Chain Drive Example
Select a roller-chain drive for driving an apron conveyor head shaft operating
at 45 rpm and requiring 2.602 Kw. Operation is an average of 16 hours per day, 8
hours per shift and power will be supplied by an electric motor with output speed
of 143 rpm. A single-strand chain is preferred. Moderate shock loading is expected.
Horizontal chain drive, period lubrication & using tensioner for chain tension.
Solution Answer
!
- The speed ratio : 𝑢 = !! 3.18
"
- Number of teeth on small sprocket:
23
𝑧" = 29 − 2𝑢
- Number of teeth on large sprocket:
74
𝑧# = 𝑢. 𝑧"
$
- The real speed ratio : 𝑢 = $" 3.22
!
• 𝐾$ : Factor of teeth number of driving sprocket
25 1.09
𝐾$ =
𝑧"
• 𝐾! : Factor speed of driving sprocket
𝑛%"
𝐾! =
𝑛"
1.4
• 𝐾& : Strand factor
- Overall factor K:
2.2176
𝐾 = 𝐾' 𝐾( 𝐾% 𝐾)* 𝐾+ 𝐾,-
• 𝐾' : Load factor
Electric motor & external
Type of driven load
load
1.2
Smooth 1
Moderate shock 1.2÷1.5
Heavy shock 1.8
• 𝐾( : Effect of central distance
1
• 𝐾% : Arrangement of drive factor
ü The angle between horizontal line and centerline from
small sprocket to large sprocket < 60° : 𝐾% = 1 1
ü The angle between horizontal line and centerline from
small sprocket to large sprocket > 60° : 𝐾% = 1.25
• 𝐾)* : Chain tension factor
ü Shaft can be modified: 𝐾)* = 1
1.1
ü Modify by tensioner 𝐾)* = 1.1
ü Shaft can’t be modified or lack of tensioner 𝐾)* = 1.25
• 𝐾+ : Lubrication factor
ü Continuos lubrication: 𝐾+ = 0.8 1.5
ü Drop lubrication: 𝐾+ = 1
ü Period lubrication: 𝐾+ = 1.5
• 𝐾,- : Rating factor ( Working time factor )
ü One-Shift: 𝐾,- = 1
1.12
ü Two-shift: 𝐾,- = 1.12
ü Three-shift: 𝐾,- = 1.45
- Design power
𝐾𝐾$ 𝐾! 𝑃
𝑃. = , 𝐾𝑤
𝐾&
8.8
Ø From above table, looking up 𝑛%" = 200.
o Choose 𝑝* = 25.4𝑚𝑚.
o 𝑃. ≤ [𝑃] = 11 𝐾𝑤
Ø From above table 𝑛 < 1650 ( Acceptable )
- Velocity:
𝜋𝑑𝑛 𝑛𝑧𝑝* 1.392
𝑣= = , 𝑚/𝑠
60000 60000
- Tangential force: 1869
1000𝑃
𝐹. = ,𝑁
𝑣
- Checking the chain pitch:
# 𝑃𝐾
𝑝* ≥ 600F , 𝑚𝑚
𝑧" 𝑛" [𝑝% ]𝐾&
o [𝑝% ]: allowable chain pitch. Choosing based on below
table
23.3
ð So the chain pitch 𝑝* = 25.4𝑚𝑚 is acceptable.
- Supposingly, selecting the center distance 𝑎 = (30 ÷ 50)𝑝*
1016
𝑎 = 40𝑝*
- Number of links X:
𝐿 2𝑎 𝑧" + 𝑧# 𝑧# − 𝑧" # 𝑝! 132
𝑋= = + +) ,
𝑝! 𝑝! 2 2𝜋 𝑎
- Determine exactly the center distance:
𝑧" + 𝑧# 𝑧" + 𝑧# # 𝑧# − 𝑧" #
𝑎 = 0.25𝑝* K𝑋 − F
+ N𝑋 − O − 8P Q R
2 2 2𝜋
1036
In order to advoid heavy tension force on chain,
descreasing center distance is reccomended:
∆𝑎 = (0.002 ÷ 0.004)𝑎
$ .!
- 𝑖 = "01! !
< [𝑖]=20
- [𝑖 ]: based on chain pitch according below table
1.66
- Chain drive checking according to safety factor:
𝑄
𝑠= ≥ [𝑠]
𝐹" + 𝐹- + 𝐹%
o Q=50 kN: breaking load, kN according to below table.
24.6
o Force on tight-side:
𝐹" ≈ 𝐹. = 1869 𝑁
o Tension force caused by centrifugal force:
𝐹- = 𝑞2 . 𝑣 # = 2.57 × 1.392# = 4.98 𝑁
ü 𝑞2 : the weight of 1m chain ( look up above
table)
ü 𝑣: velocity m/s
o Initial tension force :
𝐹% = 𝐾3 . 𝑎. 𝑞2 . 𝑔 = 6 × 1.036 × 2.57 × 9.81
= 156.72 𝑁
𝐾3 : the effect of chain’s deflection
ü 𝐾3 = 6: horizontal chain drive
ü 𝐾3 = 3: the angle between horizontal line and the
centerline of shaft < 40°
ü 𝐾3 = 1:vertical chain drive
a: center distance m
- Force on shaft:
𝐹' = 𝐾2 . 𝐹. , 𝑁
ü 𝐾2 = 1.15: the angle between horizontal line
and the centerline of shaft < 40° or horizontal
chain drive. 2149.35
ü 𝐾2 = 1: the angle between horizontal line and
the centerline of shaft > 40° or vertical chain
drive.
- Pitch diameter of small sprocket:
𝑝* . 𝑧" 185.96
𝑑" = , 𝑚𝑚
𝜋
- Diameter of small sprocket:
𝑑(" = 𝑑" + 0.7𝑝* , 𝑚𝑚 203.74
- Pitch diameter of large sprocket:
𝑝* . 𝑧# 598.3
𝑑# = , 𝑚𝑚
𝜋
- Diameter of large sprocket:
𝑑(# = 𝑑# + 0.7𝑝* , 𝑚𝑚 616.08
