How to Design a Bucket Elevator

A vast number of organisations rely on bucket elevators for conveying and elevating dry products – bucket elevators contribute towards ensuring a smooth operation in the transportation of materials such as:

• Cereals
• Sweets
• Granules
• Pellets
• Powders

But what should be considered during bucket elevator design?

First of all, it is essential to realise that each bucket elevator design is produced with a particular application (such as food production) and material in mind – a designer should consider both the material and application thoroughly.

In terms of material, the following must be considered:

• The weight of the material.
• The texture of the material.
• The bulk density.
• The moisture level.
• The size of the material (width and height).

It is also advised that only free flowing materials are conveyed or elevated – this is to prevent a build-up of product (sticky materials can be very difficult to convey!).

Determining the layout and construction of your bucket elevator

Determining the appropriate layout, dimensions and construction materials are crucial components of bucket elevator design. Questions that a designer must answer include:

• Can the bucket elevator achieve the required product throughput rate (defined by the bucket capacities multiplied by the conveying speed)?
• Will the chain be strong enough to elevate the weight of product to the required height?
• Will the bucket elevator physically fit into the production facility, as often there areas are already filled with equipment?

Different types of bucket elevator design

There are multiple types of bucket elevator to consider too – the type of bucket elevator designed depends on the application. For example:

• Swinglink bucket elevators – this bucket elevator is a chain and pendulum type system and can be used to convey a range of products and include multiple inlets and discharge points.
• Econ-o-Lift bucket elevators – this should be used to convey coarse and abrasive materials in challenging environments.
• Horizontal bucket conveyor – this is a low maintenance alternative to a conventional belt conveying system.

At Gough Engineering, we have over seventy years of experience designing bespoke bucket elevators across a wide range of industries. We have the knowledge and experience to consult a wide range of organisations on the suitability of bucket elevators in their overall operation.

If you require any assistance with bucket elevator design, please contact us using the form below or view our bucket elevator equipment pages.