AS 40351992

Australian Standard

Accessed by CONNELL WAGNER on 19 Oct 2006

Conveyor and elevator belting

Glossary of terms

This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee RU/2, Conveyor and Elevator
Belting. It was approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 29 April
1992 and published on 13 July 1992.

The following interests are represented on Committee RU/2:

Australian Coal Association
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
Confederation of Australian Industry
Department of Mineral Resources, N.S.W.
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institute of Quarrying (West Australian Branch)
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Plastics and Rubber Institute

Accessed by CONNELL WAGNER on 19 Oct 2006

WorkCover Authority, N.S.W.

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 90175.

AS 40351992

Australian Standard
Conveyor and elevator belting
Glossary of terms

Accessed by CONNELL WAGNER on 19 Oct 2006

First publi shed as AS B2551969.

Revised and redesignated AS 40351992.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 7513 1

AS 40351992

PREFACE

Accessed by CONNELL WAGNER on 19 Oct 2006

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Conveyor and Elevator Belting under
the direction of the Multitechnics Standards Policy Board, to supersede AS B255 1969, Glossary of terms
for conveyor and elevator belting.
This edition includes terms used in various Australian Standards relating to conveyor and elevator belting,
and is intended to assist in the interpretation of these Standards. In addition, other terms used commonly
in industry are explained.
This edition differs from the 1969 edition in that terms considered antiquated have been removed and
newer terms included.

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AS 40351992

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA
Australian Standard
Conveyor and elevator belting Glossary of terms
Term
Abrasion
Adhesion
Afterglow

Ageing
Arc of contact
Bare belt
Bare wire joint
Belt clamp

Belt
Belt
Belt
Belt

duck
fastener
joint, mechanical
modulus

Belt splice

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Belting

Definition
The wearing away of belting by rubbing, scraping or impingement on.
The strength of bond between cured elastomeric surfaces or a cured elastomeric
or plastics surface and a non-elastomeric surface. (See also ply adhesion.)
Persistence of glowing of a material, under specified test conditions, after
cessation of flaming or, if no flaming occurs, after removal of the ignition
source.
Changes in physical properties with lapse of time under natural or artificial
conditions.
The portion of a pulley which is engaged by the belt, expressed in degrees.
Belt manufactured with the carcass (see below) exposed on one or both flat
surfaces.
Vulcanized splice of two lengths of belt in which the cord surface is completely
stripped of the original elastomer.
(i) A handling tool (clamp and leader) bolted or clamped onto the end of the
length of belt for the purpose of pulling it onto the conveyor.
(ii) A device to restrain the belt from moving during maintenance or repair.
Cotton fabric used in belting.
A mechanical device for joining two belt ends.
The joining of two ends of belting by a belt fastener.
Belt tension increment divided by the corresponding belt elongation increment
(the elongation increment being expressed as a ratio).
The joining of two ends of belting by a hot or cold vulcanization method, or
by a melt and resolidification method.
Cable belting An elastomeric belting incorporating transverse reinforcement
to support the load, the composite belting being carried on external
longitudinally-driven wire ropes.
Conveyor belting Belting used for carrying materials or goods from one point
to another.
Cut-edge belting See raw-edge belting.
Elevator belting Belting fitted with cleats or buckets, or so constructed to
permit the fitting of cleats or buckets, to carry material through a steep flight.
Endless belting Belting that is manufactured or joined to form a continuous
length.
Folded-edge carcass construction Belting with one or more plies folded over
so that there is no fabric edge at the carcass edge.
Raw-edge belting (cut-edge belting) Belting manufactured without covered
edges.
Raw-fabric belting Belting in which at least one side has an exposed fabric
surface free of any covering. (See also bare belting.)
Roll belting Belting made to ordered width but of specified length for cutting
into shorter lengths.
Slab belting A stock roll of belting used for supplying various widths and
lengths.
Steel-cord belting An elastomeric belting in which the carcass is composed
of a single plane of steel cables, with or without fabric.
Stepped-ply belting (body-filled) Belting whose carcass contains more plies
at the edge than in the middle so as to allow a thicker elastomeric cover in the
middle of the carrying side.
Stepped-ply belting (edge-filled) Belting whose carcass contains more plies in
the middle than at the edge so as to allow a thicker elastomeric cover in the
edges of the pulley side.

