Roller Chains

Important Note

Roller / Transmission chain drives are designed using chain manufacturers/suppliers

information. The manufacturers/suppliers can complete the design process or provide
sufficient technical information to allow the design process to be completed. The notes
below are provided to enable a rough first stab at a design to be completed when it is
inconvenient to get the manufactures advice or literature. Final designs should be
completed using authorised manufacturers/suppliers information..

Software is also available allowing convenient initial designs to be complete.. A very useful
design package is obtained from Mitcalc.com (ref links below) this covers everything that is
provided below :.. better and more comprehensively

Introduction.... Relevant Standards.... Chain Description.... Chain Wheels /Sprockets.... Idler

Sprockets.... Chain system design.... Lubrication....
Nomenclature.... Design Process.... Torque Calc.... Chain Velocity Calc... Chain Tension Calc...
Chain Bearing stress Calc... Design Power Calc....
Chain Power Capacity.... Pitch Diameter Calc.... Chain Centre Calc.... Chain Length Calc....
Chain Properties.... Chain Power graph.... Useful Links....

Introduction

The roller chain is used to transmit motion between rotating shafts via sprockets mounted
on the shafts. Roller chains are generally manufactured from high specification steels and
are therefore capable of transmitting high torques within compact space envelopes.
Compared to belt drives the chain drives can transmit higher powers and can be used for
drives with larger shaft centre distance separations. In European /ISO standards the chains
are normally rated on a standard 15000 hours life. Service factors on the drive and driven
wheels are used to adjust the rating for non-standard conditions.

Typical Chain Arrangement

Chain Details
Relevant Standards

BS ISO 10823:1996 ..Guidance on the selection of roller chain drives.

BS 228:1994 ISO 606:1994..Specification for short-pitch transmission precision roller chains
and chain wheels

Chain Description

Roller /Transmission chains are identified using three measurements

The pitch - centre distance between rollers (p)

The width between the inner plates (w)

The roller outside diameters (d r)

Chains manufactured to British/ISO standards can be supplied as single strand (SIMPLEX),

double strands (DUPLEX), or triple strands (TRIPLEX)..

Duplex Chain

The range of pitch sizes can vary between 4mm, (0.158 inch) to 114.3mm, (4.500 inch).
The European/ISO chain standards have large pin diameter compared to the US standards,
especially for the larger pitch sizes. This results in better wear resistance due to the
greater bearing area.

The ISO standard has a simple form of part numbering, for example: 1/2 inch pitch duplex
chain would be 06B-3. The first two digits are the pitch size in 1/16?s of an inch, therefore
06 = 6/16 or 3/8 inch. The letter ?B? indicates European Standard. The suffix 3 indicates the
number of strands in the chain, in this case a triplex chain.

Chain Wheels /Sprockets

 Chain wheels can be produced with a minimum of about 9 teeth but in practise the
minimum number of teeth is normally restricted to about 19 teeth. For special applications
requiring smoother drives a the smallest sprocket should not have less than 23 teeth.

The maximum number of teeth on the larger wheel should not exceed 150 and generally the
number of teeth is restricted to 114 providing a normal maximum ratio of about 6:1

The angle of contact of the chain and the smallest wheel should exceed 120 o. This provides
practical limitation on the size of the larger wheel or results increased center distance
separation. Larger wheel diameters tend to result in reduced chain life.

It is good practice on low ratio chain drives to ensure that the number of teeth on both
wheel when added do not exceed 50. A 1:1 drive should therefore have a maximum of 25
teeth on each wheel.

The large sprockets on high ratio drives are generally made of cast iron because the teeth
have reduced chain engagements over time with consequent reduced fatigue and wear.
For more arduous service conditions the larger sprockets may be made from cast steel or
steel plate. The smaller sprockets when highly loade are generally made from steel type
which allow the body to be heat treated for toughness while the teeth are hardened to resist
wear e.g. case hardened. Heat treatment is generally required when :

The speed is above 0,7 time max speed when fully loaded
The speed is above 0,5 time max speed when fully loaded, under medium
impulsive load

When the load is highly impulsive

Typical maximum speed are listed in the chain properties table below

For lower duties sprockets are generally machined from steel bar stock.

