Chain Conveyor

Chain Conveyor

Regardless of industry or application, the performance of any conveyor system is only as strong as its conveyor chains. Top-performing chains are the key to your conveyor system functioning properly and sustaining that function throughout an extended service life.

Below, we will provide a brief overview of the different types of conveyor chains used in various systems, the issues and problems that may occur with those chains, and how to maintain conveyor chains and prevent troublesome issues from arising.

Different Types of Conveyor Chains

There are four main types of conveyor chains found in most conveyor systems, each with its own specific application-appropriate characteristics:

• Hollow bearing pin chains permit application-specific attachments to be affixed through the hollow bearing pins. These attachments can be either affixed tightly or loosely affixed in a “free” manner.

• Solid bearing pin chains possess comparable dimensions to the hollow bearing pin chain. However, solid bearing pin chains are fuller and thicker, making them appropriate for more rigorous conveyor needs.

• Deep link chains possess side plates with more depth than standard chain plates. They also provide a steady carrying edge located atop the periphery of the roller. Deep link chains are configured with both hollow bearing pins and solid bearing pins.

• Drop forged chains—otherwise known as en-masse conveyor chains, or scraper chains—come pre-fitted with tool attachments that are welded straight onto the chain links themselves.

Common Conveyor Chain Failure Mechanisms

There are three common ways in which conveyor chains fail:

Tensile Failure

Tensile failure can result from the conveyor chains becoming too stretched, resulting in the chains failing to work as intended, or snapping apart altogether.

Fatigue Failure

When the conveyor chain is overloaded with cyclical tension at a load under the yield strength, microscopic cracks develop under the excess of weight in the link plates or sidebars. These cracks can enlarge, causing fatigue failure, which leads to incorrect function and eventual breakage.

Wear Failure

Wear failure is a result of abrasion and corrosion that causes the conveyor chains to elongate without properly stretching. This most commonly results in the chain becoming too large to fit the conveyor system’s sprockets, or a failure to maintain correct spacing and timing. Wear occurring between the roller and bushing, between the link plates, or between sidebars and guides will ultimately result in chain malfunction.

Lubricate Your Conveyor Chains

Proper lubrication can effectively increase the life of your conveyor chains up to one hundred times its normal performance lifespan. Lubrication slows the inevitable wear that occurs between pins and bushings in the chain joints.

There are several methods used for lubricating conveyor chains:

Manual lubrication

To manually lubricate your conveyor chains, periodically apply oil with a brush or spout can once every eight hours, or at longer intervals if adequate for the application.

Drip lubrication

The drip method refers to a lubrication method in which oil is dripped between the link plate or sidebar edges—generally at a rate of twenty drops every minute.

Oil bath lubrication

Oil bath lubrication involves running a short section of chain through oil, with the level extending to the pitch-line of the chain at its lowest operating point.

Slinger disk lubrication

Slinger disk lubrication consists of a rotating disk picking up oil from the casing’s bottom and “slinging” it against a collector plate.

Oil steam lubrication

Oil steam lubrication involves pumping pressurized oil to nozzles that deliver steamed spray onto the lower span of the chain from inside the loop.

Using the correct lubrication type and method is imperative and should always be based on the requirements of the working environment. To ensure proper lubrication, develop a detailed maintenance schedule and follow it carefully.

Continue Your Conveyor Chain Education

Many industries rely heavily on conveyors for successful operation. If these conveyors fail, the downtime can have a significant impact on the bottom line. It is crucial that operators properly maintain conveyor chains to maximize their possible service life and reduce the risk of equipment failure. To discover more about conveyor chains and conveyor chain maintenance, check out the links below.