APRON FEEDERS

APRON FEEDERS

APRON FEEDERS
McLanahan’s line of Universal Apron Feeders were born in the mines of the Iron
Range where round-the-clock operation is essential to the customer. Today,
Universal Apron Feeders are still designed and built with the same quality.

Universal Apron Feeders are engineered to meet each customer’s specific

application, ranging from light-duty to severe-duty. They provide a positive, Primary Jaw or Gyratory Crusher
constant, metered material flow. Apron Feeders are ideal for a wide variety of
applications, including mining, quarrying, recycling, bulk material handling, coal
recovery, and other applications where moving various tonnages of material with
precision is beyond the scope of other types of feeders.

Wide Range
Apron Feeders are available in six chain sizes, 15 standard flight widths, and
an infinite range of lengths - all designed to meet a customer’s application Stockpile
requirements. Since few components are used, Apron Feeder maintenance
inventory can often be kept quite low.

Reliability
Lifetime lubricated chain, carry rollers, return rollers, idler wheels, 100,000 hour
bearings, and fabricated components designed to low stress limits all combine to
equal unmatched reliability.
Rail Unloading Station
Typical Applications
• Primary Feeder
• Primary Crusher Discharge Feeder
• Stockpile Feeder
• Rail Unloading Feeder
• Storage Bin Feeder

Under Primary Gyratory Crusher

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Head Shaft Assembly Chain
A large machined head shaft is a key ingredient to a long- Dozer chain is utilized for its strength and reliability in harsh
lasting and maintenance-free Universal Apron Feeder. Chain environments. Safety factors ensure years of round the clock
drive sprockets are segmental and bolted to the hub, which is service. Standard sizes are FL4, D4, D7, D9, D10 and D11.
keyed and mounted to the head shaft. All these components
are supported by large anti-friction bearings rated at 100,000
hours. These are lubricated by grease reservoirs in the
housing end caps. Positive head shaft positioning is assured
by stop blocks welded to the frame. Bearings are sealed to
stop contamination by labyrinth or taconite seals. Bearing
housings are designed and bolted to the frame to resist severe
pull-out loads.

Carry Rollers
Dozer track rollers are lifetime lubricated to provide a
maintenance-free, reliable load carrying feature to the working
side of the Universal Apron Feeder. Rollers are located closely
in the hopper area to prevent any sag in the chain under
heavy loads. The rollers are spaced further apart in the carry
area of the Universal Apron Feeder. Sections of the support
channels are removable to provide ease of roller replacement
should the need arise.

Tail Idler Takeup Assembly

Dozer idlers are used to provide maintenance-free return of
the chain and flights to the working surface of the Universal
Apron Feeder. Idlers are sealed for life and sized to match the
chain. Additionally, Idlers are mounted to a takeup framework
and bolted to the frame and adjustment by large screw
threads. Minimal adjustment is required during the life of the
chain.

Return Rollers
Dozer top rollers are lifetime lubricated to provide a
maintenance-free, reliable load carrying feature to the return
side of the Universal Apron Feeder. Rollers are spaced to
properly support the chain-flight assembly on the return side.
Return rollers are replaceable from the outside of the frame
for simplified maintenance.

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Cast Flights
Cast manganese steel flights are available on the D4 and
larger chain sizes. Flights are cast with overlapping beads to
reduce leakage and provide a corrugated surface to grip the
material being conveyed. Flight ends have a smooth surface
to interact with the skirting. Wear pads are cast to the bottom
side as an extra wear surface in case the flight deflects to the
impact rail under impact loading.
Drive Sprockets
Chain drive sprockets are in three segments and bolted to the
hub. The wide sprocket teeth are reversible and of a half tooth
design. Contact of all the teeth occurs after two complete
revolutions. With sprockets divided into three segments, one
third of them can be reversed at a time without breaking the
chain.
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Formed Flights
Formed steel flights are available on the FL4 and D4 chain
Universal Apron Feeders. High strength steel is formed to
produce overlapping beads that reduce leakage and provide a
corrugated surface to grip the material being conveyed. Flight
ends have a smooth surface to interact with the skirting. Wear
pads are attached to the bottom side as an extra wear surface
if the flight deflects to the impact rail under impact loading.
Impact Rail
Impact rails of ASCE/AS 1085.1 specification are installed
under the flights in the loading and strike-off area to prevent
permanent deflection of the flights. The quantity of rails
installed is dependent on the width of the Apron Feeder.

