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Ref70 bolts
bucket elevator

Securing Overlap Belt Splices on Elevator

A North American grain storage facility was concerned that the bolts used to secure the overlap splice section of an elevator leg belt were prone to pull through. 4B offered a solution using Ref70 large diameter elevator bolts in combination with unique oversized oval washers.

Overlap Splice
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Overlap Splice
Challenge

A grain storage facility of a large North American trading company was concerned that the bolts used to secure the overlap splice section of an elevator leg belt were prone to pull through. The nature of an overlap splice generates additional stress on the bolts in many ways. The two layers of belting are subjected to uneven contact force from the drive pulley. This makes the inside belt flex more than the outside belt. Additionally, the weight of the loaded elevator buckets pulls on the splice bolts. The bolts can snap or the heads can pull through the belt. A compromised belt splice can diminish efficiency and in the worst case, drop a fully loaded belt with buckets down the elevator leg casing and into the boot.

Solution

The solution was twofold and encompassed using 4B brand Reference 70 elevator bolts. The elevator buckets normally secured to the belt used 5/16” diameter bolts. 4B Components supplied larger 3/8” diameter bolts for use on the overlap splice. The larger diameter bolts have a greater tensile strength to tolerate the environment of an overlap splice. Secondly, the Reference 70 bolts incorporate a unique oversized oval washer into the bolt head, which covers a large surface area on the belt, therefore spreading the pull-through force over a greater surface area. No other style of elevator bolt is able to cover such a large area of belt.

Results
  • The use of the 4B brand Reference 70 bolt system helps prevent bolt head pull through at the overlap splice on elevator leg belts
  • The overlap splice is much stronger and had less risk of being compromised
  • Stronger bolts are less prone to snapping
overlap belt splice illustration
Ref70 elevator bolt illustration
Ref70 bolts installed on belt
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Overlap Splice
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Overlap Splice
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