Back in the 1980-1990s, at the Research and Production Association Mashinostroitel, and later at the Engineering-Production Centre Conveyor, a group of designers headed by Yu. A. Podoprigora, an associated member of the International Academy of Industrial Engineering, created a new effective and economical type of conveyor transport – conveyors with a hanging belt (CHB), in which the belt is supported not by large stationary roller supports placed along the conveyor's track but by attached to the edges of the belt small bearing rollers which move together with the belt along closed tubular guide pins mounted on both sides of the conveyor (figure 1).

It isn't friction which makes the moving belt hold to its track (as it is the case with the conventional roller belt conveyors), it is achieved with the help of kinematic devices, which strictly set the belt movement along the conveyor's frame. Thus CHBs are hybrids of conventional roller belt conveyors and rail transport. They have the following advantages over the conventional roller belt conveyors:

• the possibility to use cheap belts of lower quality (including those produced domestically) with thinner interlining, the lifetime of the belt being at least 2-3 times longer;

• the possibility of transporting lump bulk cargoes, adhesives, fine and powder substances;
• the performance of the conveyor is increased 50 % or more (with the same width and speed of the belt);

• the possibility to increase the tilting angle of the conveyor up to 30 degrees and even more (when using smooth belts);

In 2000, having organised the Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash, a firm specialising in design and production of different types of CHBs, the group mentioned above created a number of new even more effective and competitive types of CHBs. They include CHBs with a curvilinear track (the minimum radius of curvature is down to 6 metres); with a steep angle to the horizon (they can be even vertical) with a standard smooth belt, and also CHBs, which have practically unlimited length. All the mentioned CHBs feature intermediate drive pushers setting the bearing rollers (which are as a rule interconnected by a chain) in motion.

The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash has designed a unique highly productive conveyor with a hanging belt of the "Serpentine" type (figure 2) equipped with a domestically produced smooth conveyor belt, which, though, makes it possible to vertically lift the conveyed bulk load (sulphur granules in this case). The special discharger (made as a manoeuvrable telescopic pipe) loads large bulk cargo holds of river and sea vessels in continuous mode (i.e. the time of loading is maximally reduced). At present TransSpetsMash is supplying it to Buzan-Port Ltd. (Astrakhan).

Besides that, the Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash has designed a highly productive transport and storage system for Stroy Disar Ltd. (Moscow). It is meant for processing and storing breakstone and loading it into freight cars. The system has a similar CHB of the "Serpentine" type, inside there is a large dimension cylinder container. A spiral CHB with two intermediate drive pushers is going round it and charges or discharges the container.

The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash is filling orders of the factories of the Public Corporation Stern-Cement and RAO Norilsky Nickel for design and supply of CHBs. In addition, one of the conveyors has a complex (curvilinear) spatial track – it is turned at an angle of 90 degrees in the horizontal plane (figure 3), as a result it substitutes for two conventional linear roller belt conveyors.

On order, conveyors can be equipped with optional service accessories: a mechanised belt splicer used for finishing the belt ends, weight measuring and other necessary devices.

The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash also provides its customers with a standard supply of necessary spare parts and components for the mounted CHBs.

The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash uses modern computer technologies to perform all the operations connected with the design of conveyors with a hanging belt.

The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash takes urgent orders from businesses to design conveyors with a hanging belt (as described above) of any purpose, version and dimension type. It takes less than a month and the place of exploitation and working conditions are always taken into consideration. It takes less than 1.5-2 months to manufacture them. TransSpetsMash also helps the customers to install, set up and put CHBs into operation.

Conveyors with a hanging belt (as well as conventional roller belt conveyors) may have a substantially different design and vary greatly in their size and weight depending on their purpose, working conditions and many other factors. The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash always takes the place of exploitation into consideration and specially designs CHBs for each customer.

To specify the parameters and design features of the ordered CHB and to know its price, the customer must give the Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash the following details about each of the ordered conveyors:

On receiving these details, the Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash will make computerised draft designs of the ordered conveyors indicating their basic dimensions, weight and price within 7-10 days.

Apply to: The Research and Production Association TransSpetsMash

75, Valya Safronova St., Briansk, 241007, Russia

Phone/fax: (+7) 0832 744840, 0832 744950, 0832 551294;

e-mail:conveyor@conveyor.bryansk.ru)