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Cargill Deicing Solves Salty Problems at Avery Island, LA with 60 HP & 20 HP Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys

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Rulmeca Corporation, November 18, 2009, announced that Cargill Deicing operations and maintenance personnel have been very satisfied with Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys' performance and are pleased that formerly exposed drive components are now out of sight and out of mind.
Cargill Deicing New Barge Loader Avery Island, LA
Salt Barge Loader :
One of two barge loaders now driven by Rulmeca Motorized Pulley at Cargill Deicing salt mine and barge loading terminal at Avery Island, LA. Everett McBride first tried Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys in the barge loading system in 2004.
Cargill Deicing original exposed motor and transmission
Exposed Drive Before Conversion:
Original exposed motor, gearbox, chain/sprocket assembly shows how deep salt mine, now owned and operated by Cargill Deicing, has battled the effects of corrosion and abrasion at the Avery Island, LA facility since the mine shaft was first sunk into the huge salt dome in 1862.
    Cargill Deicing mine elevator Avery Island, LA
Mine Elevator & Wooden Conveyor Gallery:
Operations and maintenance personnel use stainless steel, special paint, and wooden structures to combat corrosion due to salt accumulation in the humid Louisiana marshlands.
    Cargill Deicing pillow block corrosion
Plugged Motor Cooling Fins & Corroded Pillow Blocks:
After the successful 2004 trial on the barge loader by Everett McBride, the company began seriously converting their exposed drive systems to Rulmeca's internally-powered conveyor drive pulleys.
   
Rulmeca 60 HP Motorized Pulley at Cargill DeicingRulmeca 60 HP Motorized Pulley:
Now the mine enjoys higher system reliability and lower maintenance expense because the Rulmeca Pulleys enclose all drive components within an oil filled hermetically-sealed pulley shell. Rather than struggling to protect moving components, Cargill "hides" them out of harm's way
   
Cut-away photo shows Rulmeca Motorized Pulley componentsMotorized Pulley Encloses Drivetrain Within Pulley Shell:
Cargill has standardized on two Rulmeca Motorized Pulley models (i.e. 500M & 630H) to limit the number of spares protecting the system. This is possible because only two belt widths are used in the entire barge loading system. The two models are: 500M at 20 HP and 480 fpm with 31.5" face width and 630H at 60 HP and 600 fpm with 37.4" face width.
   
Rulmeca Motorized Pulley model 630H at Cargill DeicingNote Compactness of 60 HP Drive :
Initially developed in 1953 for coal and stone conveyors, Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys have been modified to include special features for harsh operating environments such as salt, phosphate, and iron mines as well as ship/rail terminals, barge/rail terminals, and power plants.
    Special paint on Rulmeca Motorized Pulley
Labyrinth Seals & Special Paint:
Special features incorporated into the Cargill Motorized Pulleys include inorganic zinc rich primer, 12 mils of Carboline Carbomastic CM15FC paint, regreasable labyrinth seals, and stainless steel shafts. In addition, Class H motors and synthetic oil protect the drive system from the heat of the Louisiana marshland climate.
    Rulmeca Motorized Pulley terminal box covered with salt
Salt Cannot Penetrate Pulley Shell:
The paint system protects steel and cast iron surfaces while the labyrinth seals provide a grease barrier to protect all double lip shaft seals. The Cargill Deicing salt mine is one of the latest of a growing number of conveyor operators who have discovered the benefits of using an internally-powered hermetically sealed conveyor drive.

Send mail to mgawinski@rulmecacorp.com with questions or comments about this web site.