KEVOS® MAKEOS · Mechanics
Gravity Chute Check (Sliding Acceleration, Exit Speed, Impact Energy, Least Angle)
Will parts slide down this gravity chute, how fast will they be going at the bottom, and is that slow enough not to damage them?
Check of a sliding gravity chute or slide: the forces along the slope from the part weight and friction (as the inclined plane tool), the acceleration and whether the part slides at all, the least chute angle to slide, the exit speed and time over the chute length from the entry speed (as the uniform acceleration tool), and the impact energy at the bottom, against the largest exit speed you accept.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Chute angle | ° | Slope of the chute from horizontal. |
| Sliding friction coefficient | Friction between the part and the chute surface (lined chutes and rollers are lower). | |
| Chute length | m | Length the part slides. |
| Entry speed | m/s | Speed of the part entering the chute. |
| Part mass | kg | Mass of the part (for the impact energy). |
| Largest exit speed | m/s | Fastest the part may arrive without damage or noise. |
Method and formulas
- Driving force = W (sin θ − μ cos θ) (as the inclined plane tool); acceleration = force ÷ m.
- Slides only when tan θ > μ; least angle = atan μ.
- Exit speed v = √(u² + 2 a L) and time t = (v − u) ÷ a (as the uniform acceleration tool); impact energy = ½ m v².
- Example: 2.3555 m/s² down the chute; 3.7594 m/s at the bottom after 1.596 s (141.33 J).
Limitations
- Sliding friction constant along the chute; damp, oily or worn surfaces change it.
- Part slides without rolling or tumbling; air drag ignored.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Set the angle of a parts chute
- Check parts are not damaged at the bottom of a slide
- Find why parts stick in a chute
Who it is for
- Automation engineers
- Materials handling engineers
- Machine designers
What you get
- Slope and friction forces
- Acceleration and least angle
- Exit speed, time and impact energy
Interpreting the result
- A few degrees above the friction angle gives a slow, reliable slide; much steeper and the parts arrive too fast.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 165–171, 175–181. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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