MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT                
  BELT BUCKET ELEVATOR  - PARAMETERS & DESIGN 
 
Table E1.1 Pulley  6 x 6 12 x 8 18 x 10 24 x 12 30 x 14 36 x 16 42 x 20 48 x 24 42 x 40 48 x 48
Diameter x Width
[in]x [in]
Capacity Bushels per hour (US) 150-600 601-1500 1501-3000 3001-5000 5001-7000 7001-11000 11001-16000 16001-22000 22001-30000 30001-40000
[BPH ]
Cubic feet per hour 187-747 748-1867 1868-3733 3734-6222 6223-8711 8712-13689 13690-19911 19912-27378 27379-27334 27335-49778
  [ft3/h]
Cubic meters per hour 5.28-21.14 21.15-52.86 52.87-105.72 105.73-176.20 176.21-246.67 246.68-387.63 387.64-563.83 563.84-775.26 775.27-1057.17 1057.18-1409.56
  [m3/h]
  Unloading Height [ft] 10 -60 12-90 14-112 20-170 26-200 30-220 40-220 48-220 40-220 48-220
Belt Width 5 7 9 11 13 15 18 22 37 45
[in]
Agricultural PVC/PVGE PVC/PVGE PVC/PVGE PVC/PVGE PVC/PVGE PVC/PVGE PVGE/RUBBER PVGE/RUBBER PVGE/RUBBER PVGE/RUBBER
200 250 250-350 250-350 350-450 350-450 450-600 450-600 600-800 600-800
Industrial RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER RUBBER
GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2 GRADE 2
  Bucket  
Length 'L' 4,5 6 8 10 12 14 16 20 2 X 16 2 X 20
[in]
Agricultural/Industrial Rotational Speed  of pulley [rot / min ]
Projection [in]
6 x 6 12 x 8 18 x 10 24 x 12 30 x 14 36 x 16 42 x 20 48 x 24 42 x 40 48 x 48
3 Minimum [RPM] 82/80 65/62
Optimum [RPM] 130/85 94/66
Maximum [RPM] /90 /70
4 Minimum [RPM] 76 /  60/60 44/ 40/
Optimum [RPM] 140 /  100/64 85/ 72/
Maximum [RPM]
/67
5 Minimum [RPM]
64/59 46/51 39/ 40/ 36/ 33/ 33/ 33/ 33/
Optimum [RPM] 110/62 93/53 73/ 66/ 60/ 54/ 50/ 54/ 50/
Maximum [RPM] /65 /57
6 Minimum [RPM]
48/49 38/44 37/ 36/ 32/ 31/ 32/ 31/
Optimum [RPM] 90/52 70/46 66/ 60/ 54/ 50/ 54/ 50/
Maximum [RPM] /55 /49
7 Minimum [RPM] /48 37/43 35/40 33/ 32/ 30/ 32/ 30/
Optimum [RPM] /51 75/46 71/42 64/ 58/ 55/ 58/ 55/
Maximum [RPM] /54 /48 /44
8 Minimum [RPM]
/43 34/39 33/36 31/34 31/ 31/34 31/
Optimum [RPM] /45 63/41 62/38 60/36 55/ 60/36 55/
Maximum [RPM] /48 /44 /41 /38
/38
10 Minimum [RPM] /41 /38 /36 /33 31/32 /33 31/32
Optimum [RPM] /45 /40 /37 /35 51/33 /35 51/33
  Maximum [RPM] /46 /43 /40 /37 /35 /37 /35
 
  Table E1.2 Material Density Material Density Table E1.3 Bucket Suppliers Table E1.4 Pulley Suppliers
MAXI-LIFT INC. MAXI-LIFT INC.
  Bulk Material [lbs/ft3] [kg/m3] https://maxilift.com/products/ https://maxilift.com/products/
TAPCO INC. ABB/BALDOR / DODGE 
CORN 45 720.83 https://www.tapcoinc.com/products https://www.baldor.com/brands/baldor-dodge/products/
4B COMPONENTS LTD.
SOYBEANS 50 800.923 https://www.go4b.com/usa/products/elevator-buckets/
WHEAT 48 768.88
  DDG,WET 60 961.1                
  Table E1.5 Belt Suppliers Table E1.8 Bearings Suppliers
DDG,DRY 30 480.55 MAXI-LIFT INC.
ABB/BALDOR / DODGE 
https://maxilift.com/products/ https://www.baldor.com/brands/baldor-dodge/products
FRAC SAND 96 1537.772 4B COMPONENTS LTD.
  https://www.go4b.com/usa/products/        
FINISHING 38 608.7 TAPCO INC.
   HOG https://www.tapcoinc.com/products        
SILICA SAND 105 1681.938
                 
