CHAPTER III ROLLER CHAIN AND SPROCKET

CHAPTERS OVERVIEW

Roller Chain

Roller Chain Sprocket

Industrial Sprocket and Chain

Standard Roller Chain Sprocket

Angular Speed Ratio

Distance Between Centers of Sprocket

Chapter Sample Solved Problem

Sprocket and chain

Sprockets are used in bicycles, motorcycles, cars, tanks, and

other machinery

The purpose of sprockets is either to transmit rotary motion

between two shafts where gears are unsuitable or to impart
linear motion to a track, tape etc.

A sprocket is a profiled wheel with teeth that meshes with

a chain, track or other perforated or indented material

A sprocket is distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are

never meshed together directly

A sprocket is distinguished from a pulley in that sprockets have

teeth and pulleys are smooth

ADVANTAGES

Adapatable for long and short center distances

Can be arranged to drive more than one unit

No slippage

Can operate in hostile environment

Long-life when properly maintained

DISADVANTAGES

Risk of coming off the sprocket

Guide sprockets and spring tensioner may be necessary to

maintain chain tension

Noisier than belts or gears

Flexibility is limited to single plane

Limited to low speed applications compared with belts or gears

Idler sprocket

In some chain drives it is difficult to have the exact number of

chain links to have the chain fit around the two sprockets with
the right fit (tightness)
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If the chain is too lose, it can slip and cause the driven sprocket
to not rotate in sync with the driving sprocket

If the chain is too tight, the chain drive may not rotate because
of too much friction

It may be necessary to insert an idler sprocket

An idler sprocket can be inserted in between the two main

sprockets, causing the chain to tighten

Chain Drives

Able to transmit large tensile forces.

Most common roller chain. Figures below shows a typical roller

chain drive set up and some roller chain styles.

Inverted-Tooth

Chains
(Silent Chains)

Explanation through diagram

Practical applications of chain drives

The chains are mostly used to transmit motion and power from
one shaft to another, when the centre distance between their
shafts is short such as in bicycles, motor cycles, agricultural
machinery, conveyors, rolling mills, road rollers etc.

The chains may also be used for long centre distance of upto 8
metres.

The chains are used for velocities up to 25 m / s and for power

upto 110 kW. In some cases, higher power transmission is also
possible.

Classification of Chains

The Chains, on the basis of their use, are classified into the
following three groups:

1. Hoisting or hauling (or crane) chains.

2. Conveyer (or tractive) chains.
3. Power transmitting (or driving) chains.

Hoisting or hauling (or crane) chains

These chains are used for hoisting and hauling purposes. These
are of two types:

1. Chains with oval links.

2. Chains with square links.

1. Chains with oval links:

The links are of oval shape. The joint of each link is welded.
Such type of chains are used only at low speeds such as chain hoists
and in anchors of marine work.

Conveyer Chains

These chains are used for elevating and conveying the material
continuously. These are of two types:

1. Detachable or hook joint type chain.

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2. Closed joint type chain.

Drive train

To perform this function, two sprockets must be connected with a

chain

The chain and sprockets together are referred to as a drive train

(chain drive) system

Design Guidelines for Chain Drive

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1. The minimum no of teeth should be 17, unless operating at low

speed ( <10.47 rad/s).
2. Maximum speed ratio: 7.0
3. Center distance between the sprocket axes should be
approximately 30 to 50 pitches (30 to 50 times the pitch of the
chain).
4. Larger sprocket normally has no more than 120 teeth.
5. The preferred arrangement for a chain drive is with the
centerline of the sprockets horizontal and with the tight side on
the top.

Roller Chain or Bush Roller Chain

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Roller Chain Sprocket or Bush Roller Chain

Is the type of chain most commonly used for transmission of

mechanical power on bicycles, motorcycles and in industrial and
agricultural machinery.

