►presentation on the

design of chain
conveyors

 course title: Material handling

course code: Meng(5252)

►grour-3b id-no
 tesfaye tuji………………………ce/ur 0725/02
 teshome meku …………….. ce/ur 0728/02
 tamirat barega……………..ce/ur 0699/02
 Solomon g/Selassie……….ce/ur 0693/02
 introduction
 The chains are mostly used to
transmit motion and power
from one shaft to another,
when the center distance
between their shafts is short
such as in bicycles, motor
cycles, agricultural machinery,
conveyors, rolling mills, road
rollers etc.
 The chains may also be used
for long center distance of up
to 8 meters. The chains are
used for velocities up to 25 m/s
and for power up to 110 kW. In
some cases, higher power
transmission Is also possible.
  Advantages of chain
1) As no slip takes place , hence
perfect velocity ratio is obtained.
2) occupy less space in width.
3) used for both long & short
distances.
4) gives a high transmission
efficiency (up to 98%).
5) It gives less load on the shafts.
6) the ability to transmit motion
to several shafts by one chain
only.
7) transmits more power than
belts.
8) It permits high speed ratio of 8
to 10 in one step.
9) It can be operated under
adverse atmospheric conditions.
 Disadvantages of chain
1) The production cost of chains
is relatively high.
2) The chain drive needs
accurate mounting and careful
maintenance, particularly
lubrication and slack adjustment.
3) The chain drive has velocity
fluctuations especially when
unduly stretched.
4) Noise produced between the
sprocket and the chain.
 Classification of Chains
The chains, on the basis of their
use, are classified into the
following three groups:
1) Hoisting and hauling chains
These chains are used for
hoisting and hauling purposes
and operate at a maximum
velocity of 0.25 m/s. The hoisting
and hauling chains are of the
following two types:
1.1) Chain with oval links
• The links are oval in shape &
welded.
• used only at low speeds such as
in chain hoists.
 1.2) Chain with square links
The links of this type of chain are
of square shape. Such type of
chains are used in hoists, cranes.
The manufacturing cost of this
type of chain is less than that of
chain with oval links, but in these
chains, the kinking occurs easily
on overloading.
 2) Conveyor Chains
• These chains are used for
elevating and conveying of
materials.
• The conveyor chains run at slow
speeds of about 0.8 to 3 m/s.
usually made of malleable cast
iron. The conveyor chains are of
the following two types:
2.1) Detachable type chain
2.2) Closed joint type chain
 3) Power Transmitting Chains
These chains are used for
transmission of power, when the
distance between the centers of
shafts is short. These chains have
provision for efficient lubrication.
The power transmitting chains are
of the following three types.
3.1) Block or bush chain
• used in the early stages of
development in the power
transmission.
• It produces noise when
approaching or leaving the teeth
of the sprocket. Such type of
chains are used to some extent as
conveyor chain at small speed.
3.2) Bush roller chain
• A bush roller chain is extremely
strong and simple in construction.
• It gives good service under
severe conditions.
•This chain may be used where
there is a little lubrication. There
is a little noise with this chain
which is due to impact of the
rollers on the sprocket teeth.
 3.3) Silent chain
• also known as inverted tooth
chain, Rear wheel chain drive of
a motorcycle .
• It is designed to eliminate the
evil effects caused by stretching
and to produce noiseless
running.
• There is no relative sliding
between the chain and the
sprocket wheel teeth.
• When properly lubricated, this
chain gives durable service and
runs very smoothly and quietly.
  Design Procedure of Chain
Drive
1) determine the velocity ratio of
the chain drive.
2) Select the minimum number of
teeth on the smaller sprocket from
Table using the velocity ratio.
3) Find the number of teeth on
the larger sprocket.
4) Determine the design power by
using the service factor.
Design = Rated × Service
power power factor
5) Choose the type of chain,
number of strands for the design
power and r.p.m of the smaller
sprocket from Table.
6) Note down the parameters of
the chain, such as pitch, roller
diameter, minimum width of roller
etc. from Table.
7) Find pitch circle diameters and
pitch line velocity of the smaller
sprocket.
8. Determine the load (W) on the
chain by using the following
relation.
W = Rated power
Pitch line velocity
9. Calculate the factor of safety by
dividing the breaking load (WB) to
the load on the chain( W ). This
value of factor of safety should be
greater than the value given in
Table.
 factor of safety for chain drives
is defined as the ratio of the
breaking strength (WB) of the
chain to the total load on the
driving side of the chain (W).

F.S = breaking strength

10) Fix the center distance

 Where:
 D=pitch circle diameter of the sprocket.
 P= pitch of the chain in meter.
 X= center distance b/n the sprocket.
 The length of the chain (L) must be equal to
the product of the number of chain links (K)
and the pitch of the chain (p).
L=k.p
 The number of links can be calculated as:

 The center distance is given by the formula:

 tangential driving force acting on the chain:

The power transmitted by the chain

• WHERE:
• wB = breaking load in newton's.
• v= velocity of chain in m/s.
• n= factor of safety, and
• ks = service factor
• k1=load factor
• k2=lubrication factor
• k3=rating factor
 The power transmitted by the chain
on the basis of bearing stress:
• where:
• σb = Allowable bearing stress in Pascal.
• A = Projected bearing area in mm²,
• v = Velocity of chain in m/s, and
• KS = Service factor.
Pictures on chain conveyors
Cont…
21.12 Factor of Safety for Chain Drives
The Mathematically,
The breaking strength of the chain may be obtained by the
following empirical relations, i.e.
WB = 106 p2 (in newtons) for roller chains
= 106 p (in newtons) per mm width of chain for silent
[Link] p is the pitch in mm. The total load (or total
tension) on the driving side of the chain is the sum of the
tangential driving force (FT), centrifugal tension in the chain
(FC) and the tension in the chain due to sagging(FS). We
know that the tangential driving force acting on the chain,
FT =Power transmitted (in watts)/Speed of chain inm/ s
FT=P/V
Cont…
FC = m.v² (in newtons)
and tension in the chain due to sagging,
FS = [Link].x (in newtons)
where m = Mass of the chain in kg per metre
length,
x = Centre distance in metres, and
k = Constant which takes into account the
arrangement of chain drive
= 2 to 6, when the centre line of the chain is
inclined to the horizontal
at an angle less than 40º
= 1 to 1.5, when the centre line of the chain is
inclined to the horizontal
at an angle greater than 40º.
The following table shows the factor of safety
for the bush roller and silent chains
depending
upon the speed of the sprocket pinion in