Assessment of the Impact of the Pulley Ovality on the Operation of Belt Conveyor

The pulley ovality causes fluctuations in the angular velocities of the conveyor pulleys, which can cause resonant vibrations and intense wear of the belt, spillage of cargo, and increased energy consumption. The paper objective is to determine the effect of cylindrical surface warp of the drive pulley shell on the operation of the belt conveyor. Study method: geometric analysis and computer simulation of the movement of the conveyor belt with an oval pulley as a multi-mass dynamic system, taking into account the mechanical characteristics of the belt drive, using the Universal Mechanism (UM) software package. The novelty of the work consists in the analysis of kinematic excitations of the conveyor belt in ovality and warp of the longitudinal axis of the pulley shell, and the development of a computer model of the contact interaction of the belt with an oval pulley. Results. A computer multi-mass dynamic model is developed, which makes it possible to determine the nature of the belt movement on an oval-shaped drive pulley. The cause of oscillations of pulley angular velocities and the movements of the tension roll is the periodic change in the moment of friction of the belt on the surface of the drive pulley due to a change in the warp of the transverse surface of the oval pulley. A computer model and found patterns can be used in the design of conveyor belts. Conclusions. Exceeding the belt coverage angle of the drive pulley with an oval shell of 180° increases the unevenness of angular speeds of pulley rotations and the vibration of units. When using an asynchronous oval pulley drive, the irregularity of pulleys angular velocities is several times less than with a constant torque drive.