The Complete Guide to Chain

Table of Contents

• Contributors
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Bibliography
• Afterword

Basics Section

• 1.   Chain Basics
  • 1.1   What is a Chain?
    • 1.1.1   Basic Structure of Power Transmission Chain
    • 1.1.2   Basic Structure of Small Pitch Conveyor Chain
    • 1.1.3   Basic Structure of Large Pitch Conveyor Chain-Engineering Class
    • 1.1.4   Functions of Chains Parts
  • 1.2   Advantages and Disadvantages of Chain for Power Transmission and Conveyors
    • 1.2.1   Power Transmission Uses
    • 1.2.2   Conveyance Uses
  • 1.3   Sprockets
• 2.   Chain Dynamics
  • 2.1   Chains under Tension
    • 2.1.1   Elastic Stretch, Plastic Deformation, and Breakage
    • 2.1.2   Engagement with Sprockets
  • 2.2   Chain Drive in Action
    • 2.2.1   Chordal Action
    • 2.2.2   Repeated Load Tension, Fatigue Failure
    • 2.2.3   Transmission Capability of Drive Chains
      • 2.2.3.1   Difference Between Linear Tension and Wrapping
      • 2.2.3.2   Effect of Normal Chain Wear on Fatigue Strength
      • 2.2.3.3   Strength Differences Between Chain and the Connecting Links and Offset Links
    • 2.2.4   Wear of Working Parts
    • 2.2.5   Noise and Vibration
  • 2.3   Characteristic Phenomena in Conveyor Chain
    • 2.3.1   Coefficient of Friction
    • 2.3.2   Dynamic Tension of Starting and Stopping
    • 2.3.3   Wear Between Rollers and Bushings
    • 2.3.4   Strength of Attachments
    • 2.3.5   Stick Slip
    • 2.3.6   Relative Differences in Chain's Total Length
    • 2.3.7   Take-Up
• 3.   Public Standards of Chains
• 4.   How to Select Chains
  • 4.1   Transmission Chain Selection
    • 4.1.1   Chain Selection Factors
    • 4.1.2   Coefficient Used in Selection
    • 4.1.3   Drive Chain Selection (General Selection)
    • 4.1.4   Power Transmission Chain Selection for Slow Speeds
    • 4.1.5   Hanging Transmission Chain Selection
  • 4.2   Conveyor Chain Selection
    • 4.2.1   Check of Conditions for Selection
    • 4.2.2   Conveyor Type Selection (General Selection)
    • 4.2.3   Selection of Chain Type and Specification
    • 4.2.4   Points of Notice About Roller Type
    • 4.2.5   Chain Pitch Decision
    • 4.2.6   Deciding the Number of Sprocket Teeth
    • 4.2.7   Deciding the Attachment Type
    • 4.2.8   Calculation of Tension
      • 4.2.8.1   Horizontal Conveyor
      • 4.2.8.2   Free Flow Conveyor
    • 4.2.9   Allowable Load of Roller and Standard A Attachment
  • 4.3   Selection Example
• 5.   Chains and Environments
  • 5.1   Steel Chains
    • 5.1.1   Use of Steel Chains in High Temperatures
    • 5.1.2   Use of Steel Chains in Low Temperatures
  • 5.2   Engineered Plastic Chain in High and Low Temperatures
  • 5.3   Other Chain Materials in High Temperatures
  • 5.4   Coping with Special Conditions
    • 5.4.1   Use in Wet Conditions
    • 5.4.2   Use in Acidic, Alkaline, or Electrolytic Conditions
    • 5.4.3   Use in Abrasive Conditions
• 6.   Basic Layouts
  • 6.1   Basic Layouts of Wrapping Transmission Chains
    • 6.1.1   General Arrangements
    • 6.1.2   Special Layouts
    • 6.1.3   Special Arrangements
  • 6.2   Basic Conveyor Chain Layouts
    • 6.2.1   Horizontal Conveyor Arrangements
    • 6.2.2   Vertical Conveyor Arrangements
    • 6.2.3   Inclined Conveyor Arrangements
    • 6.2.4   Horizontal Circulating Conveyor Arrangements
  • 6.3   Supporting the Roller of a Conveyor Chain
• 7.   Manipulation of Chains
  • 7.1   Transmission Chains, Small Pitch Conveyor Chains
    • 7.1.1   Installation
    • 7.1.2   Installation Accuracy
      • 7.1.2.1   Chain Slack
      • 7.1.2.2   Horizontal Precision and Parallelism of the Shafts
    • 7.1.3   Start-Up
      • 7.1.3.1   Pre-Start-Up Checklist
      • 7.1.3.2   Start-Up Test
    • 7.1.4   Lubrication
    • 7.1.5   Inspection
    • 7.1.6   Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving
  • 7.2   Large Pitch Conveyor Chains
    • 7.2.1   Installation
    • 7.2.2   Installation Accuracy
      • 7.2.2.1   Chain Tension
      • 7.2.2.2   Horizontal Precision and Parallelism of the Shafts
      • 7.2.2.3   Accuracy of the Rails
    • 7.2.3   Start-Up
    • 7.2.4   Lubrication
    • 7.2.5   Inspection
    • 7.2.6   Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving

