Technical information for roller chains

By steel link chains, roller chains have the greatest significance and the widest application possibilities. They are primarily used as drive chains but also as
transport, conveyor and hoist chains. They offer positive and non-slip power transmission. As a result, constant transmission ratios are possible. The roller
chains work without pre-tension. This means that bearings are only subjected to low loads. The direction of rotation always remains the same for a two sprocket
chain drive. For a chain drive with more than two sprockets, economic solutions for the same or differing rotation directions can be easily solved. Chain speeds
of 20 m/s and more are possible. With good lubrication, under normal operating conditions and at full load the efficiency of a chain drive is ca. 98% .

Mounting instructions:

The power to be transmitted, the speed of the smallest sprocket and the operating conditions must be known for correct chain selection. Where possible,
sprockets with at least 17 teeth should be selected. At high speeds and high loads, the small sprocket should have at least 21 teeth and be hardened. The
following numbers of teeth are recommended: 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 38, 57, 76, 95 and 114. The distance between shafts can be freely selected. A value between
30 and 60 times the chain pitch is recommended. The chain should however have a wrap angle of at least 120° on the small sprocket. A ratio up to 4:1 per
stage is usual for chain drives (a maximum of 7:1 should not be exceeded). The transmission ratio can be simply altered by exchanging the sprockets while
maintaining the distance between the shafts.

The sprockets must be aligned and the shafts must be parallel. To ensure simple installation, place the connecting links on the sprocket. The chain slack should
be between 1 and 2% of the shaft centre distance. The chains stretch while running due to wear; a method of tensioning the chain should be provided for this
purpose. If the chains stretches too much (> 3%), the chain, and if necessary the sprockets should be replaced.

1-2% A

Maintenance and lubrication:

20,0

Regular maintenance of the chains is important in order to achieve 15,0

a maximum service life. Our chains are supplied with corrosion
10,0 Force-feed lubrication
protection and must be lubricated before commissioning. For a correctly
dimensioned chain drive with suitable lubrication and maintenance, the 8,0
service life is approx. 15,000 hours. 7,0
6,0
The type of lubrication is dependent on the power to be transmitted, the
5,0
chain speed and the operating conditions. Highly viscous oil and greases
are too thick to penetrate the chain and should be avoided. For roller 4,0
chains, lubricants are used that are suitable for common lubricating 3,0
methods such as manual lubrication, drip lubrication, submersion
Submersion lubrication
lubrication in an oil bath, force-feed lubrication or spray lubrication. (oil bath)
2,0
Depending on the operating temperature, lubricating oils with SAE
viscosity classes of between 30 and 50 should be used.
Chain speed (m/s)

Drip lubrication
1,0
0,9
0,8
Ambient temperature: 0,7
0,6
-5°C to +25°C SAE 30 0,5
over +25°C to +45°C SAE 40 0,4
over +45°C to +65°C SAE 50 Manual lubrication
0,3

0,2
05 06 08 10 12 16 20 24
ISO number
 Technical information for roller chains
Calculation of chain drives with 2 sprockets
P1= PN * K1 * K2 P1 = corrected power (kW)
PN = power to be transmitted (kW)
K1 = factor for operating conditions

Running mode Transmission Factor K1 for operating conditions

(examples) ratio No. of teeth on the small wheel z1
i = n1/n2 = z2/z1 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
Drive without shocks and normal power 1:1 *2,22 *1,85 1,59 1,39 1,22 1,10 0,99 0,91
Conveyors, generators, packaging machines, saws, 2:1 *1,97 1,64 1,41 1,23 1,08 0,97 0,88 0,80
centrifugal pumps, printing machines, escalators
3:1 1,82 1,52 1,30 1,14 1,00 0,90 0,81 0,74
5:1 1,68 1,40 1,20 1,05 0,92 0,83 0,75 0,68
Smooth drive with occasional slight shocks, 1:1 *2,78 *2,32 1,98 1,74 1,53 1,38 1,24 1,13
normal to medium load 2:1 *2,46 *2,05 1,76 1,55 1,35 1,22 1,10 1,05
Blowers, rotary dryers, continuous conveyors, cellulose machines,
agitators for solids, bending machines, winches, weaving looms, 3:1 *2,28 1,90 1,63 1,43 1,25 1,13 1,02 0,93
knitting machines 5:1 2,10 1,75 1,50 1,31 1,15 1,04 0,93 0,85

Slight shocks, medium load 1:1 *3,33 *2,79 2,38 2,09 1,83 1,65 1,49 1,36
Piston pumps, compressors, broaching machines, 2:1 *2,95 *2,47 2,11 1,85 1,62 1,46 1,31 1,20
mills, mixing machines
3:1 *2,73 2,28 1,95 1,71 1,50 1,35 1,22 1,11
5:1 *2,52 2,10 1,80 1,58 1,38 1,25 1,12 1,03
Moderate shocks, heavy pulsating load 1:1 *3,89 *3,25 *2,78 2,44 2,14 1,92 1,73 1,58
Planers, windlass, presses, compressors, 2:1 *3,44 *2,87 2,46 2,16 1,89 1,70 1,53 1,40
mining machinery, stamping machines
3:1 *3,19 *2,66 2,28 2,00 1,75 1,58 1,42 1,30
5:1 *2,93 *2,45 2,09 1,84 1,16 1,45 1,31 1,19
Heavy shocks, alternating loads 1:1 *4,44 *3,71 *3,17 *2,78 2,44 2,20 1,98 1,81
Excavators, crushers, calender rollers, pile drivers, 2:1 *3,93 *3,28 *2,81 2,46 2,16 1,95 1,75 1,60
brickwork machinery, hammer mills, construction machinery
3:1 *3,64 *3,04 2,60 2,28 2,00 1,80 1,62 1,48
5:1 *3,35 *2,80 2,39 2,10 1,84 1,66 1,49 1,36
* Conditions for preventing slack

For electric motors and smooth-running drive units.

For combustion engines and other non-smooth running drive
types the factor increases by 0.5.
duplex
triplex

single

250 170 100

Power diagram for DIN ISO 606 roller chains
125 85 50 For chain drives with 19 teeth, a chain length of 100 links,
a ratio of 1:3 and a life expectancy of 15,000 operating
75 51 30
hours.
50 34 20

4B
25 17 10
o.2 B
-N . 20
ISO -No 16
B
12,5 8,5 5
ISO No.
Power P1 (kW )

O- B
IS . 12
7,5 5,1 3
- No 0B
ISO .1
5 3,4 2 -N
o 8B
.0
ISO -N
o B
ISO . 06
2,5 1,7 1 - No
ISO 5B
o.0
1,25 0,85 0,5 -N
ISO
0,75 0,51 0,3
0,50 0,34 0,2
The power diagram is not binding. It assumes operation
0,25 0,17 0,1 under optimum conditions and is based on empirical
1 2 3 5 10 20 30 50 100 200 300 500 1000 2000 3000 5000 values.
Small sprocket speed n1 (rpm)