U-Trough Screw Conveyor

The U-Trough Screw Conveyor serves as a critical component in systems for conveying powders, granular materials, and small-scale bulk materials; its open-trough design facilitates convenient maintenance and cleaning.

As a professional manufacturer, Jiangteng designs equipment featuring a compact overall structure and a minimal footprint. These units are ideally suited for conveying materials horizontally or at slight inclinations (≤20°) and are widely utilized across industries such as grain processing, animal feed production, chemicals, building materials, mining, and environmental protection.

Working Principle

The operation of the U-Trough Screw Conveyor is based on the principle of helical propulsion:

1. Power Transmission: A drive motor rotates the helical blade shaft via a coupling.

2. Material Dynamics: The friction and centrifugal forces acting between the helical blades and the conveyed material cause the material to rotate along with the blades; simultaneously, the resistance exerted by the U-shaped trough prevents the material from rotating in perfect synchronization with the blades, thereby propelling the material axially along the length of the trough.

3. Directional Control: The direction of conveyance is determined by the chirality of the helical blades (left-handed or right-handed); clockwise rotation facilitates forward conveyance, while counter-clockwise rotation facilitates reverse conveyance.

4. Sealing and Protection: A combination of labyrinth seals and packing seals is employed at both ends of the trough, as well as within the clearance between the blade shaft and the trough walls, to prevent material leakage and guard against the ingress of external contaminants.

Equipment Structure and Components

1. U-Shaped Trough: Serving as the channel for material conveyance, the trough is manufactured from high-quality steel, possessing sufficient strength and rigidity. Its surface undergoes special treatment to minimize material adhesion and abrasion.

2. Spiral Shaft and Blades: Comprising a main shaft and spiral blades, this assembly constitutes the core component of the U-Trough Screw Conveyor, directly driving the movement of materials. Depending on the specific characteristics of the materials being conveyed, various blade configurations can be adopted; please consult with us directly for customization options.

3. Drive Unit: This assembly includes the motor, reducer, and coupling, providing the necessary power to the conveyor. A variable frequency drive (VFD) system can be installed as needed to enable stepless speed control.

4. Bearing Supports: Designed to support the spiral shaft, these supports ensure smooth and stable rotation. They utilize high-quality bearings characterized by excellent wear resistance and sealing capabilities, thereby extending the equipment's service life.

5. Inlet and Outlet Ports: Designed in accordance with specific process requirements, these ports are available in various shapes and dimensions to ensure the smooth inflow and outflow of materials, thereby minimizing material residue and preventing blockages.

Process Features

1. Integrated Welded Trough: The equipment utilizes a submerged arc welding process for its trough construction. The weld seams undergo rigorous non-destructive testing to ensure the absence of incomplete or missed welds; the structure is capable of withstanding internal pressures of up to 0.3 MPa, making it suitable for negative-pressure conveying applications.

2. Precision-Aligned Spiral Shaft: The multi-segment spiral shaft employs rigid flange connections to ensure precise alignment. The coaxiality error is maintained at ≤0.5 mm/m, resulting in an operational vibration amplitude of ≤0.2 mm; this design effectively minimizes mechanical noise, keeping the operating noise level at ≤75 dB.

3. Enhanced Sealing and Protection: The head bearing housing features a dual-seal configuration—combining a skeleton oil seal with a mechanical seal—while the tail section is equipped with a protective dust cover. This robust design enables the equipment to operate reliably in harsh environments with dust concentrations of up to 50 mg/m³.

Product Specifications

What Are the Advantages of the U-Trough Screw Conveyor?

1. High-Efficiency Conveying

Compared to traditional belt conveyors, the U-Trough Screw Conveyor boosts conveying efficiency by 15–20% and reduces energy consumption per unit of material conveyed by 25%. Our standard models require only a 7.5 kW motor to convey 20 m³ of material per hour, resulting in significant electricity cost savings under equivalent operating conditions.

2. Enclosed Design

We utilize a fully sealed trough body combined with rubber sealing strips to effectively prevent material dust dispersion and leakage. The discharge outlet can be fitted with a dust removal device, ensuring that dust concentration within the workshop remains at or below 10 mg/m³.

