OVERVIEW OF DESIGNS AND APPLICATIONS OF STEEPLY INCLINED CONVEYORS AS QUARRY AND MAIN TRANSPORT

Abstract

This article is a review article of high-angle conveyors (HAC). It describes steeply inclined conveyors and their structures: with a pressure belt and
stationary pressure devices, with mobile pressure
devices; tubular; Flying Belt systems; RopeCon
systems. Some technical characteristics of the
manufacturers of these conveyors are given. Their
advantages and disadvantages in comparison with
each other in the framework of application in quarries are considered. Examples of the use of various
conveyors in specific enterprises are shown. Each
type of steeply inclined conveyor has its own design
features, associated technological limitations and
the corresponding application area. Tubular conveyors, Flying Belt and RopeCon systems are used
for conveyor delivery of bulk and of noncoherent
materials in rough and mountainous terrain and
are widely used in industry for transporting of copper concentrate, calcium and aluminum ores, coal,
rock phosphate, sludge, etc. At the ore quarries of
Russia and of neighboring countries, steeply inclined conveyors have still a limited use. Actual
implemented projects are presented by HAC with a
pressure tape. Special conveyors – tubular and
suspended conveyors on steel ropes – have proven
their advantages in the main transport of bulk and
noncoherent materials, including rock mass in
practice in special conditions (need to ensure isolation of the cargo from the external environment,
rough and mountainous terrain, etc.). However,
their use as an in-pit transport requires separate
consideration and technological and feasibility
evaluation.