THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MACHINE DESIGN


COURSE: DESIGN OF MACHINE ELEMENTS

CHAPTER 5: CHAIN DRIVE

ASSOC. PROF PHAN ĐINH HUAN

 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

1. INTRODUCTION
Application: chain drive is used to transmit power between two
shafts with large center distances. It consists of chain links that
mesh with toothed sprockets. Mắt xích

Cast: Đúc
Forge: Rèn
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

1. INTRODUCTION
Classification:
• Structure:

Bush Chain Rolling chain Silent Chain

• Number of Strands:

One - strand rolling Multiple - strand rolling

ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

1. INTRODUCTION
By application:
Power transmitting chains

Conveyor
chains

Hoisting and hauling chains

 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

1. INTRODUCTION
Advantages
• Transmit power between a large center distance of sprockets
easily (<8m).
• No initial tension and shaft loads.
• Do not slip.
• Able to drive several shafts at the same time.
• Less space than belt.
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

1. INTRODUCTION
Disadvantages:
Grease: Mỡ (dầu máy)
• Chain drives are noisy so they are more practical for low
speed drive.
• Velocity fluctuation occurs, when mounted inaccurately.
• Require maintenance and lubrication.
• Roller chains is most commonly used.
• Belt driveis used for high speed rotating shaft and chain
drive for low speed rotating one.
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

2. STRUCTURE

1. Pin link plate

2. Roller link plate
3. Pin
4. Bushing
5. Roller
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

2. STRUCTURE
Structure of sprocket:
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

3. GEOMETRIC PARAMETER
• Pitch pc (Followed standard in Table 5.4)
• Number of teeth in the sprocket Z1  29  2u
(where rolling chain 1115 < Z < 100 120)
pc pc
• Diameter d  

180
sin sin
Z Z
2
2a Z 2  Z1  Z 2  Z1  p c
• Number of links X    
pc 2  2  a

• Center distance (Interger number

 Z 2  Z1 Z 2  Z1 
2
Z 2  Z1  
2 divided by 2)
 
a  0.25 p c  X   X    8  
 2  2   2  
 
ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

4. KINEMATICS
4.1 Velocity
• Average velocity:

Z1 pc n1 Z 2 pc n2
v1  v2 
6.10 4
6.10 4
• average velocity ratio:

n1 Z 2
u 
n2 Z12
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

4. KINEMATICS
4.2 Instant Velocity and Ratio:
• Instant Velocity:
cos  

 



 

v2  v1 Z1 Z1 Z2 Z2
cos 
• Velocity ratio:
Z 2 cos 
ut   const
Z1 cos 

However, the value of ut has trivial

change, therefore considering
as ut= const.
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

5. DYNAMIC

5.1 Force on shaft.

Fr  K m Ft
Where Km=1.15 when angle between line connecting center of
two sprockets and horizontal < 400. Km=1 when the angle from
400 to 900.
5.2 Kinetic energy of impact.
Because chain rollers impact on teeth of the sprocket when
operating, the impact energy has to be absorbed.

E  0.5q m n12 p c3 sin 3 (  360 0 / Z1 )  E 

ASSOC.PROF: PHAN DINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING
6.1 Maintenance
Loose pins and bushings  Stretch pitch  Loose chain.

Craked, broken or chipped pins.

ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING
6.2 Wearing capacity
Principle: pressure due to contact between pin and link plate has
to be smaller than permissible stress of bushing material.
p   p
Because of different experiment conditions, pressure takes into
consideration the variable factors :

 p   p0 
K
Permissible bearing pressures [p0] show in table 5.3
ASSOC. PROF: PHAN DINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING
Overall factor
K  K r K a K 0 K dc K b K lv
Factors should be taken at page 180.
Where: Kr - effect of Shock factor: For transmited by electrical

motors and shockfree operation, considered as Kr=1. Kr=1
if load makes shock. Kr=1.8 if load has heavy shock.
Kα - effect of center distance or chain length. The greater
length of chain is, the less frequently chain links deflect,
therefore reducing friction travel.
a <25pc (30-50)pc (0-80)pc
Kα 1.25 1 0.8
ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING

