Drag Conveyors

How the Top Flight Drag Conveyor Works

The Endura-Veyor Top Flight Drag Conveyor positions a single row of chain-driven flights above the conveyor bed. The flights move in the same direction as the material flow, allowing material to enter from above without interference from a return chain or return-side flights.

During operation:

1. Material enters through the top or infeed area.
2. Chain-driven flights engage the material.
3. The flights move the material along the hardened-steel trough.
4. The trough helps contain the material during transport.
5. Material exits through a controlled discharge point.

This configuration is designed to handle top loading, surge loading, batch loading, and irregular material streams while reducing the loading-point interference found in conventional drag-chain arrangements.

Top Flight Models and Specifications

The Top Flight lineup includes three chain-pitch configurations for different material sizes and operating requirements.

The confirmed product family is available in widths from 6 to 52 inches, with custom widths available. Flight-material options include UHMW, abrasion-resistant steel, and stainless steel. Final model selection depends on the material, capacity, conveyor width, layout, and loading conditions.

What Materials Can a Drag Conveyor Handle?

The Top Flight Drag Conveyor is designed for difficult bulk materials that may damage, overload, or interfere with other conveyor types.

Confirmed materials include:

• Machine fines, chips, and turnings
• Shredded metal
• E-scrap
• Wood chips and pulp
• Aggregate
• Dry or wet sand
• Grain
• Biomass
• High-temperature materials
• Sharp or jagged material
• Gritty or abrasive material
• Wet or loose bulk material

Material characteristics should be reviewed carefully before selecting the chain pitch, trough construction, flight material, and conveyor configuration.

Common Applications

Recycling

Top Flight drag conveyors can move shredded plastics, cardboard, mixed recyclables, and other materials entering the conveyor through batch or surge loading.

Industrial Shredding

The enclosed trough and chain-driven flights support metal shreds, plastics, post-shredder fines, and irregularly shaped material.

E-Scrap

Applications include circuit boards, shredded wire, metal fragments, and other abrasive electronic-waste streams.

Manufacturing

Drag conveyors can move machine chips, turnings, fines, and wet or oily swarf away from production equipment.

Biomass, Wood, and Pulp

Common materials include wood chips, sawdust, biomass, and pulp waste.

Aggregate and Sand

The system can be configured for aggregate fines, grit, and dry or wet sand.

Agricultural Materials

Applicable materials include grain, seed, corn, mash, and animal feed.

Toll Grinding and Metering

The Top Flight design can support batch loading, surge handling, and controlled-feed applications.

Drag Conveyor vs. Belt Conveyor

Drag conveyors and belt conveyors move material differently and are suited to different operating conditions.

A drag conveyor is often considered when the material could tear, puncture, overload, or prematurely wear a conventional belt. Belt conveyors are generally better suited to cleaner and more uniform material traveling over longer distances.

Top Flight vs. Standard Drag-Chain Design

Traditional drag conveyors may have return-side components that interfere with material entering from above. The Top Flight design places the conveying flights above the bed and moves them in the same direction as the material.

This configuration is designed to provide:

• Unrestricted top loading
• Improved surge-load handling
• Better batch-loading flexibility
• Reduced loading-point interference
• Controlled movement through an abrasion-resistant trough
• Flight options for different material and temperature requirements

The appropriate configuration still depends on the material stream, loading pattern, capacity, and facility layout.

Available Configuration Options

The confirmed Top Flight options include:

• Self-feeding hoppers
• Liquid-tight construction with a drain plug
• Discharge hoods or chutes
• Removable top covers
• Modular configurations
• Side skirts from 6 to 36 inches
• Straight or flared sides
• Standard hardened-steel chain
• Stainless-steel chain
• Mill-duty chain

Liquid-tight construction may be appropriate for wet, oily, or liquid-containing materials. Covers, hoppers, side skirts, and discharge components can be selected around the loading method and material-containment requirements.

How to Choose a Drag Conveyor

Start by identifying the material and how the conveyor will be loaded.

Important selection factors include:

• Material type
• Particle or scrap size
• Abrasiveness
• Moisture or oil content
• Operating temperature
• Required conveyor width
• Conveyor length
• Horizontal or inclined layout
• Estimated capacity
• Infeed and discharge heights
• Surge or batch-loading conditions
• Preferred trough and flight materials
• Available installation space

These details help determine the correct model, chain pitch, width, flight material, and optional equipment.

Information Needed for a Quote

Before requesting a quote, gather:

• A description of the material
• Whether the material is wet, oily, abrasive, sharp, or hot
• Estimated material volume or load
• Required conveyor width and length
• Horizontal or inclined orientation
• Infeed height
• Discharge height
• Surge or batch-loading requirements
• Available footprint
• Desired hoppers, covers, skirts, or discharge components

Barron Equipment can use this information to evaluate the appropriate Top Flight configuration for the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a drag conveyor?

A drag conveyor is a chain-driven system that moves loose or bulk material through a steel trough. Flights attached to the chain move the material toward a controlled discharge point.

What is the Top Flight drag-conveyor design?

The Endura-Veyor Top Flight Drag Conveyor positions chain-driven flights above the conveyor bed, moving in the same direction as the material. This arrangement is designed to support top, surge, and batch loading without interference from return-side flights at the loading point.

What materials can a drag conveyor handle?

The confirmed materials include machine chips and turnings, shredded metal, e-scrap, wood and pulp, aggregate, wet or dry sand, grain, biomass, and other sharp, gritty, wet, hot, or irregular bulk materials.

What is the difference between a drag conveyor and a belt conveyor?

A drag conveyor uses chain-driven flights to move material through a trough. A belt conveyor carries material on a continuous moving belt. Drag conveyors are generally evaluated for abrasive, sharp, wet, hot, or loose materials, while belt conveyors are commonly used for cleaner and more uniform materials.

What information is needed for a drag-conveyor quote?

Provide the material type and characteristics, conveyor width and length, estimated capacity, horizontal or inclined orientation, loading pattern, infeed and discharge heights, and available installation space.

Drag Conveyor Selection

Barron Equipment helps recycling operations, manufacturers, shredding facilities, agricultural operations, and bulk-material processors evaluate drag-conveyor systems based on material characteristics, loading requirements, capacity, and facility layout.

Barron Equipment serves all of Iowa and Illinois, plus parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Request a quote online to discuss the right Top Flight Drag Conveyor configuration for your application.