Protection of Concrete Surfaces From Tracked Mining Equipment

Project Goal: Design a way to move, dispense and reel in conveyor belt material used to protect concrete pads around the Caterpillar facility.

There are many concrete surfaces at the Caterpillar Tucson Proving Ground that crack easily when heavy machinery moves on them, leading to expensive maintenance costs. Currently, Caterpillar mechanics use a forklift to lay thick and heavy mining conveyor belts on top of the concrete surfaces to protect them. It is a time-consuming process that puts mechanics at risk of injuries.

The team’s spooler design provides a safer and more efficient method to lay down and move conveyor belts around the facility, while also improving belt storage.

The design uses a spool that can be connected and disconnected from the spooler and the conveyor belt. The spool is connected to two wheels that rotate when a forklift pushes the spooler forward. As the wheels rotate, the conveyor belt is rolled up on the spool. Since the conveyor belt remains on the spool, it can be moved around safely and easily.