Idler sprockets

hen the drive and driven sprockets centres are fixed it may be desireable to include idlers
 sprockets to take up the slack in the chain. Idler sprockets should preferably be located
against the slack side of the chain within the chain envelope - diverting the chain
outwards. Idler sprockets are subject to continuous impact from the chain and are subject
to wear if only small sprockets are used and if the chain speed is high.

Chain System Design

A large number of roller chains are designed to provide a power transmission between two
sprockets with minimum/no regular lubrication and under conditions of high levels of
contamination. My bicycle chain drive has worked successfully for over 25 years ( including
one replacement of the wheel sprocket and one replacement of the chain). The bicycle is
used at least three journeys per week for an average journey time of about 20 minutes.
Motor cycle chain drives work in similar operating conditions...

Industrial chain drives are generally designed to operate in enclosed cases with installed
lubrication systems.

Chains rarely fail because they do not have sufficient tensile strength. They most often fail
in wear or fatigue. In practice sprocket teeth wear allowing the chains to jump the
teeth. Manufacturers specify the chains based on the following parameters

15000 hours life

Single strand
ISO proportions
Service factor (Application factor) =1
Recommended lubrication
Maximum elongation 3%
Horizontal Shafts
Two 19 tooth sprockets

Sprocket centres = 40 pitches

Chain systems are designed with correction coefficients to compensate from the difference
from these design conditions
It is important when designing chain drives to ensure good alignment of the sprocket
shafts. It is also important to minimise chain slackness and if the centres can not be
adjusted then it may be necessary to use idler sprockets.

Chain Lubrication

Chain drive lubrication provides similar benefits to bearing journal lubrication. The benefits
include reduced friction, cooling, impact resistance at higher chain speeds. The chain
supplier generally provides recommendations for the lubrication requirements for each
chain drive. If suitable lubrication is not provided the then capacity of the chain drive is
reduced.

There are four basic types of chain lubrication..

 Manual /Drip lubrication..In manual lubrication oil is generously applied to
the chain drive about every 8 operating hours. In drip lubrication oil is
continuously dripped on the chain centre line.
Bath/Disc lubrication..In bath lubrication the lower strand of the chain runs
through a sump containing oil. The oil level should be above the lowest
pitch line of the chain when it is operating normally. Excessive immersion
can result in turbulence of the oil bath. Disc lubrication is based on a disc
attached to one sprocket which is immersed in an oil bath. As the disc
rotates it picks up oil and deposit it onto the chain. A trough is often used
to direct the oil oil to the optimum point on the chain. A peripheral disc
speed of between 3 and 40 m/s
Oil stream lubrication...This is normally a continuous stream of filtered oil
circulated by a pump. The oil should be spread evenly across the width of
the slack side chain

Oil Mist lubrication...This is used for high speed chain drive and is based on
the chain case being filled with a oil mist.

There is continuous development in chain drives and self-lubricated chains are available
which do not require continuous lubrication and have similar performance to lubricated
chain drives.

Plastic chains are also available which do not require lubrication. Plastic chain drives
obviously have much reduced operating characteristics compared to steel chains.

Non-lubricated chains are essential for applications requiring controlled environments

e.g.Paper, packaging, electronics, white and brown goods manufacture.

Nomenclature

B a = Chain Bearing Area (mm2)

B s = Chain Bearing stress (MPa)
C = Centre Distance (m)
D1 = Drive sprocket Pitch
Diameter (m) Ss = Static Factor of Safety
D2 = Driven sprocket Pitch P 1 = Driver power Transferred (kW)
Diameter (m) P 2 = Driven power Transferred (kW)= P1
d r = Chain Roller Outside
m = Mass of chain / m (kg/m)
diameter (m)
f a = application factor n 1= Driver sprocket rotational speed (rpm = m-1)
Ft = Torque developed tensile n 2= Driven sprocket rotational speed (rpm = m-1)
force in chain (N) p = Pitch of chain (m)
Fc = Centrifugal tensile force in v = Chain velocity (m/s>
chain (N) w = Chain width between inner plates
f t = tooth factor = Efficiency (normally about 98%)
Kx (x = 1 to 8) = Correction z 1= Driver sprocket - Number of teeth
Factors z 2= Driven sprocket - Number of teeth
L = Length of chain in pitches
T 1= torque on driver pulley
(Nm)
T 2= torque on driven pulley
(Nm)
Sd = Dynamic Factor of Safety
Roller Chain Design Process

