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www.rockproducts.com ROCK products • March 2018 • 69 EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY MATERIAL HANDLING & CONVEYING Due to the fact that there are no internal seals, very flu- idizable material may migrate to the "off " leg (the outlet not being conveyed through). Vortex installs a replaceable material containment bar at the interior juncture between the diverter's outlets. This aids in directing errant material through the desired outlet. A major advantage of the Pivoting Chute Diverter is the ability to "shift on the fly" when handling smaller sized material. The material must be smaller than the clearance between the material containment bar and the bottom of the internal chute. If the material is larger than this clearance, it is sug- gested that the material flow be stopped prior to moving the interior chute. The pivoting chute may be used as a "splitter" valve to direct flowing material to two outlets simultaneously by positioning the interior chute between two outlets. Depending on the abrasive qualities of the material handled, extra wear pro- tection of the outlets may wish to be considered. (An electric actuator is typically employed in this type of application, as with a pneumatic actuator the chute has a tendency to "drift.") Keep in mind that when considering the Pivoting Chute Diverter that 1) the stack-up height (flange to flange dimen- sion) is taller than a flapper diverter, and 2) without internal seals there is the possibility of material dusting to the leg(s) not being conveyed through. Kevin Peterson is business development director - Titan Prod- ucts at Salina Vortex Corp, www.vortexglobal.com. Founded in 1977, Vortex specializes in the design and manufacture of com - ponents for the transport and flow control of dry bulk solids. Vortex's technical focus is in the development of innovative technologies to improve solids process efficiency, ensure dust- free environments, and establish long-term reliability. ABB announced that its gearless con- veyor drive is available for use on a wider range of conveyor systems. Already proven on larger motors, the newest drive is designed for medium power range motors (1 to 3 MW per motor) to make this technology economically feasible for a broader range of conveyor systems, includ- ing the use on mobile equipment in mining operations. The new solution can be applied for both greenfield and brownfield systems, and signifi- cantly decreases the cost threshold for gearless conveyor technology. Fewer parts and new motor technology increase the reliability and efficiency of the overall conveyor system. A perma- nent magnet motor specifically designed for mining applications is a core element of this system that contributes to its reli- ability and ability to perform in the most challenging environments. The gearless conveyor drive system eliminates the gearbox from the drive. This reduces the number of main wear parts, so less maintenance is needed, and lengthens the lifespan of the equip- ment. The expected lifespan for the drive train increases by more than 10 years when compared to traditional geared systems, to a projected in ser- vice life of 25 years Other advantages include a consider- able reduction in the drive system's footprint, so it can be installed in smaller spaces, less weight, and a reduction in the instrumentation required to operate the system. The gearless drive design is also more energy efficient, requiring less power, and operates more quietly, thus reduc- ing noise emissions. Operational data gleaned in the field demonstrate the advantages of the gearless solution with less compo- nents. A gearless solution is more reliable (with a 50 percent lower failure rate) and requires less maintenance. It is meeting eco-design and energy-per- formance requirements according to international standards to support mine site's environmental approvals or certification. The new drive also consumes 5 percent less energy than the other installed drive. ABB, www.abb.com ABB Introduces Gearless Conveyor Drive For Wider Range Of Motors