low friction, high durability & strength, low cost surfaces

[snowrider81]

Hello all!
My name is Ryan.I'm new to this forum. I work designing and building cable harnesses for large trucking companies for fleet management.
The reason I'm here is I'm working on my own project to build a live bottom system for utility trailers, much like the ones you see your local landscapers using. I'm trying to come up with a lower cost alternative to the large dump trailers you see. I owned a business when I was younger hauling materials and always wanted to create a non tilting trailer that dumped.
Here is my initial idea. I need a hard surface that can screw into the trailers wood floor. This surface will provide the low friction surface for the pliable material that will sit atop it. Think of it as a conveyor belt. This piece will be pulled around the rear of the trailer, and underneath between the axle and subfloor. I will have rollers and the 180 degree bend in the rear, with a electric winch on the tongue of the trailer, atleast that is where I'm at right now.
My question for you folks would be: What is a strong, damage resistant, low friction material I can screw to the subflooring? And what is a strong, tear resistant, pliable material I can use for the "belt"? I would like the materials to be able to survive a horizontal pull with weight sometimes exceeding 7000lbs with it being able to withstand heavy, sometimes point (picture broken concrete) hitting it from a couple meters. Keep in mind I need to keep the cost reasonable.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[KENAT]

Off the cuff response without thinking about it too much, look into UHMWPE for the low friction material - it's not the lowest friction available but has better wear resistance & toughness than some alternatives.

Trouble is, I suspect stuff is going to want to get in between this surface and the belt but maybe you've resolved that already.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[snowrider81]

Thanks I will check it out! Yes I thought about that. I do not plan on making a track for the sides. You can simply lift the material and sweep when finished. It will cover the entire surface of the trailer floor. Think of the load handler, but on a larger scale with an electric motor.

 

[Compositepro]

High density polyethylene would be cheaper than UHMW PE. Even then The sheet and the conveyor belt will not be cheap, And point loads from rocks or anything else can quickly destroy every thing. Are you aware of walking beam floors?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBxHzNEK8oQ

 

[snowrider81]

Ya I am worried about the point loads. I have not seen the walking beam floors, but I have seen live-bottom trailers which is a conveyor belt in a v-shaped trailer. I'm trying to make something reasonably priced for a small landscaping operations as well as something that can be retrofitted. If I can't do it significantly cheaper than a standard hydraulic dump trailer than it really has no market.

 

[btrueblood]

Continuous belts and continuous chain conveyors too (see some of the other links on the same page that CPro posted). Sealing the ends of the belts is going to be an issue, as is along the sides - especially with the concern and litigation issues with uncovered loads and damage/injury to other motorists.

 

[Compositepro]

There seem to be lots of products available. Low end starts here:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...9&ci_sku=352&gclid=CN_I55iFxsACFSgV7AodOBIAxQ

 

[geesamand]

Pretty much any PE products - from high molecular weight to low weight would be worth a try.

David

 

[MintJulep]

Melamine high pressure laminate.

AKA "Formica".