Practicability of hinging of buckets on belt elevators

The article discusses arrangement and operating principle of belt elevators, and reports design factors and performance characteristics of the machines. The main advantages and disadvantages of belt elevators are highlighted, and their improvement areas and application prospects in mining are determined, including robotic mining. The presented research results prove practicability of hanging of buckets to elevator belts. The research also revealed stress variation patterns at the bucket attachment points depending on driving drum capacity. 3D computer models of an elevator bucket with rigid attachment and hinged mount are developed, and strength and structural stiffness analyses of the buckets are carried out using analytical equations and automated design system Kompas-3D v21. The stress and strain fields are mapped on the surface of model parts. It is found that as against the customary rigid attachment, hinging of buckets multiply decreases peak loads on the tractional body, which ensures the proportional reduction of stresses and strains in the buckets and fastening bolts, more uniform stress distribution in the load-bearing frame of the machine and the multiple increase of the life cycle of the belt elevators generally. The obtained results can be used in design of high-speed and increased-capacity belt elevators for open pit and underground mining. 

Morin A. S., Israfilov R. G., Fomenko A. I., Gerasimova T. A., Shtresler K. A. Practicability of hinging of buckets on belt elevators. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(3):97-114. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_3_0_97.

A.S. Morin¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Chair, Institute of Non-ferrous Metals, e-mail: amorin@sfu-kras.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0008-0440-3241,
R.G. Israfilov¹, Graduate Student, Institute of Non-ferrous Metals; Technical Director of the Oktyabrsky mine at MMC Norilsk Nickel, e-mail: arian1989@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0007-7361-7895,
A.I. Fomenko¹, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Non-ferrous Metals, e-mail: afomenko@sfu-kras.ru, ORCID ID: 0009-0009-5477-8655,
T.A. Gerasimova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor, Institute of Non-ferrous Metals, е-mail: gta291277@yandex.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4007-8091, 
K.A. Shtresler¹, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Business Process Management, e-mail: cshtresler@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0659-1302,
¹ Siberian Federal University, 660025, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

K.A. Shtresler, e-mail: cshtresler@gmail.com.

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