Sprag Clutches for Conveyor Systems

When it comes to conveyors, the worst thing that can happen is material sliding backwards, causing injury and/or damaged equipment. That’s where GMN sprag clutches come in. The perfect backstopping solution, GMN clutches are the foolproof solution requiring no electrical or mechanical actuation!

Offering higher torque, GMN clutches are perfect for medium-duty conveyor systems in industries such as mining, aggregate, grain conveying and more.

GMN Sprag Clutches Offer Conveyor Systems Higher Torque, Smaller Envelope

Conveyors play a critical part across all industries. They help move parts from point A to B, store them and even provide a workspace for value-added processes to occur while in assembly.

Conveyors can be categorized multiple ways due to their faceted nature, including angle of use (horizontal versus incline), style of moving face (belt, gravity roller) or even points of attachment (overhead conveyors

There are inherent risks shared amongst all these different types of conveyors.

For example, uncontrolled loading and inertia can lead to products moving, sliding, or even falling, warranting safety concerns for operators.

Conveyor backstops are safety mechanisms that allow conveyor belts to run in one direction and are a critical component to the overall conveyor system because they prevent product rollback on a stopped conveyor.

Generally, there are 3 devices used as backstops and fit, depending on the load capacity need of the job:

• Lighter load applications call for servo motors
• Brakes are used in heavier loads
• Clutches (roller ramp and sprag) encompass both sizes 

What Are The Advantages of Using Clutches for Conveyor Systems?

Clutches offer several advantages. For instance, clutches don’t require power, alleviating any concern of failure due to loss of power to the work site or equipment. Another is their high torque capacity that protects the conveyor in wide ranges of load duties.

Another benefit to sprag and roller ramp clutches is their ability to work with redundancy drive systems. Two motors can be directly connected to the system through a clutch. The clutch will freewheel in the motor that is not running while the motor that is running drives the clutch and the system. This enables instantaneous switch over in the event of motor failure or planned maintenance.

Learn more about the benefits of sprag clutches in several applications through our comprehensive Sprag Clutch Guide.

Differences Between Roller Ramp Clutches & Sprag Clutches

Roller ramp and sprag clutches both achieve the same goal, transferring torque in one direction and freewheeling in the other direction, but they go about it in very different ways.

As their name implies, roller ramp clutches have ramps on the inner rings that wedge the rollers in place against the smooth outer ring. Sprag Clutches have sprag elements that are larger than the gap between a smooth inner and outer race and have curved surfaces that engage against the inner and outer race almost instantaneously when torque is transmitted.

These differences may seem minor, but the impact they have on the design and performance of the system are anything but a few key differences include:

• More compact design
• Higher number of engaged elements
• Less rotation for engagement

To learn more about the differences between sprag clutches and roller ramp clutches, check out our guide: Sprag Clutches vs. Roller Ramp Clutches.

Best Clutches for Conveyor Systems

GMN offers a wide range of sprag clutches to serve all types of specific applications in the printing and converting industry.

One series, the FND 400, has become the go-to clutch for the industry because of its many unique features compared to GMN's other clutches.

Among those are:

• Hardened races with a keyway on the inner ring: No need for special shaft and housing requirements. Just press the clutch in and secure it with a key to the shaft.
• Built in bearing support: These clutches come with a ball bearing on one side and a roller bearing on the other side to provide radial and some axial load support to the clutch.
• Sealed with oil lubrication: Grease has a shelf and operating life limitation. Instead, these clutches are sealed with an oil lubrication to keep running for years without the need to change the lubrication

Contact Our On-Site Engineers!

Let’s talk today about how GMN clutches can simplify your conveyor system while providing reliable safety.

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