                       
  Table E1.6 Gearbox Suppliers Table E1.7 Electric Motor  Suppliers
ABB/BALDOR / DODGE  ABB/BALDOR / DODGE 
https://www.baldor.com/brands/baldor-dodge/products/enclosed-gearing/ https://www.baldor.com/brands/baldor-reliance/products/motors
https://www.baldor.com/mvc/DownloadCenter/Files/9AKK107590
NORD DRIVES SYSTEMS eMOTORS DIRECT
https://www.nord.com/us/products/gear-drives/helical-bevel-gear-motors/helical-bevel.jsp https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/motors
SEW EURODRIVE W.J. PAMENSKY CANADA INC.
https://www.seweurodrive.com/home.html http://www.pamensky.com/product
                         
 
  DATA   RESULTS  
Bulk Material Number of buckets 
  Choose in table E1.2 or write your material
Material Density [lbs/ft3] Length of the belt [ft]
  Choose in table E1.2 or write your value Ad 6 ft. for assembly of the belt 
Unloading height 'H' [ft] Belt speed
  Write height with recom. ofTable E1.1 [ft/min]
Distance shaft-shaft 'D' [ft] Belt speed
  Usually 'D' is equal with 'H' [m/s]
Pulley Model 
Capacity
  In table E1.1 choose in function of Capacity and Discharge height (US) Bushels /hour 
  Pulley Diameter [in] Capacity
  Write de real dimension [ft3 /hour]
Pulley Widht [in] Capacity
  Write de real dimension [Short US tons / hour]
Bucket
Capacity
  Agricultural/Industrial [m3/hour]
Length of Bucket [in] Capacity
  In table E1.1 choose the Lenght Tonnes /hour
Projection of bucket  [in] Electric motor Power  [hp]
  In table E1.1 choose the Projection  Includes losses for elevator  friction and cup digging through 
  Rotational Speed  of pulley [rot / min ] the boot, efficiency of gearbox and  V belt transmission 
  In table E1.1 choose the RPM Electric motor Power  [kW]
  Depth of bucket   [in]
  Table E1.3 Suppliers choose depth Electric Motor size [hp]
Model of bucket Enter manually  next superior value of power 
  Suppliers table E1.3 Electric Motor Suppliers , table E1.7
  Spacing between buckets [in] Torque on shaft   [lbf x ft]
  Choose the standard value to start
  Bucket Capacity, Water level  [in3] Force related to torque [lbf]
  By Suppliers table E1.3
  Bucket Capacity, usable 5 deg.  [in3]  
  By Suppliers table E1.3  
  Design:
     
       		                 
The bucket elevator must be designed by/or on supervision of a mechanical engineer.
1. Having as initial data all these parameters, start to dimension the legs , head and boot of elevator.
2.Select from table E1.4 a supplier for head and boot pulleys,  and choose a preliminary model,  weight, dimensions .
3. Select from table E1.5 a supplier for belt, calculate de tension in belt , see other calculation sheets on MEPS to determine this force, select width, thickness , length and material.
4. Select  a supplier for gearbox and electric motor from tables E1.6, E1.7, select a gearbox, power/torque/diameter  and motor, voltage, frequency.
5.Select preliminary  the bearings for head and boot , table E1.8
6. Calculate and design the shafts on head and boot, static and fatigue loading , see others calculators available on MEPS .
7. Design all components: head, boot, trunking, head and boot shaft , drive, accessories .
8.Calculation of the strength of components and structures, determining the distribution of internal forces, evaluating the safety margins 
with traditional methods such as the resistance of materials, using the finite element method  to evaluate the stresses, fatigue calculations
to evaluate the durability of components, other  calculations in statics, dynamics, etc. .
9.Always consider the additional weight of live loads, dead loads, wind loads.
10.Since these elevators are installed vertically, the installation is complex, generally, with anchor cables or towers and the collaboration 
of a civil engineer is necessary for the design of the foundation .
 11. Approve, validate, sign and seal plans.
12. The manufacturing of equipment , as the installation by qualified manufacturers and contractors.