527

492

591

389

778

4.00

350

14

0.710

574

591

612

1224

4.75

400

16

1.163

656

738

1144

2288

5.50

500

20

1.670

738

738

1848

3696

6.50

600

24

3.330

820

902

2861

5722

8.00

700

28

3.014

902

902

4079

8158

10.00

850

34

4.349

984

984

6420

12840

11.50

*At75%loadcross

**Normal/maximumbasedonidlerdiameterandmaximum

section

idlerrpm

3.4PowerRequirements
Whenthegeometryofapipeconveyoristhesameasastraightinclinedconventionalbeltconveyorof
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intermediatelength,(plus300ft)thepowerconsumptionandbelttensionsaregenerallyequai.Thepipe
conveyorrequirementsmaybeafewpercenthigherdependingoncapacityandsizeofconveyorscompared.
Ifthepipeconveyorisdesignedwithcurvedsectionsadditionalpowerisconsumedtochangethematerial
directionwithinthebelt.Belttensionandpowercalculationsforeachindividualpipeconveyorapplicationare
carriedoutinaccordancewithanexclusiveandproprietaryformuladevelopedbyBridgestoneCorporation.
Althoughthepowerrequirementmaybesomewhathigherforthecurvedpipeconveyorwhencomparedtoa
straightconventionalconveyorofthesamelength,transferswiththeassociatedadditionalliftrequirementare
eliminated.Whencomparedtothemultipleflightconventionalbeltconveyorswiththeadditionalhorsepower
requirementtoliftthematerialtomakeeachtransfertothenextconveyor,theconsumedpowerrequirements
ofthepipeconveyorarethenquitecomparableormayevenbeless.
Eachspecificapplicationmustbesubjectedtoacarefulengineeringreviewforacomprehensiveevaluationof
bothpowerrequirementsandbelttensionswhenacomparisonistobemadeagainsttheconventionalbelt
conveyor.
3.5MaterialLumpSize
Materiallumpsizeisimportantintheselectionofpipeconveyorsize.Table4showstheconveyorsize,capacity
andtheassociatedlumpsizethatcannormallybehandled.Generallythemaximumlumpsizeis1/3ofthe
givenpipediameter.Undercertainsizedistributionconditionslargerlumpsizesmaybeallowed.Thefeedof
materialtoolargefortherecommendeddiametercouldbedetrimentaltothelifeofeitherthebeltortheidler
setsthatcontainthebelt.Ifthepipediameterisdictatedbythelumpsizeofthematerialitmaybenecessary
toselectalargerpipediameterthanwhatotherwisemaybeselectedforcapacity.
3.6Construction
Theconstructionusedforthediaphragmpanelsthatsupporttheidlersisverysimple.Thepanelsarepressed
fromplateandcanbemadeveryeconomically.Forthelargersizepipeconveyor,thepanelsarefabricatedfrom
angleshapesandplatesections.Theidlermountingholesarejigdrilledtogivetherequiredaccuracyforidler
mounting.
Supporttrusses,galleriesandbentsaresimilartothoseusedwithconventionalconveyors.Duetothediaphragm
effectoftheidlerpanel,thepipeconveyortrussthatincludeswalkwaysismuchstifferandthereforeallowsa
lighterdesigntobeused.
Walkthrutypegalleriesarealsoavailableforthelongerspanrequirement.Walkwayscanbeprovidedononeor
bothsidesforconveyormaintenancedependingonthesizeofthepipeconveyor.Typicallytheshapeofthe
pipeconveyorallowsforamorecompacttrussdesignthatconsequentlyreducesfoundationloads.
4.AdvantagesofthePipeConveyor.
4.1EnvironmentallyAcceptable
Themostimportantadvantageofthepipeconveyoristhatthematerialiscoveyedcontainedwithintherolled
tubular,orpipeshapebelt,thusprovidinganenvironmentallyacceptablealternativetotheconventional
troughedbeltwherespillingordustingcananddoesoccur.Theloadingofthepipeconveyorisexactlythesame
astheconventionalconveyorbeltwhichisthroughaloadingchuteandskirtboardsnearthetailpulleyofthe
conveyor.Immediatelyfollowingtheloadingarea,thebeltisrolledintothepipeshapewithasealformedatthe
topbyoverlappingtheedgesofthebelt.Theconveyedmaterialiswithinthepipeshapebelt,eliminatingany
furtherneedforanenclosure.Attheheadend,thebeltpassesoveraconventionalpulleywhereitopenstothe
flatshapeandthematerialisdischarged,thesameaswithaconventionalbeltconveyor.Theareasatthetail
andheadendsoftheconveyor,wherethebelttakesthepipeshapeoropensbacktotheflatshape,arecalled
thetransitionsections.Idlersarrangedtoformahexagonareusedtosupportandguidethepipeshaped
conveyorbeltwiththematerialcontainedtherein.Dustingandspillageisreducedtoanabsoluteminimum
becausethematerialiscompletelyenclosedbythesurroundingbelt.

