UDC 621 '867'2'051 '44 IS: 8598 -1987

Indian Standard (Reaffirmed 1998)

SPECIFICATION FOR
IDLERS AND IDLER SETS FOR
BELT CONVEYORS
{First Revision)

~ 1. Scope - Covers the requirements for . carrying and return idlers and idler sets up to and i11cluding
~ · three idlers for belt conveyors. '
~

<D 1.1 It does not cover idlers and idler sets for portable and mobile belt conveyors. Garland, caten.ary and
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impact. and transition idlers are also not covered by this standard.
g 2. Terminology - Shall be according to IS : 4240-1984 'Glossary of conveyor terms and definitions
a ( first revision ) '. •
~ 2.1 Troughing Angle ( .i\.) - Angle of the axis of side idlers from the horizontal.

~ 2.2 Idler Vertical Clearance (m) - The vertical gap between the periphery of idler and the top of the
~
<!)
idler transom or any other structural part, nearest to the idler.
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3. Dimensions
.~-. . 3.1 Idler Diameters ( d1 ) - The diameters, d 1 in millimetres, of carrying and return idlers shall be
.E selected from the following:
E
0
(,)
.c
::J
(/)

"'0
>-
Q)
>
u
c:
0

..
______________ ij>d,
......... ___ t
....

- <!)
(.)
Carrying and Return Idlers Carryrng
Cl Idlers Only
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.{ 53·5 I15·1 \ aa·9i 101·511oa j 114·31121 1133 \ 139·1 i 152·41159, 15a·3 ! 193·~ 219·1
E
8 3.2 Idler Lengths - Idlers shall have ltmgths as specified in Table1.
~
0
3.3 Idler Sets - Mounting dimensions for idler sets shall be as specified in Table 2.
·;::;
(,)
Q)
3.3.1 Length of carrying idlers - The length of carrying idlers suitable for troughed belt on three
(/)
equal idlers shall be selected from those given in Table 1.
"'
B 3.3.2 Slots for bolts - Slots (SL ) for bolts of diameter D shall be of width D + 2 mm, Min "and
~ 25 mm. Min, long in the longitudinal direction along the length of conveyor (see Fig. in Table 2 ).
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~ 3.3.3 Clearance height.( m} - The clearance beneath centre idler for carrying idler sets shall be as
t; given below:
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CJ All dimensions in millimetres.
"t,;
c:
<O

!'l Carrying 63'5 75·1 88'9 101'6 108 114·3 127 133 139'7 152'4 159 168'3 193'7 219'1
"'0 Idler
I
Diameter
d,•
----- -- - - -- - - - - - - -- ----- -" . -- ---- -- ··-·- -· .. I
-1-;;
Minimum 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 40 40 40 40 40 60
vi Clc:arancc I

mt
0
>
tl:>
> -------
I I 4-
g *See 3.1.
u tS.!a 3.3.

Adopted 18 December 1987 © September 1988, BIS Gr 4

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN. 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
IS : 8598 - 1987

TABLE 1 IDLER LENGTHS

( Clauses 3.2, 3.3.1, and Fig. under 3.1 )

Carrying and Return Idlers Carrying

Idlers
Only

Idler
dia,
di
3·55 76"1 88"9 101 "6 108 114·3 127 133

- - - - - - - - - --- - - -- - - - - - - - - - - -
139"7 152"4 159
l 168"3 193"7

-- c
'
219·1

LENGTH,/
100 x x x x x
150 x x x x
x
x .
160 x x x x
-- -- --- -- --- -- -- - - - ------ - - - - -
190 x x x x x x x x x
200 x x x x x x x x x
235 x x x x x x x x x
250 x x x x x x x x x
290 x x x x x x x x x
-- -- --- -- --- - - - --- -- --- --
315 x x x x x x x x x x x x
350 x x x x x x x x x x x x
380 x x x x x x x x x x x x
400 x x x x x x x x x x x x
415 x x x x x x x x x x x x
465 x x x x x x x x x x x x
500 x x x x x x x x x x x x
530 x x x x x x x x x x x x
550 x x x x x x x x x x x x
600 x x x x x x x x x x x x
625 x x x x x x x x x x x x
670 x x x x x x x x x x x x
700 x x x x x x x x x x x x
710 x x x x x x x x x x x x

750 x x
-- --- -- --- --
x x x x x
--
x x x
--
x
- x
--
x
800 x x x x x x x x x x x x x .c

x x x '
850 x x x x x x x x x x
900 x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x
.
950 x x x x x x x x x x x x

