Cableflow Tubular Cable Drag Conveyors are a further development of our best in class Aeroflow aero mechanical conveyors operating with reduced clearances and at reduced running speeds. Cableflow conveyors are designed for gentle material handling and for conveying in multiple planes. They can provide complete material batch transfer of bulk products from single or multiple in-feed points to single or multiple discharge points with little or no damage.
Cableflow conveyors are offered with our optional Dynamic Automatic Cable Tensioning system. This patented cable tensioning system maximizes cable life and minimizes maintenance – a key advantage over other cable driven conveyors in the industry.
Cable discs are manufactured from USDA accepted polyurethane and are suitable for temperatures up to 176°F/ 80°C.
Features
- Minimize waste with gentle handling of fragile materials & maintain blends.
- Optimize use of plant ‘real estate’ with layout versatility – complex 3 plane circuits, mobile designs.
- Maximize processing efficiency with multiple inlets & multiple outlets of dry, moist or wet materials.
- Maintain plant safety & cleanliness with dust-free, contamination-free, totally enclosed conveying.
- Maximize ROI with fast, efficient conveying capacities up to 11 ft3/min/ .31m3/min, low energy consumption, long cable life & 24/7/365 reliability without filters or cyclones.
- HOW IT WORKS & BENEFITS
- APPLICATION SUITABILITY
- CONFIGURATIONS
- MODELS & SPECIFICATIONS
- COMPONENTS & OPTIONS
- CAPACITY & SELECTION
- TYPICAL MATERIALS
- BUYER'S GUIDE
HOW IT WORKS & BENEFITS
Cableflow cable drag conveyors were developed from our tried and tested aero mechanical conveyors – operating with reduced clearances and at reduced running speeds. They are designed for gentle handling and installations requiring conveying in multiple planes. They can transfer fragile bulk products from single or multiple in-feed points to single or multiple discharge points over long distances with little or no damage.
How it Works
A continuous loop of cable or chain with discs spaced along its length is pulled by a motor driven sprocket within an enclosed tube. Changes in direction are facilitated by bends in the tubing or by corner housings with drive or idler sprockets for tighter radii. Discharge of the product is through either tube outlets or housing outlet boxes. The cable is routed back to the in-feed point in an endless loop.
Benefits
Gentle Product Handling & Maintaining Blends
Material is fed into the pockets formed between the discs within the conveying tube. The cable and discs gently move through the enclosed circuit pulling the material along until it reaches the outlet. This type of gentle conveying action minimizes product degradation and also maintains blends.
24/7/365 Reliability
As a worldwide industry leader in mechanical conveying, Spiroflow is unique in that we offer three types of tubular drag conveyors – Cableflow cable drag conveyors as well as Chainflow and Dynaflow drag chain conveyors. Our engineers take the time to carefully assess your application needs so that, with proper tensioning, you can count on your conveyor to run 24/7/365.
Multiple Inlets & Outlets
The conveyor can accommodate applications with multiple outlets so that one conveyor can deliver material to multiple points. Multiple inlets are possible as long as only one is operational at a time.
Dry, Moist or Wet Materials
Tubular drag conveyors can transfer hot, cold, wet, dry, hygroscopic or temperature sensitive materials.
No Filters or Cyclones
With tubular drag conveyors, no additional air is added to convey material so there is no excess air at the outlet to filter for dust. Any material that is not ejected at the outlet is simply carried around the enclosed system until it is ejected at the next outlet.
Long Cable Life
All cables used in our cable assembly are constructed from MIL-spec aircraft quality steel cable. The cable assembly is a multi-strand steel cable with single piece polyurethane discs molded onto the cable for safe food contact. With proper tensioning end users can expect a long cable life.
Totally Enclosed, Dust-free, Contamination-free Handling
All conveying takes place in a totally sealed tubular system which ensures the dust-free transfer of material.
Operates in Multiple Planes
Tubular drag conveyors are the only conveyors that can operate in three (3) planes. This layout flexibility enables our engineers to design complex circuits which eliminates transfer points while using a single drive.
Low Energy Consumption
No matter how great the volume is tubular drag conveyors are very energy efficient especially when compared to pneumatic conveying systems. Users benefit by their minimal power requirements and associated energy savings.