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Sprocket and Roller Chain

Fasteners, Belt & Chain Drive Drawings

Chain Drive Design Examples:

Bicycle: Chain Rings

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Bicycle: Cassette

Chain Conveyor

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Hoisting Chain

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Link Chains
Makes and Shapes

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Drive chains

Load chains

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Construction of roller chains

Pin

Roller

Bushing

Side bar or plate

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Load Chains
Liner chains

Fly-frame chains
(without chain sprockets)

Roller chains

Bush chains
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Rotary chains

Single-row roller chain

Double-row roller chain

Triple-row
roller chain

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Types of Conveyor Chains

Single row chain

Double row Triple
chain row chain

Open link chains functioning without lubrication

normal open-link
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chain

stud-link or anchor chain

caterpillar-type drive chain (similar to track chains)

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Flat Chain
Is a form of chain used chiefly in agricultural machinery. Early
machinery made extensive use of flat chain. It has been gradually
replaced in most applications by roller chain, which is quieter, lasts
longer and requires less frequent retensioning

Inverted Tooth Chain (Silent Chain)

Silent chains are used for the camshaft drive of the mid to large-size
motorcycle engines engine and automobile engine, the transfer-casedrive in four-wheel-drive vehicles, and the primary drive between the
engine and transmission as well as in other high-speed applications.
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Angular Speed Ratio and Distance Between Centers of Sprocket

Tangential Speed: VA = VB , DANA = DBNB
Relation of Speed and Tooth Sprocket: TANA = TBNB
Pitch Diameter of the Sprocket:
Driving: PDA = P/Sin(1800/TA) bigger sprocket
Driver: PDB = P/Sin(1800/TB) smaller sprocket

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If center distance is not given use : C= D + d/2 N

Chain length and center distance:
where

C = center distance

N1, N2 = no. of teeth in the small and large sprocket

respectively.
L = chain length
Note: use one of the equations with either L or C known to find the
other unknown L or C.
Pitch diameter of a sprocket with N teeth for a chain with a pitch of p:
Min. sprocket diameter and min. number of teeth in a sprocket are
limited by the size of the shaft.
Arc of contact

For the smaller sprocket:

Should be greater than 120

( D2 D1 )
2C

1 180 2 sin 1

For the larger sprocket:

( D2 D1 )
2C

2 180 2sin 1

Sample Board Problem Exercises

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Problem 10.20 A 1 inch pitch roller chain is used with a 17-tooth

sprocket rotating at 300 rpm to drive a sprocket at 100 rpm. Determine
the number of teeth on the driven sprocket, the pitch diameter of each
sprocket, and the length of the chain in pitches if the center distance is
36 in.
1. a. 50 teeth b. 51 teeth c. 52 teeth d. 53 teeth
2. a. 5.44 in and 16.24 in c. 7.44 in. and 18.24 in.
b. 6.44 in. and 17.24 in.d. 8.44 in and 19.24 in.
3. a. 102.86 pitches

c. 106.86 pitches

b. 104.86 pitches

d. 108.86 pitches

Sample Board Problem Exercises (Train)

Problem 11.2
Shaft A turns 120 rpm in the direction shown and drives shaft b of an
open belt running on the right-hand steps of the pulleys. Shaft C is
driven from B by a pair of gears so that C turns 3 times for every 2
turns of B. Gear 2 has 26 teeth and 3 has 78 teeth. Shaft F carries a
bevel gear of 12 teeth which drives one of 120 teeth on shaft G. Shaft
G also carried 4, a 4-pitch, 16-tooth gear which is in mesh with a
sliding rack. What is the speed of the rack in inches per minute and
does it move to the right or left?

Sample Board Problem Exercises (Train)

Problem 11.6
Sketch shows side elevation of a molding machine. The stock is fed
through rolls A to cutter C, which is driven by a quarter-turn belt as
shown. Rolls are 4 in. in diameter, the upper one only being power
driven. If the cutter C is 6 in. in diameter, find the feed of the stock per
revolution of cutter and the relative speed of cutter and work. Cutter is
shown behind the work. Assume cutter makes 1 rpm.

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Numerical Examples

EXAMPLE #1:

A chain drive is used for reduction of speed from 320rpm to

128rpm. The number of teeth on driven sprocket is 50,
(a)Find the number of teeth on driving sprocket.
(b)If the pitch circle diameter of driving sprocket is 300mm, find out
the pitch of chain drive.

A chain drive is used for reduction of speed from 240rpm to 120

rpm. The number of teeth on the driving sprocket is 20. Find the
number of teeth on the driven sprocket. If the pitch circle
diameter of the driven sprocket is 800mm, determine the pitch
and length of chain.

A chain drive is used for increase in speed from 180rpm to

360rpm. The number of teeth on the driven sprocket is 30. If the
pitch circle diameter of the driving sprocket is 900 mm and
center to center distance between two sprockets is 1200mm.

Determine the length and the pitch of the chain.

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