-- --- - - - - - -- - - --- - - - -----

. --
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
1 000 x x
1 050 x x x x )( x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x >~ x x
1100 x x x ;<
1120 x x x x x x x x x x X- x
x x x x x x x x x x x
1150 x x x x
1 200 x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x x
1 250 x x x x x
x x
x x x x x x x x x
1 400 x x x .
-- - - - -- - - - -- -- --- ·x- -x- x
1 500 x x x x x x x x :<
1 600 x x x x x x x x x x x ~<

x x x ,, x
____ ,____
1 700 x
·--
x
--- --
x x
---
x
- - - - --- ---
x
--
~<

--- - - -
1 800 x x x x x x x x x
2 000 x x x x x x x x x
2 200 x x x x x x x x x

.c
'

2
 IS: 8598 - 1987

TABLE 2 MOUNTING DIMENSIONS FOR IDLERS

(Clauses 3.3 and 3.3.2)

All dimensions in millimetres.

1--0f>
m

' t

SLOTS SL
BELT WIDTH 8 FOR BOLT cl>O

L1

Belt Width
B
/1.
'· ei e1
.
D

Shape M Shape N
.
400 690 755 200 65 100 M12
500 790 855 200 65 100 M12
650 940 1 000 200 65 100 M12
800 1 090 1150 200 65 100 M12
1 000
1 200
1 290
1 490
1 350
1 560
200
200
65
65
100
100
M12
M16
.
1 400 1 690 1 750 200 65 100 M16
1 600 1 900 1 950 200 65 100 M16
1 800 2100 2150 200 65 100 M20
2000 2300 2 350 200 65 100 M20

Note - Other dimensions may be used if mutually agreed to by the purchaser and the manufacturer. Form,
see 3.3.3.

3
 IS : 8598 - 1987
3.3.4 Edge clearance - shall be as given in Table 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.,.~~~-

TABLE 3 EDGE CLEARANCE

All dimensions in millimetres.

s,
1~JI22 '_'I II z z_z z z I I~ 21 b

Belt Width Edge Clearance

.c
'
8 S1 s, s.
400 50 40 35
500 50 40 40
650 I- 50 55 50
800 75 65 70
1 000 75 75 70
1 200 100 100 100
1 400 100 100 100
1 600 100 100 100
1 800 100 100 100
2000 100 100 100

3.4 Spindle Ends

3.4. 1 Type A spindle end without added end cap

All dimensions in millimetres.

·---------
d1 . da I bi m n*

20 20 14 4 9
25 25 18 4 12
30 30 22 4 12
40 40 32 4 12

*For return idlers, n+10 is permissible.

4
 IS : 8598t - 1987
3.4.2 Type B spindle end without added end cap

~ I

p n m

A-A

All dimensions in millimetres.

d, d, bi m n p

20 20 14 4 9 5
25 25 18 4 9 •5
22 4
30
40
30
40 . 32 4
9
9
5
5

3.4.3 Type C spindle end with added end cap

n m

All dimensions in millimetres.

-----

dz d, b, m n

35 20 28 4 10
40 25 32 4 12
45 30 38 4 12

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 IS: 8598 - 1987
3.4.4 Type D spindle end with added end cap

p n m

A-A
All dimensions in millimetres.

di ds b, m n p
I I
35 20 28 4 9 5
'~
40 25 32 4 9 5
45 30 38 4 9 5

3.4.5 Idlers with one shot lubrication may have special shaft ends suitable for the p_urpose.
3.4.6 Impact idlers and troughing_ training idlers shall have spindle ends similar to those of
troughing idlers and shall conform to 3.4.1 to 3.4.4. The return training idlers shall have ends similar
to return idlers.
4. Requirements
4.1 Troughing Angle (A) - The value of the troughing angle A shall be selected from those given
below for all standard widths of belts:

15° 20° 25° 30° 35° 40° 50°

Note 1 -The user sh al I satisfy himself that the belt shall trough adequately on idler set.
Note 2 - The troughing angle of 1 5° shall be used for idler sets of N shape ( see 5.1 ) •
4.2 Troughing Angle of Return Idlers - The value of troughing angle of rollers of return idlers shall be
selected out of 0°, 10° and 15° for all standard widths of belts.
Note - Vee-return idlers with 1o• or 15° troughing angle may be chosen only in special application in consultation
with the system designer/supplier.
4.3 Angle of Tilt ( ip) of Side Idlers - Shall be chosen as a function of the troughing angle { ,\) and
the belt speed, and shall be as small as practicable and in any case shall not be more than 3°
(see Fig. 1 }.
Note 1 - The angle of tilt { ifi) of side idlers shall be in the direction of the belt run for the unidirectional cO",nveyors
and it shall be zero degree for reversible conveyors. '
. No~e ~ - It is not obligatory to provide angle of tilt unless specifically desired by the purchaser. Angle of ti!~ on
the srde idlers may be eliminated by using training idlers or side rollers.