APPLICATION SUITABILITY
| Application Suitability | |
|---|---|
| Price | Almost always less costly than an AMC, rigid screw or pneumatic conveyor |
| Layout Constraints of a single conveyor | Typically up to 39 ft / 12m but depends on product density & screw speed Multiple units can span greater distances One bend only |
| Maintenance | Low maintenance Wear only a consideration with abrasive products or if tube is excessively bent Recommended minimum bend radii should be observed |
| Installation Costs | Low |
| Energy Consumption | Medium energy consumption |
| Dust Control/Air Displacement | Conveyor is mechanically dust tight No systems filters required |
| Residual Material | Not 100% self-emptying Can easily be emptied by running in reverse |
| Degradation | Less than might be expected Moderate shear stresses produced by screw against tube Degradation tends not be a problem w/ most granular products like sugar |
| Fragile Products | Recommend material test |
| Maintaining Blends | Depends on densities & material characteristics of materials in blend |
| Hygroscopic Materials | Recommend material test |
| Moist Materials | Not suitable |
| Cohesive Materials | Recommend material test Proscrew |
| Hot Materials | Very good With steel tubes handles material temps up to 300°F / 149°C |
| Sludge | Not suitable |
| Slurries | Not suitable |
| Fine Particles | Very fine particles that fluidize readily may require a flat spiral In some cases, a center core may also be needed |
| Running Empty | Cannot be run empty for extended periods without excessive noise & wear |
| Starting & Stopping | Can be started & stopped under load |
Check out our Conveyor Comparison Chart.
This document compares our conveyor offerings based on application suitability, configurations, specifications, options & cleanability. Our engineers will assess your application needs & recommend the optimal conveyor system.
CONFIGURATIONS
Because tubular drag conveyors can operate in three (3) planes there is an endless number of layout options. Our engineers will evaluate your application requirements and site restrictions to determine the optimal layout. Typical circuits include the layouts below, however, this is by no means a complete list.
Check out our Conveyor Comparison Chart.
This document compares our conveyor offerings based on application suitability, configurations, specifications, options & cleanability. Our engineers will assess your application needs & recommend the optimal conveyor system.
MODELS & SPECIFICATIONS
Our Cableflow Cable Drag conveyors are offered in three (3) sizes as follows. Our engineers will access your application needs and recommend the optimal size, tube and options.
| Model | Tube Size | Capacity* Up To |
|---|---|---|
| CF3 | 3”/ 75mm | 4.5 ft3/min/ 0.11m3/min |
| CF4 | 4”/ 100mm | 8.5 ft3/min/ 0.24m3/min |
| CF5 | 5"/ 125mm | 11 ft3/min/ 0.31m3/min |
| * Throughput rates vary depending on bulk density, material flow characteristics and layout of the conveyor. | ||
Specifications | Standard Construction & Components |
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Electrical Requirements |
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Pneumatic Requirements |
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Inlets, Outlets & Feeding |
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Check out our Conveyor Comparison Chart.
This document compares our conveyor offerings based on application suitability, configurations, specifications, options & cleanability. Our engineers will assess your application needs & recommend the optimal conveyor system.
COMPONENTS & OPTIONS
Spiroflow’s Cableflow tubular cable drag conveyor is designed to achieve gentle handling and low material degradation. A series of straight and curved tubes coupled to stainless steel housings form a circuit where the product can enter and exit through tube mounted chutes.
Conveying is achieved when material enters the space between discs molded to an endless cable that is contained within the circuit. The cable and discs are dragged through the circuit by a driven sprocket at one end. Additional sprockets can be added to the circuit to provide frictionless direction changes and reduce the load on the system. Continuous tension is applied to the cable via a patented pneumatically actuated tensioning assembly mounted in the 180° idler assembly included with the system.
Check out our Conveyor Comparison Chart.
This document compares our conveyor offerings based on application suitability, configurations, specifications, options & cleanability. Our engineers will assess your application needs & recommend the optimal conveyor system.
CAPACITY & SELECTION
Cableflow Tubular Drag Conveyors can operate up to 140 ft/min (43m/min) depending on material characteristics & layout.
The capacity charts below allow you to roughly estimate the size of the conveyor and the speed based on the throughput requirements in cubic feet/minute (cubic liters/min). The horizontal lines represent the velocity at which your product will pass through the conveyor. The vertical lines indicate the volumetric throughput rate in liters per minute. The diagonal lines are the sizes of the conveyors available.
But don’t think you have to figure out which conveyor will work best for your application. Our sales engineers can do that for you!
Tubular Drag Conveyor Capacity Charts
How to Use the Capacity Charts
- Based on your material’s bulk density, calculate the required conveying rate in feet/minute or liters/minute. Locate the amount required on the horizontal scale.
- Move up the vertical line and note where it intersects with one or more diagonal lines. Each intersection point indicates a possible conveyor size.
