Roller Chains are required in any motion control system, their primary goal is to move a load of any kind. The motor is the part of the drive system that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy. However, the work is not yet done. The output shaft of a motor needs to be connected in some way to the load. This last link can be made in a variety of ways. So-called direct drive systems, in which the motor is directly coupled to the load, are some of the most effective ways to connect with the load. Various intermediary techniques are available to connect the motor to the load if this is not practical. A roller chain is among them. The advantage of roller chains is that they are an easy and uncomplicated means of transferring mechanical energy.
How Does a Roller Chain work?
Roller chains are driven by a motor that drives the chain on a spinning sprocket. For roller chains to function, two different types of links must alternate.
Two inner plates - are joined by two sleeves or bushings, which are positioned beneath two rollers. Inner links are also referred to as roller links.
Two outside - plates are connected by pins to form outer links, which pass through the bushings of inner links.
A straightforward way to convey mechanical energy using a normal chain link construction is with roller chains. This is made up of several cylindrical rollers connected by side links and turned by a motor through a spinning sprocket. Compared to belt drives, they are typically more precise and offer a powerful, incredibly flexible mode of power transmission.
Available Roller Chains
- Simplex - Simplex chains consist of the same number of parallel rows of teeth as the sprocket, two rows of plates, bushings, and rollers between each adjacent pair.
- Duplex - These chains are like simplex chains but comprise three rows of plates.
Material Used in Manufacturing of Roller Chains
Roller Chains are made up of the following materials:
- Carbon Steel
- Carbon Steel Lube Free
- Corrosion Protected Carbon Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Pure Steel
Types of Roller Chains
There are several types of Roller Chains used according to their functionality, which are listed below:
- Roller chain is an ANSI standard
- Heavy Roller Chain
- Multi-Strand Roller Chain; ANSI Standard
- Roller Chain with Attachments
- Roller Chain with ANSI Standard A-Type Double Pitch
- Roller Chain with Attachments for Double Pitch
- Corrosion-resistant roller chain
- SL Series,
- ISO British (Metric) Standard Roller Chain
Applications of Roller Chains
Roller chains are most frequently used to transport products throughout production facilities and to transmit the mechanical power of industrial machinery. Typical industries that use Roller Chains:
- Toy Making Factories
- Excavating
- Primary Metals
- Locomotive
- Material Management & Packing
- Food & Drink Industries
- Constructions
