Stacker Reclaimer Belt Tensioning Cylinder
Stacker Reclaimer Belt Tensioning Cylinder
A loose belt slips. A tight belt wears. The tensioning cylinder finds the balance — maintaining constant, optimal tension on the conveyor belt as the boom pitches, the load varies, and the belt stretches over thousands of hours of operation. The smallest cylinder on the stacker reclaimer, but the one that keeps the whole conveyor system running.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Stacker Reclaimer Belt Tensioning Cylinder |
| Features | Belt tension and slack adjustment |
| Bore Diameter | 80 mm – 180 mm |
| Rod Diameter | 45 mm – 120 mm |
| Stroke | 500 mm – 1,500 mm |
| Working Pressure | Up to 35 MPa |
| Application | Stacker Reclaimer |
Why Constant Belt Tension Is Critical for Conveyor Performance

The conveyor belt on a stacker reclaimer runs continuously during operation, carrying hundreds or thousands of tonnes of bulk material per hour. Belt tension must be maintained within a narrow range: too loose, and the belt slips on the drive pulley (losing power transfer and causing belt wear); too tight, and the belt, bearings, and structure experience excessive stress (reducing service life and increasing energy consumption).
The belt tensioning cylinder pushes against a take-up pulley at constant hydraulic pressure, automatically compensating for belt stretch (new belts stretch 1–2% in the first 1,000 hours), thermal expansion/contraction, and load variations. As the boom pitches up or down, the belt path length changes — the tensioning cylinder absorbs this change by extending or retracting, maintaining constant tension throughout the pitching range.
Korea Ever-Power supplies the belt tensioning cylinder individually or as part of the complete stacker reclaimer set with the skeleton pitch (#27) and chaser pitch (#28) cylinders. Browse the offshore hydraulic cylinder range.
How Automatic Tension Control Works
The belt tensioning system uses a simple but effective constant-pressure hydraulic circuit:
- Constant-pressure supply — a pressure-reducing valve maintains a fixed pressure on the bore side of the cylinder. This produces a constant push force on the take-up pulley regardless of cylinder position. As the belt stretches, the cylinder extends; as the belt contracts (cooling), the cylinder retracts. The tension remains constant.
- Stroke range accommodates belt life — the 500–1,500 mm stroke provides enough travel to compensate for belt stretch over the full belt life (typically 3–7 years). When the cylinder reaches maximum extension, it indicates the belt has reached maximum stretch and may need replacement or splicing.
- ⚡ Passive operation — the cylinder does not require active control or electronic feedback. The constant-pressure hydraulic circuit provides automatic tension adjustment — the simplest and most reliable tensioning method for bulk material conveyors.
Key Advantages of the Belt Tensioning Cylinder
Correct tension ensures full power transfer from the drive pulley to the belt. A 5% tension shortfall can cause 15–20% slip — reducing throughput and generating heat that damages the belt cover.
Over-tensioning accelerates belt fatigue and bearing wear. The constant-pressure system prevents over-tensioning by limiting the maximum force to the set pressure — the belt never sees more tension than designed.
Automatic tensioning eliminates manual belt adjustment — a task that otherwise requires stopping the conveyor, accessing the take-up assembly, and manually adjusting screw take-ups every 2–4 weeks.
Belt Tensioning Cylinder OEM & ODM
Provide the stacker reclaimer model, belt width and grade, required belt tension, take-up travel, and system pressure. Korea Ever-Power delivers the tensioning cylinder with the matched pressure-reducing valve for plug-and-play installation. Contact the Korea Ever-Power hydraulic cylinder team.

Frequently Asked Questions
What Our Customers Say
"The automatic tensioning cylinders eliminated our biweekly manual belt adjustment on 2 stacker reclaimers. The maintenance crew now has 4 hours per month freed up. Belt tracking has improved too — consistent tension keeps the belt centred."
Eng. T. Sato — Conveyor Systems Manager, Japanese steel mill
"Complete stacker reclaimer set: 2 skeleton pitch + 2 chaser pitch + 4 belt tensioning cylinders. Korea Ever-Power delivered everything in one shipment with matching documentation. Every cylinder fit our ThyssenKrupp stacker reclaimer without modification."
H. Becker — Project Engineer, German bulk terminal
"Reliable tensioning cylinders. The constant-pressure circuit works well — belt tension stays within ±3% of the set point across the full pitching range. One observation: the pressure-reducing valve should be ordered at the same time as the cylinder to ensure matched pressure ratings."
A. Ivanov — Maintenance Engineer, Russian coal terminal
"Replacement tensioning cylinders for a 15-year-old stacker reclaimer. The new cylinders restored proper belt tension after years of declining performance from the worn originals. Belt slip reduced from 8% to under 1%."
M. da Costa — Stockyard Superintendent, Brazilian iron ore mine
"The dust sealing on the tensioning cylinders is holding up well in our coal stockyard. After 12 months, the rod surface is still smooth — no scoring from coal dust ingress. The heavy-duty wiper design is effective."
C. Thompson — Plant Engineer, South African power station
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