1. Specify the Drive speed , Driven speed and the power to be transferred
2. Identify the operating characteristics of the drive and driven shafts (smooth,
rough, shock
3. Select the approximate shaft centre distance
4. Calculate the speed ratio using table of standard sprockets (minimum No of
teeth normally 19
5. Calculate the appropriate design factors
6. Calculate the design power
7. Select a chain which has a higher power capacity than the design power.
This will involve some iteration
8. Confirm that there is sufficient safety on the tensile strength of the chain
and the wear/fatigue strength of the bushing.

9. C omplete the detail design of the sprocket shaft systems, guards,

lubrication system etc

Torque on driver /driven pulley

If the input power = P1(kW) then the torque (Nm)=

T1 = P1 .9,549 / n

T2 = P1 . 9,549 / n

Chain Velocity

The chain velocity (v)is calculated as follows

v = D1..n1 /60 (m/s) = D2..n2 /60...(m/s)

Design Power For Chain

The design power is calculated as follows

Pd = P.K1.K2.K3.K4.K5.K6.K7.

K1. = Coefficient for teeth different to 19

K2. = Coefficient for Transmission Ratio
 K3. = Application (Service) Factor
K4. = Centre Distance Coefficient
K5. = Lubrication Coefficient
K6. = Temperature Coefficient
K7. = Service Life Coefficient

Tooth Factor (K1)

Normally the drive is a reduction drive and the driver sprocket is the
smallest. This is normally selected as a 19 tooth wheel unless a high speed
smoother drive is required then a 23 (or higher) tooth wheel is selected.

If a driver sprocket with z1 teeth is select than a tooth factor ft is used.

Tooth factor ft = 19 / z1

Ratio Factor (K2)

This allows for the difference in ratio from the 3:1 ratio normally used in
determining the design power for chain drives...

Ratio 1:1 1:2 1:3 1,4 1,6

K2 1,25 1,11 1,0 0,94 0,89

Table of Application Factor ..K3

Driver Characteristics
Some shock
Smooth Running, Loading..IC Heavy shock
Electric Motors, IC engines , Electric Loading IC engines
engines with motors with with less than six
hydraulic couplings frequent cylinders
stops/starts
Driven machine
characteristics
Smooth running
.Office 1 1,1 1,2
Machines,Generators
Light duty ..Fans,
pumps,
compressors,printing
1,2 1,3 1,4
machines, uniformly
loaded conveyors,
machine Tools
Moderate
shock..concrete
mixing , non- 1,4 1,5 1,7
uniformly loaded
conveyors, mixers.
Heavy shock
loading.. Planars, 1,6 1,7 1,9
presses, drilling rigs.
 Centre Distance Factor (K4)
This allows for chain designs with sprocket centre distances other than optimum= C/p = 40.
C/p 20 40 60 80 =<160
K4 1,2 1 0,9 0,85 0,7

Lubrication Factor (K5)

This factor involves some judgement and the notes below are provided for
guidance.

If the chain is correctly lubrication and includes the

recommended maintenance.
For self lubricated chain used correctly.
For very low duty chains with reasonable lubrication:
A factor of 1 applies.
If the chain is low - medium duty, provided with the
recommended filtered lubrication but with average
maintenance.
A service factor of say 1,25 applies
If the chain is medium to high duty, provided with lubrication
with average maintenance.
A service factor approx 2 - 3 applies.

For a medium-high duty chain with no lubrication.

A service factor approx 5 will apply.

Temperature Factor (K6)

For all normal duties at normal ambient temperatures (0-80 o C) the

temperature factor will be 1. For cases when a higher ambient
temperature is normal a temperature factor will be needed as table
below....

Deg.C 0-80 80-150 150-250

K6 1,0 1,1 1,2
Service Life (K7)
The power capacity of a chain is based on a 8 hour per day operating cycle and K 7 = 1 . For more
arduous operating a different value of K7 is appropriate.
Operatin
g time
0-8 8-16 16-24
/day
hours
1,2
K7 1,0 1,1

Chain Power Capacities

The design power as evaluated by the above process should be less than the lower of the
 chain capacity associated with the link or the bush as calculated below...Note:
Manufacturers and suppliers generally simplify this process by providing tables or charts to
make this process more convenient. A typical graph is shown below Chain Power graph....

