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Case Study : Chain Conveyors
Bolt 'n' Go - Chain and Flight system
The Bolt ’n’ Go chain and flight system is a revolutionary assembly method for drop forged and round link conveyor chain systems. The link and flight assembly is made easier by attaching the flight to the chain link using a standard bolt and nut, with a high case hardness and high tensile hollow pin. Traditional chain systems have used pins and circlips. The problem with this system is that during any maintenance repairs on the chain, the whole chain would have to be lifted out of the conveyor to conduct repairs. This results in large down time in production and high maintenance costs.
With the Bolt ‘n’ Go system, to conduct repairs such as to 
change flights or pins can be done inside the conveyor, without even taking the tension out of the chain. Instead of welded flights, we are using bolt on flights, and again these can easily be changed without any fuss.
Another problem with traditional systems using pins and circlips, is that circlips can come off in some circumstances, causing the chain to become disconnected, and again downtime. With the bolt n go system, the pins, chain and flights are secured using a secured lock nut, which securely holds the system together in a consistent manner, but also facilitating easy and safe removal when required.
One of the first installations to use this system was in November of 2006 at CHS, Superior, WI. The facility handles several commodities which include wheat and soybeans at the rate of around 1 million tons per annum. They have several drag conveyors which use drop forged chain, with the traditional pin and circlip assembly. While this has proved a reliable assemble method for them, it has proved time consuming when changing out bent or broken chain flights.
Bill Hoffer, Head of Maintenance said of the system “We installed 4B’s new Bolt ‘n’ Go chain, and I am pleased with the results. The Bolt ‘n’ Go chain is very easy and fast to install and maintain, as you eliminate the need to separate the chain each time while installing a new flight. Also there is no need to slacken of the chain or re-tension while changing flights. This alone will save untold hours on the routine maintenance of these conveyors” He goes onto to say “the Bolt n Go system has been in service for well over 12 months, is running great and no problems”.
The Bolt ‘n’ Go chain system is available for 102, 142 and 142mm Heavy metric link ranges. The system uses heavy duty Nylon flights, which bolt straight through the pins, with no need to bolt on or slide over existing steel flights. The Nylon flights also have excellent wear, strength and resistance capabilities.
The Bolt ‘n’ Go pin / bolt assembly system can also be used with the traditional welded flight system, to replace the traditional pin and circlip arrangement. This like the Bolt 'n' Go flight system is very easy to change over to for the maintenance team on site.
The Bolt ‘n’ Go system is also available for round link chain, whereby the system works under a similar system of nylon flights being bolted directly to the chain, in this case without pins.
The Bolt ‘n’ Go system is all about making life easier for the end user, ease of use, inexpensive and above all low maintenance and down time.
Dave Wolstencroft
4B Group Product Manager – Chain
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