BUCKET ELEVATORS

Centrifugal and Continuous Discharge Elevators

Bucket elevators are designed to move flowing powders or bulk solids vertically. Bucket elevators use an endless belt or chain and have a series of buckets attached to it. Bulk material is spread into an inlet hopper. Buckets dig into the material and convey it up and over the head sprocket/pulley, and then throw the material out a discharge throat. Bucket elevators are not self-feeding and are fed at a controlled rate. The buckets are usually where the chain or belt path is vertical or steeply inclined in a single plane. The buckets are returned back down to a tail pulley or sprocket at the bottom.

There are four broad classifications of bucket elevators: centrifugal, continuous, positive, and internal discharge. The most commonly used are the centrifugal and continuous discharge elevators. Conveyor Technology Services industrial bucket elevators are made in a variety of shapes, weights and sizes, all utilising centrifugal buckets or continuous buckets.