Improving the safety and reliability of belt conveyors by detecting critical components -: By a novel Truth Tree method

This article is part of a research project designed to improve belt conveyor safety by developing malfunction control, maintenance sand condition supervision. One of the methods used in this research was the critical analysis of components and conditions. VTT Manufacturing Technology developed a specific analysing tool for this purpose; the Truth Tree method. The Truth Tree method is used to numerically prioritise the critical components of complex technical systems, as well as the critical causes and possible remedies for problems relating to safety and operation security. Uneven load on the belt were estimated as the most common and severe cause of belt side-tracking in the metal industry. This side-tracking is usually perceived as due to material collecting on the feed funnel walls, which affects the direction of the material shower. The assessments of industry experts support the results of the Truth Tree method. According to the conducted studies, as well as feedback from the industry, the Truth Tree method is an extremely useful numerical tool for making an unbiased evaluation of processes and production components.