BELT 'RUN
~...:;..;.--

--~,...._..!:.A~N GLE
OF TILT

FIG. 1 TROUGHING ANGLE AND ANGLE OF TILT FOR SIDE IDLERS

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 IS: 8598 - 1987
4.4 Arrangement of in-line and Staggered Carrying Idler Sets
0

4.4.1 Troughed carrying idler sets built up from three idlers may be arranged with the idlers in-line or
staggered as shown in the plan view in Fig. 2.

DIRECTION OF BELT RUN

~
THIS DIMENSION SHALL NOT
EXCEED THE IDLER DIAMETER

E-3F-11a CL
I

I
CL
BELT BELT

IN·LINE STAGGERED
FIG. 2!{PLAN VIEWS OF IN-LINE AND STAGGERED CARRYING IDLER SETS

14.4.1.1 When staggered, the displacement of the axis of the centre idler from the adjacent~ axis of
the side idlers shall not exceed the diameter of the idlers.
4.4.2 Staggered carrying 3-idler sets shall be arranged with adjacent ends of side idlers and centre
idlers overlapping by a minimum of 10 mm when measured as indicated in Fig. 3.
INTERSECTION OF BELT INTERSECTION OF BELT
CONTACT SURFACES CONTACT SURFACES

10mm MAXIMUM GAP

IN-LINE IDLERS STAGGERED IDLERS

FIG. 3 ARRANGEMENT OF IDLER SETS VIEWED IN VERTICAL PLANE

4.4.3 The gap between the adjacent ends of the centre and side idlers of an in-line 3-idler set shall
not be greater than 10 mm when measured as indicated in Fig. 3.
Note - In order to comply with this condition, It may be necessary, in certain cases, to adopt minor modifications
in design, such as rounding or chamfering of spindle ends or to reduce dimension n. In any case, the value 'of n shall
not be less than 4 mm.
4.4.3.1 Whenever it is not feasible to achieve this gap of 10 mm due to end details of t~lers, in
case of idler diameter of up to and including 108 mm, the maximum permissible gap between rolls may
be· increased to 23 mm. •
4.5 Run-out - The idler outside diameter. measured by a dial test indicator at any point along its
length when rotated on its own bearings, shall not exceed the total indicator reading· (Tl R) of 1 ·5 mm
for idler lengths below 1 350 mm and-2 mm for idler lengths of 1 350 mm and above.
4.6 Idler Bearings - Unless the purchaser specifies a longer minimum rated life, the minimum design
rLJted life for the idler bearings shall be 26 000 hours for bearings lubricated for life <JS well as
i;itermitently lubricated bearings.
4.7 Steel tubes used in the manufacture of idlers and idler sets shall conform to IS : 9295-1983
'Specification for steel tubes for idlers for troughed belt conveyors (first revision)'. ·
4.8 Tests. process of construction. specific materials and other requirements in view of the application,
environmental and meteorological conditions of use of the idlersiidler set shall be as agreed to between
the manufacturer and the purchaser.

7
IS: 8598 - 1987
5, Designation
5.1 Shape of Idler Set - Idler se~~ in terms of shape shall be designated as M, N and P indicated in
Fig. 4. ···

t---t-
SHAPE M SHAPE N

-f---!-
SHAPE P

FIG. 4 SHAPE OF IDLER SET

6.2 Designation of Idler - An idler of diameter di of 133 mm, of length 1 000 mm, with spiqdle end
of. Type A with d 3 of 25 mm shall be designated as:
Idler 133 x 1 000 A x 25 IS: 8598

5.3 Designation of Idler Set - An idler set of shape N. diameter d 1 of 133 mm. length 1 000 mm with
spindle end of Type A with da of 20 tnm shall be designated as:
Idler set N 133 x 1 000 Ax 20 IS: 8598

6. Marking - The idlers shall be marked with diameter. length, manufacturer's name. initials and/or
his recognized trade-mark.
. .
6.1 Standard Marking - Details available with the Bureau of Indian Standards.

EXPLANATORY N 0 TE

This standard was first published in 1977. This revision has been undertaken to incorporate a
n~mber of changes based on the experience gained in the use of idlers and idler sets.

In the preparation of this standard. assistance has been derived from the following:

ISO 1537-1975 'Continuous mQchanical handling equipment for loose bulk materials - Troughed
belt conveyors (other than partable conveyors) - idlers', issued by the
International Organization for Standardization {ISO).
BS 2890-1973 'Specification for troughed belt conveyors', issued by the British Standards
Institution ( BSI ).
DIN 15207 and DIN 22107, issued by the Deutsches lnstitut filr Normung (DIN).

8
Printed at Printrade, New Delhi, India