CHAIN DRIVE

SPROCKET TEETH

CHAIN LINK

Dn Dg
NUMBER OF TEETH=Z2 NUMBER OF TEETH=Z1
ANGULAR SPEED =ω2 ANGULAR SPEED=ω1
 Belt drives function due to friction between the belts and the pulley.
 Chain drive depend for their operation on the mesh between the sprocket teeth and the
chain links.
 Therefore speed ratio is constant in chain drive.
 The chain contact angle is far less critical for a chain drive than the belt wrap angle is for
the belt drive.
 As a consequence chain drives can quite safely be used at high speed ratios with their
shafts installed rather closed together or where power is transmitted to several shafts
At the same time , with some shafts rotating in opposite directions.

 Chain drives may be used as both step down and step up transmissions.
 Chordal Action of Chain: Chain links passes around the sprocket as a series of chords
rather than as a continuous arc. As a result the speed of the chain is pulsating instead of
being uniform. It’s more prominent at higher speeds and with fewer teeth.
Three types of power transmission chains:
1) Roller Chain
2) Block Chain
3) Silent (inverted tooth) Chain

1) ROLLER CHAIN

Consists of
 Alternating inner links and outer links capable of relative movement in the same plane.
 Bushing is having a press fit in roller link plate.(Inner Plate)
 Pin with its ends clinched is a press fit in Pin Link Plate(Outer plate)
 The bushing and the pin form hinges about which the chain links are free to rotate.
 To protect the sprocket teeth against excessive wear, freely turning rollers are slipped
over the bushings thereby giving its name as the “Roller Chain”.
 Roller chains are available with straight and offset links

OFFSET LINK STRAIGHT LINK

 Where high power to be transmitted multiple strand roller chains are generally
recommended. These are assembled from same members as single strand chains but have
longer pins.
 The use of multistrand chains can markedly reduce the drive size in the plane
perpendicular to the pins.
 The sprocket diameters being the same the changeover to multistrand change reduces
the pitch and improves the smoothness of the operation. On the other hand the drive will
cost more than a similar single strand chain drive.

2) BLOCK CHAIN
Similar to roller chains in construction the only difference being that they have no rollers.
3) Inverted Tooth Chain
 Silent chain is formed by a series of plates of two types:
a) Main Plates: Have flat outer sides by which they mate with two sprocket teeth.
b) Guide Plates: Serve to prevent the lateral movement of the chain relative to the sprocket.
Both are assembled on pin connectors.
 In operation the chain passes over a spur gear like sprocket . The sprocket teeth do not
protrude thro the chain as with roller chains. Instead the chain meshes with the sprocket
by means of teeth extending across the width of the chain underside.
SPROCKETS
 Standardized.
 Made of wear resistant and impact resistant material
BASIC CHAIN PARAMETERS AND KINETICS

 PITCH (p)- The distance between the hinge centre of a link and the corresponding hinge
center of the adjacent link. Pitch is the principal parameter of chain drives. Chains with
larger pitch has a high load carrying capacity. But allow considerably less speed of rotation
and operate with higher dynamic loads and noise.
  Best practice is to select a chain with the minimum allowable pitch for a given load.

 Pitch Circle Diameter of Chain Sprocket(d): Diam. Of the circle on which the hinge centers of
the chain lie when the chain is wrapped around a sprocket.
1) Z= Number of teeth in the sprocket
Θ= Angle subtended at the centre by one pitch length

360

z
p d 
 sin
2 2 2
180
p  d sin[ ]
z
2) Velocity Ratio of a Chain Drive

 n z
i   
1 1 2
12
 n z
2 2 1

3) Average Speed of Chain

pz1 1 pz 2 2 p in mms
v  m/s
2 10 3
2 10 3
4. Center Distance(C) and Chain Length (L)
The sprocket outside diameters: da1 and da2
The min. center distance is chosen so as to ensure an angle of wrap>120 deg at the
smaller sprocket. As this will improve the wear resistant of the chain elements.

C min  0.5[da1  da 2]
Further preferred center distance is 30p to 50p
A limit is set to maximum center distance to avoid excessive tension due to the self
weight of the chain.

C max  80 p
Chain Length is taken to be that of a taut belt.
 G M

A
J

Chain Length= Two Spans of Straight Lengths + Arc GJ+Arc MA

The circumference of the pitch circle is approximated by its chordal length
d  zp
zp
d

Let Lp be the number of pitches or links of the chain.

L  pLp
If the center distance measured in chain pitch is Cp

C  pCp
z1  z 2 ( z1  z 2) 2
Lp  2Cp  
2 4 2Cp
Value received for Lp must be rounded off to nearest even number and new center distance
shall be calculated.
After selecting the number of links , center distance is calculated by the formula,

p z1  z 2 z1  z 2 2 z 2  z1 2
C [ Lp   ( Lp  )  8( ) ]
4 2 2 2
CHAIN SELECTION PROCEDURE
STEP 1: Determine the service factor which is applicable to the drive.
STEP 2: Determine the design power
DESIGN POWER= RATED POWERx SERVICE FACTOR

STEP 3:Determine the chain pitch from Table 2.

STEP 4: Determine the speed ratio
SPEED RATIO= SPEED OF FASTER SHAFT
SPEED OF SLOWER SHAFT

.
STEP 5: Select Sprocket sizes
Refer Table 4 and find suitable sprocket sizes to match the speed ratio found in STEP 4.
STEP 6: Determine the power rating of the drive
Determine the power rating for the simplex chain for the pitch of the chain chosen and rpm of
the faster shaft.
Note: These tables are for 19 teeth sprockets. If a sprocket with different number of teeth is
selected the power rating should be multiplied by the sprocket factor.
If the power rating exceeds the required design power of STEP 2 the selected drive is
satisfactory.
If the power rating is less than the required design power either select a larger pitch chain or go
for multiple strands
STEP 7:
Select the recommended center distance from Table 5.

 Calculate the number of links in the chain length.

z1  z 2 ( z1  z 2) 2
Lp  2Cp  
2 4 2Cp
 Round off to the nearest even integer.
 Calculate the new center distance.

p z1  z 2 z1  z 2 2 z 2  z1 2
C [ Lp   ( Lp  )  8( ) ]
4 2 2 2
Advantages of chain drive over belt drive
1) It’s a positive drive.
2) Occupy less space in width than a belt drive.
3) May be used for both long and short center distances
4) Imparts less loads on shafts.
5) Ability transmit motion to several shafts by one chain only.
6) Transmits more power than a belt.
7) Permits high speed ratio.
8) Can be operated under adverse temperature and atmospheric conditions.

Disadvantages
1) Production cost is high.
2) Needs accurate mounting and careful maintenance.
3) Has velocity fluctuations.