Abstract: A conveyor belt tensioning assembly having a winch drum and a pair of ac torque vector motors operatively connected to the winch drum. The motors are controlled by a motor controller which senses operational load on the winch drum and adjusts operating parameters of the motors to maintain belt tension within a desired range.

Abstract: An improved braked pulley assembly for an endless conveyor including a pulley body, a pair of gearboxes, and a pair of hydraulic braking members. The gearboxes have bodies affixed to relatively opposite ends of the pulley body and rotate with the pulley body. The hydraulic braking members are laterally adjacent the pulley body and include an output shaft which is mechanically coupled to an input shaft of an associated gearbox. Actuation of the braking members transfers braking forces to the gearbox inputs and to the pulley body to permit controlled slowing of the pulley body rotational speed and, hence, a conveyor mounted thereon. The braked pulley assembly is specially adapted for use in conveyor assemblies which have limited available area for braking mechanisms, and which will not accommodate conventional disc brake/caliper assemblies.

Abstract: A technique for the insertion and removal of a section of belting in and from an endless belt conveyor is disclosed. The technique includes method and apparatus including a frame which may comprise the frame of the main conveyor or the chassis of a wheeled vehicle. A driven belt pulley is rotatably mounted in the frame and is engageable by an idler pinch roll. A section of belting to be removed from the conveyor is engaged between the pulley and the pinch roll so that substantially all of the belt removing tension is absorbed by the motor driving the belt pulley. The belt may then be wound onto a driven reel at a substantially constant winding torque.