Guides
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Copyright © 2025 Fluent Conveyors, LLC. All right reserved
Fluent Conveyors logo is a registered trademarks of Fluent Conveyors, LLC. Serial Number 97664258 Registered on Dec. 12, 2023
Copyright © 2025 Fluent Conveyors, LLC. All right reserved
Fluent Conveyors logo is a registered trademarks of Fluent Conveyors, LLC. Serial Number 97664258 Registered on Dec. 12, 2023
Slide tube take-ups (PST)
Protected screw design for pillow block bearings. Side mount installation. The tube protects the threaded rod from environmental contamination.
Travel: 3–48 inches.
Best for: Packaging, food processing, and light manufacturing.
strength and precision.
Fluent supplies take-up bearings in narrow slot, wide slot, and pillow block configurations. Bearing housings mount in take-up frames and support the tail pulley shaft as the take-up adjusts belt tension.
Bearing housing styles available:
Narrow slot bearings for precise positioning
Wide slot bearings for greater adjustment range
Pillow block bearings in two-bolt and four-bolt configurations
Top angle and channel bottom housings for protected applications
Bearing specifications:
Bore sizes from 1/2 inch to 12 inches
Cast iron, ductile iron, stainless steel, and composite housing materials
Standard, high-temperature, and heavy-duty seal options
Set screw and eccentric locking collar mounting methods
Gravity take-ups automatically maintain constant belt tension using counterweights. As the conveyor belt stretches, the counterweight lowers and pulls the take-up pulley away from the head pulley, eliminating manual adjustment.
When to use: Conveyors over 100 feet, continuous 24/7 operations, high belt stretch materials, and temperature cycling environments.
Requirements: Vertical travel clearance proportional to the belt's total length and material. Typically 1.5% to 2.5% for fabric belts and 0.25% to 0.6% for steel cord belts.
Horizontal take-ups: Substitute horizontal carriage travel when vertical space is limited. Counterweight pulls horizontally instead of vertically.
Provide 120 inches of manual take-up travel for conveyors up to 225 feet in length. These complete assemblies are an economical alternative to gravity or hydraulic take-up systems.
Combine mechanical screw construction with hydraulic cylinder assist. Hydraulic provides adjustment power while the screw locks position. Includes double-action hand pump and hose kits.
Engineered to provide reliable tension control and efficient conveyor system performance.
Take-up travel requirements depend on conveyor length, belt elongation characteristics, temperature variation, and desired maintenance intervals.
General guidance by conveyor length:
Under 50 feet: 6–18 inches travel
50–100 feet: 18–36 inches travel
100–200 feet: 36–60 inches travel
Over 200 feet: 60–120 inches travel or gravity take-up
These are only starting points. Actual requirements vary based on belt type and operating conditions.
Match to existing bearings or select a new combination:
Pillow block: Most versatile (PST, PLD, PMD, PHD, PHYD, TUTT)
Wide slot: Accommodates misalignment (PWS, PCP)
Narrow slot: Precise positioning (PNS)
Top angle/channel: Protected from falling material (PTA, PPA)
Side-mounted (PST, PWS): Access from conveyor sides, limited vertical clearance.
Top-mounted (PLD, PMD, PHD, PHYD, PTA, PPA, PCP, PNS): Protected from falling material, standard for heavy-duty.
Light-duty (PST, PWS, PLD): Under 36" belts, light materials, packaging/food processing.
Medium-duty (PMD): 36–60" belts, moderate loads, general manufacturing.
Heavy-duty (PHD, PTA, PPA, PCP): 60–96" belts, heavy bulk materials, mining/aggregate/recycling.
Extra heavy-duty (PHYD): 96+" belts, extreme applications, hydraulic assist required.
Wet/washdown: Stainless steel housings, heavy-duty seals, stainless steel rods.
Dusty/contaminated: Protected screw designs, heavy-duty seals, frequent lubrication.
High-temperature: High-temp seals rated to application, special lubricants.
Outdoor: Stainless/composite housings, extra travel for thermal expansion.
Mount frames parallel to the belt centerline. Verify that both frames are equidistant from the head pulley. Match the bearing bore to the tail pulley shaft diameter. Install with proper key engagement. The tail pulley must be perpendicular to the belt centerline.
Lockout/tagout: De-energize conveyor motor. Lock out all energy sources per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 and ASME B20.1.
Check travel position: Plan belt replacement if 80–90% consumed.
Adjust both sides equally: Same number of turns on left and right frames.
Target tension: 1–2% belt deflection under finger pressure midspan between idlers.
Verify alignment: Confirm the tail pulley remains perpendicular after adjustment.
Test under load: Start unloaded, gradually increase material load.
Over-tensioning causes bearing overload, increased power consumption, reduced belt life, and frame fatigue. Under-tensioning causes belt slippage, loss of traction, belt sag, and poor tracking.
Install guards around exposed threaded rods and moving components. Follow OSHA lockout/tagout requirements. Never adjust while running or under load. Use proper tools. Wear PPE, including safety glasses and steel-toed boots.
Take-up replacement is a natural moment to inspect related components. Replace the take-up system and related components simultaneously to reduce labor costs and prevent cascading failures.
Related components to inspect:
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