3. Wide Applicability

Our screw conveyors are capable of transporting a diverse range of materials—including powders (such as cement and flour), granules (such as plastic pellets and grains), and small lumps (such as coal lumps and ore)—without the need for frequent adjustments to equipment parameters.

The equipment is equipped with a PLC control system that supports one-touch start/stop operations and fault alarms; operators can independently run the machine after just one hour of training.

4. Exceptional Durability

Key components in every unit are constructed from wear-resistant materials. The spiral blades boast a service life exceeding 3,000 hours, while the bearing assemblies feature robust sealing that requires lubricant replacement only once or twice per year. Consequently, the overall maintenance cost for the machine is 40% lower than the industry average.

Jiangteng offers an extended warranty period of up to 18 months for its equipment, along with lifetime maintenance support services.

5. Flexible Customization

As a direct-sales manufacturer, we can customize conveying lengths, angles, and inlet/outlet positions to perfectly suit your workshop layout. We offer options to switch between stainless steel and carbon steel construction, as well as upgrades for explosion-proof and corrosion-resistant capabilities. Furthermore, the system can be integrated with quantitative feeding devices to ensure precise material delivery, thereby meeting the unique and specific requirements of various industries.

Applicable Industries

1. Grain Processing: Used for conveying wheat, corn, and paddy rice from warehouses to workshops, or for conveying bran and flour within flour mills.

2. Building Materials: Used for conveying cement powder and sand/gravel aggregates in cement plants, or for conveying ceramic clay and glazes in tile factories.

3. Chemical Industry: Used for conveying urea granules and phosphate fertilizer powder in fertilizer plants, or for conveying PVC granules and PE powder in plastics factories.

4. Mining Industry: Used for conveying crushed ore and tailings sand in mining operations, or for conveying coal dust and coal lumps in coal mines.

5. Environmental Protection: Used for conveying kitchen waste and sludge in waste treatment plants, or for conveying activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants.

Selection Guide

By confirming three key categories of information, you can clearly define the customization requirements for a U-Trough Screw Conveyor and finalize the appropriate model selection.

1. Clarify Material Characteristics: Identify the material type (powder, granules, or lumps), bulk density, particle size, moisture content, and corrosiveness to select the corresponding construction material and screw blade type.

2. Determine Conveying Parameters: Specify the required conveying capacity, conveying distance, and conveying angle to match the appropriate equipment model and motor power.

3. Adapt to Site Conditions: Based on available workshop space, power supply specifications (e.g., 380V/220V), and environmental regulations, determine the optimal equipment installation method and necessary auxiliary functions (such as variable frequency control or explosion-proof features).

FAQ

Q: Will clogging issues occur if the material has a high moisture content (≥20%)?

A: No. We have designed specialized helical blades for viscous materials; combined with an anti-stick coating applied to the trough's interior, and the option to install a vibration device, we effectively prevent material adhesion and clogging. The equipment handles the conveyance of materials with a moisture content of up to 30% with ease.

Q: What causes excessive noise during the operation of the U-Trough Screw Conveyor?

A: This is likely due to a deviation in the coaxial alignment of the screw shaft or insufficient bearing lubrication. We perform precise coaxial alignment calibrations prior to shipment. Additionally, the unit is equipped with grease ports; regular application of the specified lubricant is sufficient to maintain low-noise operation. Should any anomalies arise, please contact our after-sales service team.

Q: Do the installation methods differ for different equipment models?

A: Horizontal conveying units are installed using floor-standing support frames; inclined conveying units require the addition of diagonal braces for stabilization; and vertical conveying units must be rigidly connected to the feed hopper.

We provide detailed installation drawings and can also arrange for technical personnel to visit the site to provide installation guidance.

Our Services

Pre-sales: We provide complimentary equipment selection solutions; material samples can be submitted for conveying tests, and a detailed test report will be issued.

In-sales: We provide continuous updates on production progress and share videos of the manufacturing process; prior to shipment, the equipment undergoes rigorous no-load trial run testing.

After-sales: We offer free replacement of damaged components within an 18-month warranty period, respond to after-sales inquiries within 24 hours, and provide lifetime maintenance and technical support.