Joining Methods
LapJoint Connections
A belted chain assembly is only as strong as its weakest links - the joint. DURABELT's extra strength LapJoint connections are made to last and they are the strongest joint available. The recommended LapJoint is constructed by removing one (1) ply, 305 mm (12 in) in length from each end of the traction belts. The belt ends are then overlapped and secured together with countersunk bolts threaded into tapped rivet holes in the steel rods. If product bruising is not a concern, an alternative is to use nuts and bolts for easier assembly and disassembly.
Figure 6: Exploded View of LapJoint Assembly
DURABELT's LapJoint maintains 67 - 75% of the belted chain assembly's strength compared to 50% with joining clips. LapJoints also enable the belted chain assembly to run smoothly around rollers and sprockets and eliminates the replacement of clips due to wear.
Joining Clips
For applications where the belted chain needs to be disassembled quickly or at regular intervals, DURABELT has F-Style and DURABELT metal joining clips.
The F-Style clips are standard on all belted chain assemblies except hedgehog belt assemblies and belted chain assemblies using centre clips. These two (2) exceptions use the DURABELT metal joining clips.
Figure 7: Joining Clips
The joining clips are held together with a joining rod which takes the place of a steel rod in the belted chain assembly.
The standard joining rod is made from 11 mm (.43 in) diameter steel rod. A 10mm (.39 in) diameter steel joining rod with a turned down end is also available.
The following table shows the joining clips available by part number.
Table6: Joining Clips
| Belt Pitch | Rivet Hole Spacing | Joining Clip Part Number | |||
| mm | in | mm | in | F-Style | DURABELT |
| 28 | 1.10 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-28-20 | |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-28-32 | |||
| 32 | 1.26 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-32-20 | |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-32-32 | |||
| 35 | 1.38 | 20 | 0.79 | CD35-20 | |
| 32 | 1.26 | CD35-32 | |||
| 36 | 1.42 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-36-20 | CD36-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-36-32 | CD36-32 | ||
| 40 | 1.57 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-40-20 | CD40-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-40-32 | CD40-32 | ||
| 42 | 1.65 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-42-20 | CD42-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-42-32 | CD42-32 | ||
| 45 | 1.77 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-45-20 | CD45-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-45-32 | CD45-32 | ||
| 50 | 1.97 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-50-20 | CD50-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-50-32 | CD50-32 | ||
| 56 | 2.20 | 20 | 0.79 | CF-56-20 | CD56-20 |
| 32 | 1.26 | CF-56-32 | CD56-32 | ||
| 60 | 2.36 | 32 | 1.26 | CF-60-32 | CD60-32 |
On belted chain assemblies with a pitch greater than 60 mm (2.36 in), DURABELT uses a clip that is a multiple of the belt pitch. For example: a potato harvester deviner belt with a 150 mm (5.91 in) pitch would use 50mm (1.97) pitch joining clips with a short pin called a deviner pin to hold the clips together versus a joining rod.