Applications Section

• 1.   Transmission Chains
  • 1.1   Standard Roller Chains
    • 1.1.1   ANSI Roller Chains (RS)
    • 1.1.2   BS/DIN Roller Chain
  • 1.2   High Performance Chains
    • 1.2.1   Super Roller Chain
    • 1.2.2   Super-H Roller Chain
    • 1.2.3   RS-HT Roller Chain
    • 1.2.4   Ultra Super Chain
  • 1.3   Lube-Free Chains
    • 1.3.1   Lambda Roller Chain
    • 1.3.2   Sealed Roller Chain
  • 1.4   Environmentally Resistant Chains
    • 1.4.1   Nickel-Plated Roller Chain (NP)
    • 1.4.2   WP Roller Chain
    • 1.4.3   Stainless Steel Roller Chain (SS)
    • 1.4.4   Poly-Steel Chain (PC)
  • 1.5   Specialty Chains, Type 1
    • 1.5.1   Bicycle Chain
    • 1.5.2   Motorcycle Chain
    • 1.5.3   Chains for Automotive Engines
  • 1.6   Specialty Chains, Type 2
    • 1.6.1   Miniature Chain
    • 1.6.2   Leaf Chains
    • 1.6.3   Inverted Tooth Chain (Silent Chain)
• 2.   Small Pitch Conveyor Chains
  • 2.1   Small Pitch Conveyor Chains for General Use
    • 2.1.1   RS Attachment Chain
    • 2.1.2   Double Pitch Roller Chain
    • 2.1.3   Plastic Roller Plus Plastic Sleeve Chain
    • 2.1.4   Hollow Pin Chain
  • 2.2   Specialty Chains
    • 2.2.1   Step (Escalator) Chain
    • 2.2.2   ATC Chain
  • 2.3   Standard Attachments
    • 2.3.1   A Attachment
    • 2.3.2   K Attachment
    • 2.3.3   SA Attachment
    • 2.3.4   SK Attachment
    • 2.3.5   D Attachment (Extended Pin)
  • 2.4   Plus Alpha Attachments
  • 2.5   Special Attachments
• 3.   Precision Conveyor Chains
  • 3.1   Bearing Bush Chain
  • 3.2   Indexing Table Chain
• 4.   Top Chains
  • 4.1   What is a Top Chain?
    • 4.1.1   Plastic Materials for Top Chains
    • 4.1.2   Guide Rail Materials
    • 4.1.3   Lubrication
    • 4.1.4   Various Accessories
  • 4.2   Types of Top Chain
    • 4.2.1   TTP Top Chain
    • 4.2.2   TP Top Chain
    • 4.2.3   TTUP Top Chain
    • 4.2.4   TPU Top Chain
    • 4.2.5   TT Top Chain
    • 4.2.6   TS Top Chain
    • 4.2.7   TTU Top Chain
    • 4.2.8   TO Crescent Top Plate Chain
    • 4.2.9   TN Snap-On Top Plate Chain
    • 4.2.10   RS Plastic Top Chain
    • 4.2.11   Bel-Top Chain
• 5.   Free Flow Chains
  • 5.1   What is Free Flow Chain?
  • 5.2   Types of Free Flow Chain
    • 5.2.1   Double Plus Chain
    • 5.2.2   Outboard Roller Chain - Side Roller Type
    • 5.2.3   Outboard Roller Chain - Top Roller Type
    • 5.2.4   Roller Table Chain (ST, RT)
• 6.   Large Pitch Conveyor Chains
  • 6.1   What is Large Pitch Conveyor Chain?
    • 6.1.1   Standards
    • 6.1.2   Nomenclature
    • 6.1.3   Construction and Features
      • 6.1.3.1   Shape Features
      • 6.1.3.2   Function Features
      • 6.1.3.3   Disadvantages
  • 6.2   Standard Conveyor Chains
    • 6.2.1   RF Conveyor Chain
    • 6.2.2   RF Bearing Roller Conveyor Chain
    • 6.2.3   RF Plastic Roller Plus Plastic Sleeve Conveyor Chain
  • 6.3   Specialty Conveyor Chains
    • 6.3.1   Bucket Elevator Chain
    • 6.3.2   Flow Conveyor Chain
    • 6.3.3   Parking Tower Chain
    • 6.3.4   Continuous Bucket Unloader Chain
    • 6.3.5   Larger Bulk Handling Conveyor Chain (CT)
    • 6.3.6   Block Chain (Bar and Pin)
    • 6.3.7   Sewage Treatment Chain (Rectangular Sludge Collector)
    • 6.3.8   Sewage Treatment Chain (Bar Screen)
  • 6.4   Standard Attachments
  • 6.5   Plus Alpha Attachments
  • 6.6   Special Attachments

Coffee Breaks

• Roller Chain Manufacturing Process
• A Brief History of Chain
• The Tools Developed from Chain
• Sizing Up Chain
• Speed Variation

The Complete Guide to Chain

Copyright © 1995 by the Tsubakimoto Chain Co. All rights reserved.