K0 - arrangement of drive factor, angle between line connecting

center of two sprockets and horizontal line <600 K0=1, the angle
>600 K0=1,25
Kdc - chain tension factor, tension by shaft Kdc=1, by roller
Kdc=1,1; no tension Kdc=1,25
Kb - lubrication factor, continuous lubrication Kb=0,8; drop
lubrication Kb=1, periodic lubrication Kb=1,5
Klv - rating factor, 8 hours per day Klv=1, 16 hours per day
Klv=1,25; continuous service Klv=1,5
 ASSOC. PROF: PHAN DINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING
Number of Links (By calculate directly):
KT1 KP1
pc  2.823  6003
Z1  p0 K x Z1n1  p0 K x
Choose Z1 by formula: Z1 = 29 - 2.u
Where Kx - effect of Strands Number
Number of Strand 1 2 3 4
Kx 1 1.7 2.5 3

Number of Links (By follow standard table):

Transmited Power: K K z K n P1
Pt   P 
Kx
Factor of teeth number of driving sprocket: Kz  Z01 / Z1  25/ Z1
Factor of speed of driving sprocket: Kn  n01 / n1
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING

Follow table 5.4, pc takes into consideration n01, [P]

pc [P]
n01=50 n01=200 n01=400 …..

pc Pt<[P]
Table 5.4

6.3 Check impact times per second.

To absorb the impact energy E, we check impact times per second,
[i] is shown in table 5.6 Table 5.6
Pitch Pc(mm)
Types
Z1n1 12,7 15,87 19,05 25,4 31,75 38,1 44,45 50,8
i  [i ] Roller chain 40 30 25 20 16 14 12 10
15 X
Silent chain 60 50 40 25 20 - - -
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

6. CALCULATING
Table 5.4: Select Pitch pc by Permission Power
Pitch Pin Bush Permission transmit Power in case of low speed of
pc Diameter Length sprocket n01, rpm
(mm) (mm) (mm) 50 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1600
12.7 3.66 5.8 0.19 0.68 1.23 1.68 2.06 2.42 2.72 3.2
12.7 4.45 8.9 0.35 1.27 2.29 3.13 3.86 4.52 5.06 5.95
12.7 4.45 10.11 0.45 1.61 2.91 3.98 4.9 5.74 6.43 7.55
15.875 5.08 11.30 0.57 2.06 3.72 5.08 6.26 7.34 8.22 9.65
15.875 5.08 13.28 0.75 2.7 488 6.67 8.22 9.63 10.8 12.7
19.05 5.96 17.75 1.41 4.8 8.38 11.4 13.5 15.3 16.9 19.3
25.4 7.95 22.61 3.2 11.0 19.0 25.7 30.7 34.7 38.3 43.8
31.75 9.55 27.46 5.83 19.3 32.0 42.0 49.3 54.9 60.0 -
38.1 11.12 35.46 10.5 34.8 57.7 75.7 88.9 99.2 108 -
44.45 12.72 37.19 14.7 43.7 70.6 88.3 101 - - -
50.8 14.29 45.21 22.9 68.1 110 138 157 - - -
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

7. DESIGN OF CHAIN DRIVES

Innitial given data: power P1 (kW), speed n1 (rpm), ratio u,

working conditions.
1. Select types of chain (rolling chain, silent chain) based on power,
velocity and working conditions.
2. Determine number of teeth Z1 (Z1 should be odd).
3. Determine Z2 and check Z2 < Zmax. Recalculate the exact
velocity ratio.
4. Determine factors of conditions K, factors Kx, Kz,Kn
5. Determine calculated Power Pt; select pitch pc (Table 5.4)
6. Check the ultimate speed (Table 5.2).
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

7. DESIGN OF CHAIN DRIVES

7. Determine speed v and force Ft.

8. Select centre distance a, determine number of links X.
9. Check times of impact per second.
10. Calculating force exerted on shaft.
 ASSOC. PROF. PHAN ĐINH HUAN

END OF CHAPTER 5

Reference Documents:
[1] BG Chi tiết máy, TS. Phan Tấn Tùng
[2] Cơ sở chi tiết máy, PGS TS Nguyễn Hữu Lộc
[3] BG Chi tiết máy, TS Bùi Trọng Hiếu
22