Bulk handling equipment manufacturer TS Global has designed a new range of impact beds that provide a new and innovative solution to an old problem.
When TS Global began investigating impact beds, it found two extremes. Graham Holford, the company’s managing director, said “at one end, there were a myriad of low-cost options that did not provide longevity. At the other end there were a handful of very expensive spring-loaded, overdesigned options that were unaffordable for many clients,” he told ABHR.
It motivated the company to take the high-end product, remove unnecessary steelwork and provide a solution that has industry-leading performance without the high price tag.
The impact beds provide a high level of shock absorption and ease of maintenance, at a price level that minimises total cost of ownership.
TS Global’s impact beds utilise Rosta/Mackay anti-vibration mounts, which are the company’s go-to solution for high impact problems. The units provide a small amount of deflection under impact, reducing the severity of load spikes on supporting steelwork. The fully supported design also reduces the instances of sharp material spearing through the belt between roller frames.
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Jamie Whybrow, TS Global’s Technical Services Manager, said the company chose to steer away from rubber impact bars as the friction between the belt and the impact bars is just too great once the low friction surface has worn off.
“This can cause increased power draw on the conveyor drive and may also reduce the life of the belt.”
TS Global’s impact bars can wear down to a very low minimum thickness, with fasteners protecting the belt from contact throughout the life of the bars. To replace them, one or two rollers are removed at the end of the unit, which allows the bars to slide out. In many cases, bars may be reversed and re-installed to extend life.
The product has been designed to suit a range of options, ranging from a low cost, single-piece unit that is adequate for most applications, providing industry-leading impact absorption. In areas where skirt sealing is critical, TS Global’s fixed wing model can be implemented.
Where accessibility is limited or fast change-out times are needed, the company offers a retractable design that allows structural components to be removed and impact bars to be changed away from the installation. This design also allows for rotable components to be used, so that impact bars can be changed with minimal conveyor downtime.
In some cases, high belt speeds do not allow for the economical use of conventional impact beds, due to the wear encountered on the impact bars. This is particularly noticeable in applications where impact loads are high, and the material being conveyed contains a high degree of fines.
“We have all seen instances of conventional impact bars being subjected to a high degree of wear causing reduced life, so we made sure to address this in our design,” Whybrow said.
To resolve issues with high belt speeds, TS Global can adapt designs to adopt standard impact rolls in the centre trough of the beds. This allows the product to be applied to a wider range of applications and can reduce maintenance intervals in critical applications.
“Whilst most competitors impact beds are manufactured from mild steel, we also offer Defender Impact Beds manufactured in stainless steel for additional corrosion protection,” Whybrow said.