Research of air movement in the labyrinth seal of rollers of conveyor belt

In the paper, the authors present the solution aimed at increasing reliability of the conveyor units. The analysis of technological and operational defects of conveyor rollers is presented. The changes in manufacturing technology have been proposed, which allowed for avoiding welding and provided the required level of tightness. Computer simulation of the motion of air in the labyrinth seal of the roller was conducted to determine the numerical parameters of possible airflows. It is proved that the airflow is present in the gap of the labyrinth seal due to the roller rotation. It is shown that the reason for the penetration of abrasive particles through the labyrinth seal after stopping is decompression, which occurred as a result of temperature change and push out of airflows during rotation. It is also suggested that the number of stops during the operation should be taken into account when determining the durability of rollers. Practical recommendations are given for preventing the penetration of abrasive particles during conveyor stops and the need for combined seals. The results can be used for the construction of roller conveyor belts in any industry.