Link- Power capacity

Bushing - Power capacity

Chai Chai Chai Chai Chai
Ka Kb Ka Kb Ka Kb Ka Kb Ka Kb
n n n n n
05B 0.0046 17 10B 0.0042 17 20B 0.0046 17 32B 0.0046 17 56B 0.0038 7
06B 0.0046 17 12B 0.0044 17 24B 0.0046 17 40B 0.0032 17 64B 0.0039 5
08B 0.0048 17 16B 0.0046 17 28B 0.0046 17 48B 0.0035 12 72B 0.004 2
These capacities are modified by the strand factor S f. If there are two strands then the
power capacity is increased by a S f = 1,7. If there are three strands then the power is
increased by a strand factor S f =2,5.

Pi = chain pitch in inches..

Tensile Load on Chain

The dynamic load on a chain includes for the tensile load for transmitting the power and the
centrifugal load resulting from the chain rotating on the sprocket.

For normal speed applications only the direct load due to the tensile load is relevant.

Ft = P 1*1000 / v..(N)

Note this is derived in principle in the webpage for flat belt drives.. Flat belts

The tension resulting for the centrifugal force =

Fc = Mm.v2..(N)

The resultant total tensile force taken by the chain =

Fr = F t + F c

The value Fr is divided into the breaking strength of the chain Fb to obtain the static Factor of
Safety of the Chain

Ss = Fr /F b

This value of Ss is divided by the Application factor K3 to arrive at the dynamic Factor of
Safety

Sd = Fr / (Fb * K3)

The graphs below show (very approximately) the range of recommended static and dynamic
safety factors.
Chain Bearing Stress

The bearing stress is the resultant tensile stress / the bearing area B a. Values for the bearing
area are provided in the chain properties table below...

B s= T r / B a

The calculated bearing stress should be less than the acceptable bearing pressure

The acceptable bearing pressure = Specific Pressure .K 9.K8.

K9 = 1 For ISO chains

K8 = The friction coefficient / K3 K3 = Service_application factor (K3) -see below

The specific pressure and the friction coefficents are obtained from the charts below:
Pitch Diameter

The pitch diameter of a chain sprocket can be obtained from the formula

D = P / sin ( / z)

Table below identifies the pitch diam for sprockets with chain pitch of 25,4mm . for other
chain pitches the diameter will be proportional e.g for 12,7mm chain pitch the diameters will
be half the tabled values.

Table of pitch diameters for 25,4mm pitch chain sprockets

No Pitch No Pitch No Pitch No Pitch No Pitch No Pitch

Teeth Dia Teeth Dia Teeth Dia Teeth Dia Teeth Dia Teeth Dia
mm mm mm mm mm mm
10 82.20 30 243.00 50 404.52 70 566.15 90 727.80 110 889.48
11 90.16 31 251.07 51 412.60 71 574.23 91 735.89 111 897.56
12 98.14 32 259.14 52 420.68 72 582.31 92 743.97 112 905.65
13 106.14 33 267.21 53 428.76 73 590.39 93 752.05 113 913.73
14 114.15 34 275.28 54 436.84 74 598.48 94 760.14 114 921.81
15 122.17 35 283.36 55 444.92 75 606.56 95 768.22 115 929.90
16 130.20 36 291.43 56 453.00 76 614.64 96 776.31 116 937.98
17 138.23 37 299.51 57 461.08 77 622.72 97 784.39 117 946.07
18 146.27 38 307.58 58 469.16 78 630.81 98 792.47 118 954.15
19 154.32 39 315.66 59 477.24 79 638.89 99 800.56 119 962.24
20 162.37 40 323.74 60 485.33 80 646.97 100 808.64 120 970.32
21 170.42 41 331.81 61 493.41 81 655.05 101 816.72 121 978.40
22 178.48 42 339.89 62 501.49 82 663.14 102 824.81 122 986.49
23 186.54 43 347.97 63 509.57 83 671.22 103 832.89 123 994.57
24 194.60 44 356.05 64 517.65 84 679.30 104 840.98 124 1002.66
25 202.66 45 364.12 65 525.73 85 687.39 105 849.06 125 1010.74
26 210.72 46 372.20 66 533.82 86 695.47 106 857.14 126 1018.82
27 218.79 47 380.28 67 541.90 87 703.55 107 865.23 127 1026.91
28 226.86 48 388.36 68 549.98 88 711.64 108 873.31 128 1034.99
29 234.93 49 396.44 69 558.06 89 719.72 109 881.39 129 1043.08