- From each intersection point, move left horizontally all the way to the vertical scale, indicating the conveyor cable speed.
There are many factors that enter into the tubular conveyor selection process. Beyond the mechanical selection described above, we carefully consider the physical characteristics of the material to be conveyed and the equipment duty cycle.
Tubular Drag Conveyor Selection Guidelines
- The Cableflow conveyor can operate at speeds up to 140 ft/min / 43m/min.
- It is generally advisable to apply a larger conveyor at a slower cable speed if your material has sluggish flow characteristics, is sticky, abrasive or if the equipment operational duty cycle is extensive.
- Smaller conveyor sizes and faster cable speeds are usually selected when the material is free-flowing and non-abrasive and/or the equipment duty cycle is low.
- Future capacity requirements should be considered. It may be prudent to install a larger conveyor now at a lower cable speed. You can increase the cable speed later to accommodate a higher capacity. This can be done with the use of a variable frequency drive or gearing change.
- Surges and uneven feed conditions should be considered. Surge hoppers may provide more constant feeding and may enable the use of a smaller conveyor.
TYPICAL MATERIALS
Cable drag conveyors can gently transport a multitude of materials. Here is a list of materials generally considered for this type of conveyor. Our engineers will carefully assess the properties of your material and likely perform a material test to ensure your cable drag conveyor performs exactly to your expectations.
Food
- Almonds
- Bacon Bits
- Bakery Products
- Baking Soda
- Barley
- Basil, Dried
- Beans, Dried
- Black-eyed Peas
- Brazil Nuts
- Breadcrumbs
- Cashews
- Cereal Flakes
- Cereal Grains & Nuggets
- Cereal Shapes
- Cereals
- Chickpeas
- Chives, Dried
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Cocoa
- Coffee Beads, Ground
- Coffee Beans, Whole Bean
- Coffee, Freeze Dried
- Coffee, Instant
- Coffee, Roasted
- Coriander
- Corn
- Couscous
- Cumin
- Dill Seed
- Eggs, Dehydrated
- Fava Beans
- Filberts
- Flax Seed
- Flour
- Fruit, Dried
- Garlic Powder, Dried
- Ginger, Ground
- Grains
- Hops
- Kidney Beans
- Lentils
- Lima Beans
- Lysine Chunks
- Macadamia Nuts
- Malt
- Marjoram
- Mint, Dried
- Mustard Seed
- Nutmeg
- Nuts
- Oats
- Oats, Burned
- Oilseeds
- Oregano, Dried
- Paprika
- Parsley, Dried
- Pasta
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Pepper Corns
- Pepper
- Pigment Powders
- Pinto Beans
- Pistachios
- Rice
- Rosemary, Dried
- Saffron
- Sage
- Seeds
- Sesame Seed
- Snack Food Products
- Snap Peas
- Soy Beans
- Spices
- Split Peas
- Tea
- Thyme
- Titanium Dioxide Powder
- Tree Nuts
- Vegetable Scraps
- Vegetables, Dried
- Vegetables, Frozen
- Walnuts
- Wheat
Agriculture
- Atrazine
- Bird Seed
- Carrot Seed
- Cottonseed
- Cottonseed, Coated with Starch
- Feather Meal
- Fertilizer
- Grass Seed
- Lime
- Limestone Pellets
- Pesticides, Granular
- Tobacco
- Tomato Seed
- Waste Cotton
Animal Feed
- Animal Feed
- Dog & Cat Food, Dry
- Dried Feed Grade Egg Product
- Feed Corn
- Fish Food
- Peanut Splits
- Pet Food
- Pet Food Chunks
- Pet Food Kibble
- Pet Food Pellets
Plastics & Rubber
- Plastic Flake
- Plastic Fluff
- Plastic Pellets
- Plastic Prills
- Plastic Regrind
- PVC, Pelletized Mix
- PVC, Virgin
- Rubber, Ground
- Rubber, Including Fluff
Chemicals
- Aluminum Oxide
- Barium Metaborate Monohydrate
- Boric Acid
- Carbon Black Powder, Prills
- Pigment Powder
- Titanium Dioxide Powder
- Urea Prills
Other
- Acordis Cellulosic Fiber
- Cat Litter
- Cellulose Flock
- Detergent Powder
- Diatomaceous Earth
- Fiberglass, Chopped
- Glass Microspheres
- Ground Paper Product
- Kaolin Clay
- Metal Powder
- Paper, Shredded
- Silica Sand
- Sodium Bentonite
- Water Softener Pellets
- Wax Pastilles
- Wood Chips
- Wood Pellets
BUYER'S GUIDE