Main Frame
The Universal Apron Feeder main frame is designed to
withstand severe loads and provide reliable service. Steel
shapes are welded into a strong rigid framework to provide
a reliable base for the operating components. Large Apron
Feeder frame main members are sectionalized to provide
economical shipping and installation costs. Frames can be
sectionalized to allow installation in mines and movement
through mine shafts and tunnels.
APRON FEEDERS
Dribble Belt
To capture fine dry material that may filter between the flights,
a dribble belt can be provided. If a dribble belt is included
the design and build is with standard conveyor components.
Speed of the belt is approximately 20 ft/min (6 m/min).

Lubrication Pull Cords/Motion Switch

Lubrication is required for the head shaft only -other Universal Apron Feeders come with a standard emergency
components are sealed for life. Each Universal Apron Feeder stop pull cords and a zero speed sensing switch.
comes equipped with standard supply lubrication lines that
run to a common access area on the frame. Auto lubrication
equipment can be supplied as an option.

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Apron Feeder Drives

Electro-mechanical or hydraulic drives are available for Universal Apron Feeders. These are comprised of standard components,
configured to match the customer’s specific power requirements and specifications.

Drag Scraper
To capture fine wet material that may filter between the flights, a drag scraper can be provided. If a drag scraper is included the
design and build is with standard drag scraper components. Speed of the scraper is approximately 20 ft/min (6 m/min).

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Typical Model FL4 Apron Feeder

Chain FL4 Chain Pitch 5.51” (140 mm) Pitch

Working Load Up to 20,000 pounds (9,072 kg) Main Frame Structure Beam Construction

Carry Roller FL4 Return Roller D4

Sprocket 21 tooth Pitch Diameter 18.7” (475 mm)

Sprocket Segmental, Cast Manganese Idler FL4

Headshaft Bearings Spherical, 100,000 B10 Flights ½” (12 mm) Formed Steel

Typical Model FD4 Apron Feeder

Chain D4 Chain Pitch 6.75” (171 mm) Pitch

Working Load Up to 45,000 pounds (20,412 kg) Main Frame Structure Beam Construction

Carry Roller D4 Return Roller D4

Sprocket 21 tooth Pitch Diameter 22.9” (581 mm)

Sprocket Segmental, Cast Manganese Idler D4

5/8” (16 mm) Formed Steel or 1” Cast

Headshaft Bearings Spherical, 100,000 B10 Flights
Manganese

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Typical Model FD7 Apron Feeder

Chain D7 Chain Pitch 8.50” (216 mm) Pitch

Working Load Up to 76,000 pounds (34,473 kg) Main Frame Structure Beam Construction

Carry Roller D7 Return Roller D4

Sprocket 21 tooth Pitch Diameter 28.9” (733 mm)

Sprocket Segmental, Cast Manganese Idler D7

Headshaft Bearings Spherical, 100,000 B10 Flights 1 ½” (38 mm) Cast Manganese

Typical Model FD9 Apron Feeder

Chain D9 Chain Pitch 10.25” (260 mm) Pitch

Working Load Up to 180,000 pounds (81,650 kg) Main Frame Structure Beam Construction

Carry Roller D9 Return Roller D7

Sprocket 25 tooth Pitch Diameter 41.2” (1,047 mm)

Sprocket Segmental, Cast Manganese Idler D9

1 ½” (38 mm) or 2” (50 mm) Cast

Headshaft Bearings Spherical, 100,000 B10 Flights
Manganese

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