STORAGE SILOS - Main Features

DRAG CONVEYOR MAIN FEATURES

---

1.) Top Sprocket On Astec drag conveyors the top sprocket is located a good distance above the conveyor discharge. This, plus the 9° backward slope of the flights, makes sure that flights are completely discharged by the time they reach the top sprocket. No mix residue is dropped on the sprocket, making sprocket and chain last much longer.

2.) Bearings Wide idlers between the top and bottom section of the chain loop make sure that the flights don’t skim or “hydroplane” over the mix. Mounted on floating hold-down bearings, these idlers also support the return portion of the chain and minimize vibration. As a result, you expose sprockets, liners, and chain to less wear.

3.) Access A grated stairway runs parallel to the drag conveyor. It provides access to all conveyor components and to the top of the silos. Lift-off covers let you easily reach the interior of the drag conveyor.

4.) Drag Chain The drag conveyor reaches from the mixer exit chute to the top of the silos. A long loop of strong, wear-resistant, 6” roller chain runs from top to bottom. With an ultimate strength of 140,000 pounds and rollers hardened to Rockwell 60, this chain is tough.

Learn How Real Storage Silo Performance Goes More Than Skin Deep. (Flash is required.) Get Flash.

5.) Drag Inlet Unlike other conveyor brands, Astec uses floating hold-down bearings on all idlers, not just on those near the drag inlet.

6.) Slats The chain has 3/4 inch thick, 7-inch deep, steel, horizontal flights attached to it every 12 inches. These extra-thick, high-capacity slats move the mix along the bottom of the conveyor up to the batcher.

7.) Sprocket The drag chain rides on segmented sprockets located at the head and tail shafts. Induction hardening to Rockwell C60 gives the sprockets a uniform, deeply hardened wear surface. Each sprocket bolts to a split hub. You can replace the sprocket one piece at a time without removing the chain, which drastically reduces time and effort required to change a sprocket. The bottom sprocket is adjustable so the drag chain can be tightened if required.

8.) By-Pass The optional by-pass gate and discharge chute can come in very handy for cleanout at start-up and shut-down.

9.) Discharge The exclusive design of Astec’s discharge gate (U.S. patent number 3,949,907) completely seals the bottom of the cone when the silo is in storage mode. The heated and insulated discharge gate closes to completely cover the cone opening. Oil is pumped into the gate to seal the bottom silo opening.

	To learn more about Astec storage silos, download the latest copy of our brochure.
1.8mb Download Brochure Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® Required. Download Acrobat® here.