An industrial conveyor system has one main purpose – to move product or materials. Although that purpose appears fairly simple, it requires smooth, efficient, variable and consistent results from the power transmission equipment in operation. Relying on belts or chains to take the initial jarring action will not protect the equipment and product from the abrupt power transfer, start up and shut down. One way to protect from that abrupt power transfer would be to utilize Falk fluid couplings to ease the power transfer between the drive and conveyor. Newer and more complex conveyor systems dictate the use of fluid couplings that utilize the buildup of hydraulic pressure to keep all of the equipment functioning in a controlled manor. The benefits of Falk fluid couplings are numerous and crucial to the longevity of conveyor equipment.
Reduced shock load on start up. Fluid couplings are crucial to keep the conveyor assembly from having to endure sudden torque loads and shock that can damage and or break equipment. This is achieved by having Falk couplings delay and smoothly accelerate a conveyor as it builds up internal hydraulic pressure in a metered amount. This is also known as soft start.
Smooth Transitions between loading and unloading. As the conveyor experiences sudden increases and decreases in weights of materials being handled it will have a rapid rise or fall in speed resulting in increased stress on the conveyor and possible damage to the product being handled. Falk couplings regulate these changes by allowing controlled deceleration with regulated slip, and uses the buildup of pressure to regulate acceleration.
Minimizing equipment downtime. When you have sudden high torque loads on equipment as complex as conveyor equipment you run the risk of numerous different mechanical failures. With those mechanical failures you have costly power transmission equipment repairs and more importantly costly production stoppages. With reducing shock loads and jarring via Falk fluid couplings you are minimizing the number of repairs and the amount of equipment downtime.
[Photo by: Alexander Svensson on Flickr via CC License]
Posted under Products/Services on Thursday, March 31st, 2011