Downhill conveyors can become regenerative: gravity causes the loaded belt to drive the motor rather than the motor driving the belt. If power is lost, the conveyor may “run back” or accelerate uncontrollably, creating a serious safety hazard, material spillage, and potential belt or structure damage.
A standard stop brake may not be enough because the system’s energy is high and continuous. Many downhill conveyors require a dedicated holdback or fail-safe brake designed for runaway prevention and controlled stopping. Two-stage braking is often used to avoid shock loads and belt slip. In some systems, braking is shared between mechanical brakes and electrical methods (regenerative drives, dynamic braking resistors), but the mechanical brake is still essential as the final safety layer.
Selection should consider worst-case load, slope, belt tension, inertia, duty cycle, and thermal capacity. Maintenance is equally critical: incorrect clearance, contaminated linings, or a weak release mechanism can turn a safety system into a failure point. For critical conveyors, keep spare linings and key seals in stock.
