A large energy company in Australia required reliable, replaceable low-speed backstops (LSB) for use on six inclined conveyors transporting coal from the mine to an adjacent power station. The existing LSB units were removed every two years for inspection and often required replacement due to premature failure. With approximately 20 LSB units on site, the costs and downtime associated with frequent replacements (including labor, the need for large cranes, and new support frames) began to increase significantly.

After consulting multiple clutch OEM manufacturers, the customer finally decided to partner with the German company Stieber. One of the main requirements was that the new backstops had to be installed in the same housing as the existing competitor products and use the same mounting and anchoring points.

The German Stieber engineering team worked closely with the customer to develop a cost-saving, ready-to-use backup backstop solution that could utilize most components of the existing torque arm assembly. The brand-new, highly reliable backstops will require initial inspection after a full five years of service... a major cost advantage compared to the two-year inspection schedule required for competitor equipment. The unique Stieber backstops are carefully designed for at least four easy and cost-effective overhauls, with an estimated service life of 20-25 years.

Following discussions with the customer service team, German Stieber also added some access points to the on-site condition monitoring system and changed the vent thread so that existing air filters could be installed without adapters.

Introduction to German Stieber Backstops

Stieber backstops types FSO, FSO-GR, and HPI sizes 300 to 700 are self-contained, sealed, and bearing-supported wedge-type freewheels with two bearings. They are lubricated with oil or grease at the factory depending on the type. It is a Formsprag USA design with "full block patches," providing high torque for a given diameter. Prevents tilting from debris and prevents any overload. Types FSO and HPI are oil-lubricated and use standard shaft lip seals. Type FSO-GR is grease-lubricated and can be equipped with non-contact labyrinth seals. Type HPI is specifically designed for high-speed indexing applications.

Stieber backstops types FS, FSO, and HPI sizes 750 to 1027 are self-contained, sealed, and bearing-supported wedge-type freewheels with two bearings. They are lubricated with oil or grease at the factory depending on the type. This is a Formsprag USA design that uses high-low blocks with multi-radius active surfaces. Designed for large freewheels to compensate for any eccentricity caused by bearing wear. Types FS and HPI are oil-lubricated and use standard shaft lip seals. Type FSO is grease-lubricated and equipped with special grease seals. Type HPI is specifically designed for high-speed indexing applications. Each different model shows a range of standard metric diameters. We can provide any bore diameter between the minimum and maximum specified in the table, including imperial sizes.

StieberBackstopRSCI type check clutches provide reverse rotation protection for mine cooling tower fans. Stieber high-speed and low-speed load-sharing backstops are used for inclined coal conveyors. Both types feature a controlled release function, allowing the conveyor belt to rotate backward gradually for maintenance and cleaning work.

Introduction to the German company Stieber

The German company Stieber was founded in Munich in 1937 and is now a medium-sized enterprise with 140 employees in Heidelberg and Garching near Munich.

Stieber's core business is the design and production of drive elements for mechanical engineering systems. Our main strength lies in the development and production of overrunning clutches and backstops that transmit torque through friction.

Stieber can reflect on numerous innovative developments throughout its company history, which have made it a leader in the European market. For example, during the development and design of the world's largest backstops, Stieber once again demonstrated its technical capabilities. These backstops and others have been successfully used even under the harshest conditions.

Stieber has been certified to DIN EN ISO 9001 since 1997 and to ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) since 2000. In addition, internal monitoring processes ensure that quality, timeliness, and costs are always kept atexcellentlevels.