Chain Centre Distance

There are practical limitations for the minimum distance between the chain sprocket centres
to prevent interference of the sprocket teeth. To provide a reasonable chain operating life is
necessary to ensure good spacing and a minimum wrap of 120 o. The drive layout will
determine the actual centre distance. A recommended value is about 40 time the chain
pitch.

When the chain centre distance can be adjusted to suit the chain length then the length (L)
of the chain in (pitches) can be used to determine the centre distance between sprockets
(C) using the following formula
Chain Length

The length of the driving chain is normally required in numbers of double pitches because a
complete link includes the inner and the outer link which covers two pitches.

The Chain length (L) in pitches (p) is given (to sufficient practical accuracy ) by the formula

Chain Properties

Values are from BS 228 , ISO 606

The normal maximum velocity relates to sprockets with 17-25 teeth.

Norma Breakin Chai Breakin Chai Breakin Chain

Mass/ Chain Mass/ Chain Mass/
l Chain g n Brg g n Brg g Brg
m Identit m Identit m
Pitch max Identit Force (m)
Area
y
Force
(m)
Area
y
Force
(m)
Area
vel. y (F b) (Ba) (F b) (Ba) (F b) (Ba)
2 2
(RPM) (N) kg/m mm (N) kg/m mm (N) kg/m mm2
8,00 5000 05B - 1 5000 0.2 11 05B - 2 7800 0.4 22 05B - 3 11100 0.5 33
9.525 4200 06B - 1 9000 0.4 28 06B - 2 16900 0.8 56 06B - 3 24900 1.2 84
12.7 3750 08B - 1 18000 0.7 50 08B - 2 32000 1.3 101 08B - 3 47500 2 151
15.875 2750 10B - 1 22400 0.9 67 10B - 2 44500 1.8 134 10B - 3 66700 2.8 202
19.05 2000 12B - 1 29000 1.2 89 12B - 2 57800 2.5 179 12B - 3 86700 3.8 268
25.4 1500 16B - 1 60000 2.6 210 16B - 2 110000 5.2 421 16B - 3 165000 7.7 631
31.75 1200 20B - 1 95000 3.8 296 20B - 2 170000 7.5 591 20B - 3 250000 11.2 887
38.1 900 24B - 1 160000 7 554 24B - 2 280000 13.9 1109 24B - 3 425000 20.7 1663
44.45 700 28B - 1 200000 9.1 739 28B - 2 360000 18 1479 28B - 3 530000 27 2218
50.8 550 32B - 1 250000 9.7 810 32B - 2 450000 19 1621 32B - 3 670000 28.3 2431
63.5 450 40B - 1 380000 16.8 1275 40B - 2 630000 33.5 2550 40B - 3 950000 43.3 3825
76.2 300 48B - 1 560000 25.9 2061 48B - 2 1000000 48.6 4123 48B - 3 1500000 72.5 6184
88.9 - 56B - 1 850000 35 2791 56B - 2 1600000 70 5582 56B - 3 2350000 105 8373
101.6 - 64B - 1 1120000 60 3625 64B - 2 2000000 120 7250 64B - 3 3100000 180 10875
114.3 - 72B - 1 1400000 80 4618 72B - 2 2500000 160 9234 72B - 3 4000000 240 13850
Typical graph of Chain Power Capacities

Note: I have hand sketched this based on a typical manufactures chart.. Please use it with
care and ,better still, get a the information from a chain supplier..

Chain suppliers each produce graphs similar to the one below to enable convenient
selection of a suitable chain for a specific duty. This is compared to the design power which
is the required power corrected by appropriate factors. The main factors to be considered
are the tooth factor and the service factor...