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Astec - Long-Term Storage Silos for Asphalt Facilities
Astec silos store mix for four days† without loss of mix quality. That’s true storage. And we guarantee it in writing.
Use the silos as a conventional surge bin during the busy time of day, and at day’s, end avoid time-consuming start/stop operations and begin filling silos while continuing loadout. The next work-day, begin selling mix right away from full silos. Nobody has to wait for mix. Uninterrupted production runs allow you to maximize equipment efficiency and reduce material waste. Incorporate multiple silos in your plant layout and you will be ready to meet customer needs for a number of different mixes. That’s how Astec storage silos reduce operating costs and improve plant operating efficiency.
Astec hot mix storage systems come complete with drag conveyors, traverse conveyors and batchers. Bucket elevators are available. Silo support structures are designed to meet the site specific design criteria at your location based on the current building codes in your area. Our structural engineering staff will design your foundations based on soil conditions at your site.
Silo
DRAG CONVEYOR
The Astec drag conveyor is tough. Lined with hard alloy castings, it is made to withstand the demands of asphalt production.
The drag conveyor reaches from the mixer exit chute to the top of the silo. Strong, wear-resistant, 6-inch roller chain runs from bottom to top, with 3/4-inch thick, 7-inch deep, steel slats attached every 12 inches. This heavy slat chain assembly resists hydroplaning over the mix. Depending upon required capacity, Astec offers either single or dual chain configurations.
Wide return idler wheels are mounted on floating idler shafts. Floating idler shafts allow the shaft idler to move when neccessary. As a result, there is less wear to the sprockets, liners, and chain. Return idler shaft bearings have grease lines that lets you lube both bearings from one side when your conveyor has one set of stairs.
The drag chain rides on segmented sprockets located at the head and tail shafts. Case hardening gives the sprockets a uniform, hardened wear surface for a long-life while maintaining ductility for severe service.
The drag conveyor discharges into a traverse conveyor installed atop batchers. The operator selects the silo to be filled, and the traverse empties its contents into the designated silo’s batcher.
Each sprocket bolts to a split hub. You can replace the sprocket one piece at a time without removing the chain, which drastically reduces the time and effort required. The tall shaft is adjustable so the drag chain can be tightened at ground level.
The top sprocket is positioned beyond the conveyor discharge, creating a longer discharge opening. This, plus the special slat sweep angle makes sure that the slats are discharged, minimizing the amount of residual mix that is dropped on the sprocket, so the sprocket and chain last much longer.