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4.2AbilitytoNegotiateSharpRadii
Thesecondsignificantadvantageofthepipeconveyorisitsabilitytonegotiateactivelysharpradiicomparedto
otherformsofbelttransportation.Tomany,thisadvantageisconsideredthemostimportantsinceitcan
eliminatetransfersthatarenormallynecessarywhenthereisarelativelysharpchangeinbeltdirection.
Theidlersformacircleandconstrainthebeltonallsidesallowingrelativelytightcurvestobenegotiatedinany
direction.Thecurvescanbehorizontal,verticalorcombinationsofbothplanes.Eliminationoftransferstations
alsodeletestheneedforadditionalpulleys,chutes,dustcollectionordustsuppressionequipment,foundations
andpowerdistribution.Therefore,productdegradationisalsosignificantlyreduced.Butmostimportantthe
associatedmaintenanceofatransferpointiscompletelyremoved.Apipeconveyorcanbeinstalledwithmultiple
curvessothatonepipeconveyorcanreplacemultipleconventionalbeltconveyorsandtheassociatedtransfer
pointsandauxiliaryequipmentasoutlinedabove.
4.3AbilitytoNegotiateSteepAnglesofInclination
Thepipeconveyorcannegotiatemuchsteeperanglesofinclinationthanaconventionalbeltconveyor.Dueto
theroundcrosssection,increasedcontactareabetweenthematerialandthebeltoccursthatallowsagainin
angleofinclinationofapproximately50%toasmuchas27degrees.Withthesteeperinclinationtheconveyor
canbemadeshorter,providingfurthereconomicsorperhapsmakingittheonlyviablesolutionduetospaceor
propertyrestrictions(Fig.3).
Fig3.AES(AppliedEnergySystems)Barberspointatthelocationwherethepipeconveyorcrossesthemainport
entranceroad.Thedischargeofthepipeconveyorisatthepowerplantinthebackground.

4.4PipeFormforReturnBelt
Thereturnbeltofthepipeconveyorisalsoformedintothepipeshape.Thebeltisrolledsothattheoverlapis
placedatthebottomofthepipeshape.Thisnotonlyallowstheconveyortonegotiatethesamecurvedrouteas
thecarryingstrandbutitalsoenclosesthedirtysideofthebelt.Thepossibilityofdrippingorscatteringof
materialthatmayhavecarriedovertothedirtysideofthebeltisthereforeminimized.
4.5SameVolumeofMaterialTransportedaswithLargerConventionalBeltConveyor
Thepipeconveyorcantransportthesamevolumeofmaterialastheconventionalbeltconveyorthatistypically
2.5to3timesthesizeofagivenpipediameter.Asanexample,a300mm(12inch)diameterpipeconveyor
willconveythesamecapacityasa30inchwideconventionalbeltconveyorusing20degreetroughingidlersand
a20degreesurchargeangle.Thistranslatestoasupportstructureforpipeconveyorthatisonly25incheswide
incomparisontotheconventionalbeltconveyorthatwillrequire,atminimum,awidthof41inchesforits
supportstructure.Wherespaceforaconveyorislimited,suchasinatunnel,theuseofthepipeconveyorwould
allowasmallertunnelcrosssectiondesign(Table3).
4.6StandardComponents
Thesamestandardcomponentsthatareusedfortheconventionalconveyorsarealsousedforthepipeconveyor.
Sincethepipeconveyorbeltisflatatallhead,tailandtakeuppulleylocations,andbecausethebeltspeedsare
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similar,standardconventionalconveyorpulleys,bearingsanddrivecomponentsareused.Theconveyorbelt
itselfismanufacturedbybothBridgestoneinJapanor,underlicense,byGoodyearintheUSA.Theuseof
standardcomponentsavailablefromthelocalmarketplacemakesthepipeconveyoranacceptablealternative
usingequipmentthatcustomersarefamiliarwithandhavefullconfidencein.
4.7ConveyanceonTopandReturnStrand
Aswithaconventionalconveyor,materialcanbeconveyedonthereturnstrandinadditiontothatbeingcarried
onthetopstrand.Toaccomplishthis,thereturnbeltisturnedover180degreessothattheoverlapthatseals
thematerialinthepipeshapeisonthetopwiththedirtysideofthebeltstillremainingontheinside.Although
additionalpulleysareneededandsupplementarydrivesmayberequired,theinstallationofonlyonepipe
conveyorcouldprovideeconomicalbenefitsovertheinstallationoftwoseparateconventionalconveyors.
5.Installations
Todatethereareover600locationswhereover750pipeconveyorshavebeeninstalled.Theclient'sreasonsto
chosetheuseofthepipeconveyoroverconventionalconveyorhavevaried,butineachcaseitwasduetoone
ormoreoftheinherentadvantagesofthepipeconveyorasoutlinedhere.Inafewinstancesthecostofthepipe
conveyorwasmorethanthecomparableconventionalconveyorbut,intheclientsopinion,themeritsofthe
featuresgainedfaroutweighedtheadditionalcosts.
6.Conclusion
Thepipeconveyorisstillarelativelynewandinnovativeconceptforthetransportationandhandlingofbulk
materialsascomparedtotheconventionalbeltconveyorthathasbeenunchangedsinceitsinceptionattheturn
ofthecentury.Itoffersmanyadvantagesoverothermaterialhandlingsystemsbymakinguseofallthe
standardequipmentdevelopedfortheconventionalbeltconveyorandbyincorporatingtheadditionalfeatures
describedherein.NowthataUSlicensehasbeenestablishedandahistoryofinstallationexists,thefeasibility
andeconomicsofthepipeconveyorapplicationcaneasilybedetermined.

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