Rubble Conveyor Product

Overview

A rubble conveyor is a portable site machine that rapidly clears broken concrete, masonry, and mixed demolition debris. A hopper at the bottom receives material shoveled or dumped from excavators; the material tumbles onto a motorized Conveyor Belt & Drive, which carries it upward at 20–35° incline; and a Discharge Chute & Deflector at the top directs the rubble into waiting bins, dump trucks, or secondary sorting and crushing equipment. A single Drive Motor & Transmission powered by electric mains or a small engine can process 50–150 tonnes per hour, making it one of the most efficient rubble-clearing tools on a demolition site. The conveyor tows behind a truck on Mobile Base & Wheels, and hydraulic Outriggers & Levelling Legs level it on uneven ground.

How it works

The Receiving Hopper & Inlet is the intake. Material arrives as 100–300 mm chunks of concrete, brick, timber, and reinforced concrete with embedded rebar. The hopper has a large funnel-shaped opening, sloped at 45–50° from vertical, that channels pieces toward a Hopper Gate Valve — a slide gate that meters flow onto the belt. If the gate is fully open, material cascades freely; if partially open, flow is controlled and the belt doesn't become overloaded.

The Conveyor Belt & Drive is the heart. A heavy-duty rubber Conveyor Belt, 4–6 ply, 500–1000 mm wide, runs over two main rollers: the Drive Roller at the top (powered by the motor) and the Return Roller at the bottom (unpowered). The belt is inclined 20–35° from horizontal. Along its length are Idler Support Roller support rollers spaced every 1–1.5 metres, preventing the belt from sagging under the weight of material.

When the Drive Motor & Transmission starts, it accelerates the Drive Roller to typically 0.5–2.0 m/s belt speed (variable via soft-start or VFD). As material hits the moving belt surface, friction accelerates it upward. The material climbs the incline, supported by the belt and idler rollers beneath. As it reaches the top, it rolls off the Drive Roller and onto the Discharge Chute & Deflector, which funnels it into bins or trucks.

The Conveyor Belt & Drive is designed to handle abuse. Rubble is heavy, abrasive (concrete sand cuts rubber), and sharp-edged (rebar points can penetrate). The Hopper Apron Plate is a replaceable wear plate taking the initial impact from dropping material, protecting the structure. The belt surface is erosion-protected (EP rated) rubber, extending life in this harsh duty. Over time (months of operation), the belt wears and must be spliced using a Belt Splice & Repair Kit vulcanization press, or eventually replaced.

The Prime Mover drives the whole operation. Electric models (5–15 kW) are common on job sites with available 3-phase power; diesel or gasoline models (4–10 hp) are used remotely. A Motor Starter soft-start or VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) allows the motor to accelerate gradually, reducing inrush current and preventing mechanical shock. The motor couples flexibly to the drive roller shaft via a Motor Coupling, isolating vibration.

On-site levelling is critical for efficiency. Rubble-strewn demolition sites are rarely level. The conveyor sits on Outriggers & Levelling Legs hydraulic cylinders that extend to contact the ground. A Leg Control Valve manual pump allows the operator to extend each leg independently, tilting and levelling the conveyor frame. Once level, the belt runs true and doesn't slip. Uneven ground causes belts to wander and misalignment, reducing throughput and wearing edges.

The Discharge Chute & Deflector is adjustable. A Hinged Collar allows the chute to pivot left, right, or straight, directing rubble into different receiving bins or trucks without moving the conveyor. A Dust Deflector Hood encloses the discharge, containing dust and noise — both major site nuisances. Inside the hood, a Baffle Plate slows the material slightly as it exits, reducing impact energy and dust generation.

The Main Frame & Structure is all-welded structural steel. The incline angle (20–35°) is a balance: steeper means more throughput per foot of belt, but requires a more powerful motor to lift material. Shallow angles (20°) are gentler on machinery but require longer belt runs. Most conveyors settle at 25–30° as an optimum.

The Mobile Base & Wheels enable site mobility. Two or four pneumatic or solid tyres on Wheel Axle axles allow the entire machine to be towed behind a light truck (2.0+ tonnes towing capacity) from one job site to another. A Towing Hitch ISO standard coupling makes hookup quick. Wheel Wheel Brake brakes (hydraulic or mechanical) are essential — parked on a slope, the loaded hopper could cause rollback if brakes fail.

Typical demolition-site workflow: an excavator dumps rubble into the hopper. The conveyor operator adjusts the hopper gate and monitors belt speed, watching for jams. Oversize lumps (reinforced concrete with thick rebar) might jam the belt; an operator with a long pry bar can free them, or the motor can reverse briefly to clear. Large rebar bundles are removed by hand before dumping. Material moves up the belt continuously, discharging into bins or trucks at the top. A single conveyor can clear 50–150 tonnes per hour, dramatically accelerating site clearance compared to hand-loading trucks.

Belt wear is the primary maintenance concern. Every 500–1000 operating hours, the belt edges fray and need vulcanization repair. Idler rollers wear and require bearing replacement. The drive roller surface can glaze if wet or oily rubble coats it, reducing friction; a wire brush cleaning or slight abrasive spray restores grip. In good conditions, a conveyor can run for many years with basic upkeep.

Modern rubble conveyors sometimes add a Control Panel with wireless remote control, allowing the operator to run the belt from anywhere on site. Some models add variable-speed drives (VFD), allowing the operator to slow the belt during high dust conditions or speed it up for dense rubble. Dust suppressors (water spray bars) are sometimes mounted to the belt or hopper, spraying the incoming material to bind fine dust and prevent airborne escape.