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AS 40351992

Term
Bias-cord breaker
Bias cut
Bias laid
Bias seam
Blemish
Blister
Bloom

Blow
Bottom cover
Bow (dog leg)

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Breaker
Breaker ply

Cable belting
Carcass
Cement
Centreline of cords
Cleat
Clip joint
Compound
Conductive
Conductivity

Definition
See breaker.
A cut of a textile material made diagonally at an angle other than 90 to the
direction of the warp threads.
Material laid on or wrapped around so that the threads are at a angle other than
90 to the longitudinal axis.
A seam in which the material to be joined is cut diagonally at an angle other
than 90. (See also transverse ply joint.)
A mark, deformity or injury which impairs the appearance.
A separation between layers usually forming a void or air-filled space in the
vulcanized article, usually the cover.
A discoloration or change in appearance of the surface of an elastomer caused
by the migration of one or more ingredients to the surface, e.g sulphur bloom,
wax bloom. (Not to be confused with dust on the surface from external
sources.)
A large blister usually formed in the carcass, causing a raised spot on the
surface in the vulcanized article.
See cover.
The deviation of belting from a straight line when unrolled and laid on a flat
surface.
Open weave fabric or cord ply under the cover of the belting to reduce damage
to the carcass or reduce the possibility of damage to the carcass.
Bias-cord breaker A breaker in the belting to give exceptional resistance to
impact and which may consist of two layers of high tensile cord fabric of low
extensibility laid on the bias, usually at right angles to each other within the
carrying cover.
Edge-cap breaker A breaker to give edge protection and extending around the
edge of the carcass and partially into each cover of the belting.
Floating breaker A breaker in belting within the cover, to handle severe
gouging materials and consisting of open weave fabric or cord ply of low
extensibility.
Horseshoe breaker See edge-cap breaker.
Leno breaker An open-mesh fabric made from coarse ply yarn, with a leno
weave. A leno weave is one in which certain warp threads termed doup or
crossing threads are passed from side to side of one or more ends termed
standard threads and are bound in by the weft in this position. Where the
crossed interlacing occurs, an open, perforated structure is formed.
Longitudinal cord breaker A cord breaker laid in parallel to the edges of the
belting.
Transverse breaker See transverse cord breaker.
Transverse cord breaker A cord breaker laid in at right angles to the edges
of the belting.
See belting.
Fabric or cord layer or plies bonded together to form an inner portion or
reinforcement of the belting.
Elastomeric compound in solution, usually used as an adhesive layer in splicing
or repairs.
The plane essentially parallel to the surface of the covers which passes through
the centroid of all the cords in the belt.
Transverse bar or rib, moulded or attached on the carrying cover of the belting
to prevent the load from slipping on a steep incline.
See belt fastener.
The elastomeric materials or polymers used in the manufacture, splicing or
repairs of a belt.
Qualities of a material, having the ability to conduct or transmit electricity.
A measure of the ability to conduct or transmit heat or electricity.
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Term
Conveyor belting
Conveyor cover
Cord
Cord adhesion
Cord pitch
Count (fabric)
Count (yarn or thread)
Cover

Crack
Creep
Cure
Cut
Cut-edge carcass construction
Delamination
Dog leg
Drive friction
Duck, belt
Duck, cotton
Edge bar
Effective tension
Elastomer

AS 40351992

Definition
See belting.
See cover.
A textile or wire rope used for belting reinforcement.
The bond achieved between the elastomeric component of the belt and the cord.
The distance between centres of the reinforcement cords.
The number of warp threads (ends per unit width) or weft threads (picks per
unit length) of fabric.
The linear density of yarn thread or filament.
Bottom cover (pulley cover) The protective elastomeric covering bonded to
and protecting the carcass on the side which does not normally carry the load.
Conveyor belt cover The term applied to the protective covering of conveyor
belts. Generally an elastomeric covering applied during manufacture as a
separate sheet to form a continuous integral covering to the carcass.
Laminated cover A cover formed to desired thickness from thinner layers
vulcanized together.
Top cover (carry cover) The protective elastomeric cover bonded to and
protecting the carcass on the side which normally carries the load (burden).
A fissure (in belt covers) penetrating the surface of the belting.
The change in length which occurs in the belting as it passes from the tight side
to the slack side of the driving pulley.
The act of vulcanization.
A penetration into the surface of the belt from external means.
See belting.
Separation between plies of elastomer or textile.
See bow.
The friction between a driving pulley (drum) and the surface of the belting.
See belt duck.
See belt duck.
Rigid bar (usually metal) used to form the edge of the moulding cavity during
vulcanization.
See tension.
A macro-molecular material which can return rapidly to the approximate shape
from which it has been substantially distorted by a low stress.
NOTE: For purposes of conveyor belting the term elastomer includes plasticized PVC.

