Bucket elevator

Bucket elevator (bucket lift) is a continuous conveying equipment used for vertical transportation of powdery, granular and small block materials. It is widely applied in industrial production.

1. Core Structure

It is mainly composed of five parts:

Head (machine head): includes the drive device (motor, reducer), the driving sprocket / drum, the discharge port and the reverse stopper. 

Middle (cylinder): A sealed metal casing that forms a vertical conveying channel, providing dust prevention and safety. 

Tail section (frame): Includes driven sprocket / drum, tensioning device and feed opening. 

Pulley components: The power carriers for continuous operation, divided into three types: conveyor belts, chain links, and plate chains. 

Hopper: A container fixed to the traction piece, used for scooping and carrying materials. 

II. Working Principle

Loading: The materials enter from the bottom feed port and are scooped up (pulled out type) or flow in (inflow type) by the running hopper. 

Improvement: The driving device drives the traction component to rotate, and the hopper carries the material and rises vertically. 

Discharge: When the hopper reaches the top, it passes around the driving wheel and then flips over. The materials are discharged by centrifugal force or gravity. 

Cycle: The empty hopper falls back to the bottom along with the pulling component, and the above process is repeated. 

III. Main Types (According to the Traction Components) Table

Type Code Traction Component Applicable Materials Temperature Features

Tape type TD Rubber Belt Powder, fine particles (non-abrasive) < 80℃ Smooth, low noise, low cost

Chain type TH Circular Chain Medium and large-sized, abrasive materials ≤ 250℃ High strength, heat resistance, wear resistance

Plate type NE/TB Plate Chain Large-sized, heavy, highly abrasive materials ≤ 250℃ Extremely strong tensile strength, long service life, large conveying capacity

Four. Main Features Advantages

Compact structure: Small in width dimension and small in floor area. 

High lifting height: Up to 40 to 80 meters. 

High conveying capacity: Up to 1600 m³/h. 

Good sealing performance: Fully enclosed casing, with minimal dust contamination. 

Low power consumption: Vertical transportation has lower energy consumption compared to horizontal transportation. 

Disadvantages 

Overload-sensitive, prone to clogging. 

The hopper and the traction components are vulnerable parts and require regular maintenance. 

V. Application Fields

Building Materials: Cement, limestone, gypsum, sand and gravel. 

Grain: Wheat, corn, soybeans, feed. 

Mining / Metallurgy: Coal, ores, metal powders. 

Chemical industry: Fertilizers, chemical raw materials, salt, sugar. 

Electricity: Coal powder, fly ash. 

VI. Bucket Types

Deep bucket: Large capacity, suitable for dry and well-flowing materials. 

Shen Dou: Suitable for materials that are damp, have poor fluidity, and tend to form lumps. 

Spike mixer (triangular mixer): Excellent sealing performance, suitable for powdery materials, preventing spillage.