Bucket Elevator Belts: Specifications, Sizing & Replacement Options

Bucket elevator belts are used to transport grain, feed, fertilizer, minerals and other bulk materials vertically using buckets attached to a continuous conveyor belt. Common applications include grain elevators, feed mills, food processing facilities, cement plants, mining operations and other industrial material-handling systems.

Tide Industrial supplies heavy-duty replacement bucket elevator belting in various widths, strengths and constructions, with custom cutting, bucket bolt-hole punching and belt splicing options available.

Bucket Elevator Belt Applications

Bucket elevators are commonly used to move bulk materials such as corn, wheat, grain, animal feed, fertilizer, sugar, flour, coffee, sand, clay, aggregate, coal, cement, minerals and ores.

Unlike conventional horizontal conveyor belts, elevator belts must support the weight of the buckets and conveyed material while traveling vertically around head and boot pulleys. Important characteristics include high belt strength, low stretch, abrasion resistance, reliable bucket bolt retention and resistance to repeated pulley flexing.

Bucket Elevator Belt Materials and Styles

Tide Industrial offers heavy-duty PVC bucket elevator belting in various styles, including our popular Bucket Elevator Belt 350 and Bucket Elevator Belt 450.

Both feature interwoven polyester reinforcement and fire-retardant, static-conductive and oil-resistant PVC compounds. These belts resist fraying, offer low elongation and provide strong bolt and mechanical fastener retention.

• Bucket Elevator Belt 350 – 2-1352: Black, 1-ply PVC construction with a nominal thickness of 0.310″. Suitable for heavy-duty bucket elevator and live-roller applications.
• Bucket Elevator Belt 450 – 2-1452: Black, 1-ply PVC construction with a nominal thickness of 0.340″. A thicker, heavier-duty option for demanding elevator applications.
  
  

Both belts are designed for demanding material-handling applications but are not recommended for slider-bed conveyors. Final belt selection should account for working tension, pulley diameter, bucket loading and operating conditions.

Visit our agricultural conveyor belt page for specifications and technical data sheets.

Bucket Elevator Belt Widths and Sizing

Replacement bucket elevator belts are available in a wide range of widths, commonly including 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″ and 24″, with additional sizes available depending on the application.

When replacing an existing elevator belt, important measurements and information include:

• Belt width, overall length and thickness
• Existing belt construction or part number, if available
• Bucket dimensions and mounting hole diameter
• Bolt-hole spacing, bucket spacing and edge clearance
• Head and boot pulley diameters
• Material being conveyed and operating conditions
  
  

Providing the equipment manufacturer and model, existing belt specifications or a few photographs can help us identify an appropriate replacement.

Custom Bucket Bolt-Hole Punching

Bucket elevator belting can be supplied with mounting holes punched to match standard or custom bucket configurations. Common patterns include two-hole, three-hole, four-hole, five-hole and staggered multi-row arrangements.

Custom punching is available based on the required hole diameter, center-to-center spacing, bucket pitch and distance from the belt edges. An existing belt sample, bucket drawing or hole-pattern diagram can help ensure the correct configuration.

See the diagram below for examples of common bucket mounting hole patterns. Other configurations are available upon request.

Bucket Elevator Belt Lacing and Splicing

Replacement elevator belting can be supplied in bulk without lacing, cut to length, mechanically fastened or vulcanized endless, depending on the belt construction and application.

Available conveyor belt lacing options may include rivet-hinged, rivet-plate, bolt-hinged and bolt-plate fasteners. Recessed or skived fastener installations may also be available where appropriate.

The correct splice depends on belt thickness, operating tension, pulley diameter and elevator requirements. We can help determine a suitable fastening method for your application.

Ordering Replacement Bucket Elevator Belts

Tide Industrial supplies replacement bucket elevator belts for agriculture, grain handling, feed mills, fertilizer production, food processing, mining, cement plants and industrial bulk material handling throughout the United States.

Belting is available in custom widths and lengths, with optional bucket bolt-hole punching, mechanical lacing and other fabrication services.

Browse bucket elevator belts on our agricultural conveyor belt page for available styles and specifications.

Order our 12″ Wide Bucket Elevator Belt 350 online, sold by the continuous linear foot.

For other widths, custom bolt-hole punching, or complete replacement belts, contact Tide Industrial for your specific requirements.