Flexicon Corporation: Flexicon FLEXI-DISC Tubular Cable Conveyors with replaceable sprocket tips

The drive and tensioner wheels of Flexicon's FLEXI-DISC Tubular Cable Conveyors are now equipped with patented replaceable sprocket tips, which are claimed to cut maintenance costs by 90% compared to one-piece sprockets.Each replaceable tip consists of two halves that bolt onto each spoke without the need to remove the sprocket, which should reduce downtime during maintenance.The tips also form a pick-up face having greater surface area and seating stability than the contact patch of one-piece sprockets, which can help to extend cable life by reducing contact pressure between the slug and the spoke.Further to this, a wear indicator moulded into the sprocket tip enables operators to determine when the tips are due for replacement, which can help to avert wheel damage and resulting damage to the cable-disc assembly.Friction between the discs and relatively small number of sprocket spokes can result in spoke damage that, in turn, damages the costly cable-disc assembly. Both issues can now be avoided through preventative sprocket tip replacements, claimed to be roughly 10% of one-piece sprocket replacement costs.