DYNAMIC TENSION CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AERO-MECHANICAL CONVEYOR

摘要

A tensioning assembly for use in an aero-mechanical conveyor for moving bulk materials. The conveyor includes upper and lower housings having head and tail pulley assemblies. The tensioning assembly includes first and second extendable tubes that define sections of inflow and outflow conveyor tubes that interconnect the upper and lower housings. An endless rope assembly is disposed within the conveyor tubes and around the head and tail pulleys. An adjustable actuator is positioned in cooperative engagement with the first and second extendable tubes. When the actuator is in a first position, the extendable tubes have a first length and when the actuator is in a second position, the extendable tubes have a second length. The actuator is configured to move between the first position and the second position in response to changes in tension within the endless rope assembly as indicated by a signal from a tension measuring device.