Accessed by CONNELL WAGNER on 19 Oct 2006

Elevator belting
Elongation
Endless belting
Endless length
Fabric
Filler strip

Fire resistant
Flat idler
Flex life
Floating breaker
Folded-edge carcass
construction
Fracture
FRAS

See belting.
The increase in length expressed numerically as a ratio or percentage of initial
length. (See also ultimate elongation.)
See belting.
The length of belting supplied in endless form.
Belt reinforcement (carcass) usually woven from natural or synthetic fibres or
metal cords.
A strip of uncured elastomer assembled into a splice or repair to space other
members, fill potential voids or otherwise balance the uncured volume of
material to ensure a strong aligned vulcanized result.
Resistant to the initiation and propagation of flame.
Full belt width roller or group of rollers free to rotate and placed to support the
belt.
The ability of an elastomeric article to withstand dynamic bending stresses.
See breaker.
See belting.
A break or rupture of the reinforcement (carcass) of the belting.
An acronym used to describe fire-resistant anti-static belting.

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AS 40351992

Term
Free length
Friction

Gouge resistance
Gum rubber
Idler
Ignitability
Impact resistance
Jaw break
Joint
Lagging
Laminated cover
Lay up
Leno breaker
Longitudinal cord breaker
Longitudinal joint
Longitudinal seam
Maximum tension
Moulded edge
Net endless length
Oil resistant
Open-edge carcass
construction
Permanent set

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Platen
Ply
Ply adhesion
Ply, buckled
Ply separation
Press length
Press marks
Pulley cover
Raised edge
Raw edge
Raw edge belting
Reinforcement
Resistivity
Roll belting

Definition
The linear measurement before subjecting the belt to a load or force.
(i) An elastomeric adhesive compound applied to and impregnating a fabric,
usually by means of a calender with rolls running at different speeds. (The
process is called frictioning.)
(ii) A resistance to relative motion due to the contact of surfaces.
The ability of a material to resist penetration with subsequent tearing.
Soft non-reinforced rubber. (Also used as an alternate name for filler (fill-in)
strip used in belt splicing.)
A roller or group of rollers free to rotate and placed to support the belt in the
required profile.
The ease with which a material can be ignited under specified test conditions.
The ability of belting to resist damage from impact loads.
Term used when a test sample breaks adjacent to the test machine jaws.
See belt joint and belt splice.
A layer of material applied to the pulleys.
See cover.
Procedure used to assemble the unvulcanized components of a belt or a splice
within a belt.
See breaker.
See breaker.
A joint between two materials running length-wise in the finished product.
The highest tension induced in the belt reinforcement during traverse of the
conveyor system.
The belting edge, cured against irons, which give a square edge to the belting.
The length of belting manufactured or spliced in endless form.
The ability to resist the deteriorating effect of oil on the physical properties.
Belt construction in which the edges of the carcass are exposed at the sides.

(i)

The deformation remaining after a specimen has been stressed a prescribed

amount for a definite period and released for a definite period.
(ii) In creep determinations, the residual unrecoverable deformation after the
load causing the creep has been removed for a substantial and definite
period.
The flat plate of a curing press.
A layer of woven or cord reinforcement forming part of a carcass.
The force required to separate two adjoining strength-reinforcing members in
an elastomeric product.
A deformation in a ply which distorts it from its normal plane.
Lack of adhesion between plies.
The length of a product which can be vulcanized at any one time in a moulding
press.
Irregularities in the surface of a vulcanized product caused by the press ends
or by corresponding irregularities in the press surface.
See cover.
Upright side of some types of belting to prevent lateral spillage.
The uncovered square edge of belting created by cutting after vulcanization.
See belting.
The textile or steel component of a conveyor.
The electrical resistance of a unit of surface to a steady current.
See belting.

