Purvis Industries

Screw Conveyor Alignment

Article By: Danny Clark

KMEC Project Sales 

Screw conveyors like most other types of rotating equipment require proper alignment to ensure efficient long-term service. The full length of a screw conveyor should be aligned in both the horizontal and vertical directions when initially installed, and anytime a user of a screw conveyor is experiencing unexplained vibrations, noise, premature wear of hanger bearings and coupling shafts etc.… The first thing that should be checked is the alignment.

The simplest way to check alignment is with the string line method. Simply secure the string line to one end of the conveyor at the trough end. The string should be secured at the side of the trough end at the centerline of the screw or fixed distance from the top of the trough. Pull the string tight to the opposite end of the conveyor and secure it there. Now you can visually see the alignment of the trough sections.

Now check the alignment every 5 feet with a measuring tape by measuring the distance from the string line to the edge of the trough horizontally then repeat the process vertically. The differences in the measurements will show you the alignment of the screw conveyor. Each measurement should be documented for both the horizontal and vertical direction. 

The maximum allowable misalignment over the full length of the screw conveyor is 1/8” in either the horizontal or vertical direction. Excessively worn hanger bearings or coupling shafts can also cause misalignment, and failure at the hanger bearing locations. When a hanger bearing, or shaft has worn more than 1/8” it must be replaced.

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