Method for assessing belt tracking stability in man‑riding belt conveyors

Abstract

This paper presents an original method for assessing the stability of belt tracking in conveyor belts used for personnel transport in underground mining conditions. The proposed approach is based on continuous measurement of the transverse inclination of the belt using a mobile diagnostic device equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) moving together with the conveyor belt along its entire route. The method enables the spatial identification of local route deformations that may lead to noncentered belt tracking and negatively affect the safety and comfort of transported personnel. The effectiveness of the proposed diagnostic method was verified under real operating conditions in an underground coal mine. A series of repeated measurement runs was performed on the same conveyor route, allowing the repeatability and stability of the obtained results to be evaluated.
The analysis was carried out by dividing the route into fixed-length sectors and calculating the maximum absolute transverse inclination values, as well as the coefficient of variation as a quantitative measure of the repeatability of the measurement. The results demonstrate high repeatability of measurements, with the coefficient of variation remaining below 0.6% along the entire conveyor route. The spatial distribution of transverse belt inclination confirms that the recorded deviations are mainly determined by the geometry and condition of the conveyor route rather than random measurement disturbances or belt-related effects. The proposed method provides a reliable and objective tool for assessing the stability of the belt tracking and identifying potentially hazardous sections of conveyor routes used for personnel transport. Its application may support preventive maintenance activities and contribute to improving the safety of crew transportation systems in underground mines.