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Term
Rough top
Selvedge
Skim
Skim coat
Skive
Slack side tension
Slide bed
Slip
Slope tension
Solid woven

Splice
Squ are woven
Staple
Static conducting
Steel cord
Steel-cord belting
Stepped-ply belting
Stitching
Stock-roll belting
Stretch

Strip method

Strippi ng

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Strippi ng-load curve

Surface resistivity
Swelling
Tear
Tear propagation
Tear resistance
Tensile fatigue
Tensile strength
Tension

AS 40351992

Definition
A cover intentionally made to have irregularities in its surface.
The longitudinal woven edge of a fabric.
A layer or coat of elastomeric compound placed between the plies of the
carcass of conveyor belting.
An angled cut.
Belt tension at the exit from a driving pulley or the input to a driven pulley.
A surface upon which a conveyor may slide.
The action of belting which takes place when the belt pull exceeds the friction
grip on the pulley.
Belt tension induced by a change in elevation.
The construction of conveyor belting fabric or carcass consisting of multiple
plies of fabric woven into one piece by binder threads, which is done on looms
designed for this purpose.
See belt splice.
A fabric woven with practically the same count or tensile strength in both the
warp and weft directions.
Textile fibres of relatively short length which when spun and twisted forms a
yarn.
Ability of materials to dissipate static electrical charges.
See cord.
See belting.
See belting.
A method of butting or joining two pieces of material together usually by
means of a stitch roller.
See roll belting.
The increase in length which takes place when tension is imposed.
Elastic stretch The temporary change in length which varies directly with the
pull.
Permanent stretch The residual increase in length caused by load cycling.
In fabric testing, a tensile strength test made on a strip of fabric ravelled down
to a specified number of threads or width of fabric, all of which are held firmly
in grips wider than the test piece.
Preparation of belting for repair or splicing by removing successive layers of
plies or covers or both to a predetermined pattern.
A curve drawn through the centre of oscillation of the trace of an autographic
record of a test for adhesion.
See resistivity.
Increase in volume usually caused by contact with a fluid.
To separate or pull apart by a shearing force.
An extension of a tear during in-service operation.
The property of the elastomeric article to resist tearing forces.
Loss of tensile properties during the working life of the belting, usually as a
result of flexing or tensioning (or both).
The maximum load applied uniformly over the cross-section of the test piece
in the course of stretching it to the point of rupture.
Effective tension In a belt drive, the difference between the two tensions in
a belt as it approaches and leaves a driving or driven pulley. In a two-pulley
drive, it is the difference between tight and slack side tensions.
Maximum tension
(i) The highest tension occurring in any portion of a belt drive. In a two
pulley drive it is the tight side tension.
(ii) In conveyors, the maximum tension may occur at a point other than at the
drive pulley.

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AS 40351992

Term

Top cover
Tracking
Transmission belting
Transverse breaker
Transverse cord breaker
Transverse ply joint
Troughability
(transverse flexibility)
Troughing angle
Ultimate elongation
Ultimate tensile strength
Volume swell
Vulcanization
Vulcanizer
Warp
Weft
Wire reinforcement

Definition
Tension ratio In a belt drive, the ratio of the larger to the smaller tension as
the belt approaches and leaves a driving or a driven pulley.
Slack side tension In a belt drive, where the two portions of the length of the
belt on either side of the driving or driven pulley have different tensions, the
slack side tension is the smaller of the two.
Slope tension The tension in a belt caused by lifting of mass, independent of
friction or other forces.
(i) Belt slope tension is the tension caused by lifting the mass of the belt,
independent of friction or other forces.
(ii) Load slope tension is the tension caused by lifting the load on the belt,
independent of friction or other forces.
Tight side tension In a belt drive, where the two portions of the length of the
belting on either side of a driving or driven pulley have different tensions, the
tight side tension is the larger.
See cover.
The tendency of a belt to run centrally.
See belting.
See breaker.
See breaker.
A seam joining two materials across the width of the finished product.
The ability of a conveyor belt to trough transversely under its own mass when
suspended at both edges in the absence of any frictional force on either side.
The angle between the axis of side rollers and the centre roller of a trough idler
set.
Elongation at the point of rupture.
See tensile strength.
See swelling.
A process in which rubber is converted from its plastic state to its elastic state,
usually by the action of heat and pressure.
Device, usually with heated platens, for vulcanizing (crosslinking, curing)
elastomeric materials.
Longitudinal fabric member.
Transverse fabric member.
A product containing metal wires to give additional strength, increased
dimensional stability or crush resistance.
The tension in a belt at any point while running.

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Working tension

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