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Difference between drive chain and roller chain

2023-05-04 15:36:55

The characteristic of chain transmission is that it is relatively cheap, easy to maintain, and not durable (it will be stretched and the transmission efficiency will be reduced). It requires frequent lubrication and maintenance (cleaning and adjusting the chain length), and of course, its overall lifespan is much longer than that of belt transmission.  


transmission ratio


In fact, it was not the case. In 1901, Belgium's FN first launched a 133cc single cylinder motorcycle, and the following year, FN launched the first FN300 motorcycle with shaft transmission.


The biggest advantage of shaft transmission is that it will not be stretched and needs to adjust the track width. It is free of oil pollution and can basically be maintenance-free, and has low losses and high driving efficiency! But without the shock absorption effect of the chain, the vibration of the vehicle body is directly transmitted to the knight's body


What types of transmission chains can be divided into


Engineering steel chains began in the 1880s. This chain is designed to handle the harshest environments and most demanding applications. They are made of hot-rolled steel and sometimes undergo heat treatment to increase strength.


Engineering Chains For Transmission.jpg

When the prime mover rotates, the chain wrapped around the shaft sprocket also rotates accordingly. This applies mechanical force to the driven shaft, transmitting mechanical power during this process.


One of the main advantages of chain drive compared to belt drive is its zero slip characteristic, which allows it to maintain a constant speed ratio. There is no lag in power transmission, so it can be used as a timing chain in applications such as internal combustion engines. No slip also ensures high mechanical efficiency. The only loss of chain transmission is due to friction between the chain link and sprocket.


The carrying capacity of the silent chain increases with the increase of the number of plates in each link, and the tensile strength and chain width also increase accordingly.


The difference between belt drive and chain drive

Most transmission chains are exposed during use and are prone to accumulation of dust, mud, and oil, requiring frequent cleaning. During cleaning, the chain can be removed for thorough cleaning without dismantling it. Thorough cleaning is the process of removing the chain and soaking it in a cleaning agent (gasoline or kerosene) for a certain period of time, then brushing it section by section with a brush. After cleaning, immerse the chain in lubricating oil at 70-80 ℃, and fill it with oil before installation and use.


The shaft transmission method of motorcycles was developed by BMW in 1923, but when compared to chain and belt transmission, its power consumption reached as much as 10%. Because it is consumed by the internal universal joint. However, its smooth power transmission, long maintenance cycle, and lifespan make it a popular transmission method in axle driven locomotives.


The form of chain transmission

Both ends of the shaft drive are equipped with bevel gears. For example, the yamaha xv400 shaft drive is equipped with bevel gears at both ends, so there will be no torque reaction during rotation~! Of course, there is still a slight feeling in reality, especially when parking, there is a noticeable feeling, but when driving, it is OK~~~


Conveyor chain drivers can be used in industries such as packaging, automotive, food and beverage production, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Accessories can be installed on the conveyor chain to adapt to various purposes.


Chain transmission not only has low manufacturing costs, but also allows for better adjustment of the chain. From the manufacturer's manufacturing perspective, different models equipped with the same engine may have different front and rear tooth discs. In this case, changing the length of the chain is much simpler. For racing and stunt vehicle modifications, chain transmission is the best form of transmission to change.


Its disadvantage is that excessive torque output can cause slipping, and the power transmission efficiency at high speeds is also lower than that of chains. Moreover, it has a shorter lifespan as it is made of rubber material and is more susceptible to environmental aging. If the belt is exposed to extremely high temperatures, it may also deform. Finally, its replacement process is also more complicated.


Roller chain


Transmission chains have appeared in China as early as the second century AD. At that time, the overturning car created by Bi Lan of the Eastern Han Dynasty had already successfully applied the principle of sprocket transmission. This square plate leaf chain waterwheel can be considered as an original chain transmission device.


The difference between shaft drive and chain drive is that due to the rotation direction of the shaft being perpendicular to the forward direction of the car, lateral torque will occur during rotation, causing the car to tilt in the opposite direction of shaft rotation. The higher the speed, the greater the torque!


Chain drive is a mechanical power transmission system that uses chains to transmit power from one place to another. Traditional chain transmission devices consist of two or more sprockets and the chain itself. The holes on the chain link are installed on the sprocket teeth.


The shaft transmission method of motorcycles was developed by BMW in 1923. Due to the fact that the rotation direction of the shaft is perpendicular to the forward direction of the car, lateral torque will occur during rotation, causing the car to tilt in the opposite direction of shaft rotation. The higher the rotational speed, the greater the torque. Therefore, shaft transmission is not suitable for high-speed cars, so racing cars that pursue speed generally do not use shaft transmission. The characteristics of shaft drive are durability, high manufacturing cost, extremely high material requirements, and high processing difficulty. The biggest advantage of shaft transmission is that it will not be stretched and requires adjusting the track width. It is basically maintenance free without oil pollution, and has low losses and high driving efficiency. The disadvantage is that the vibration of the vehicle body is directly transmitted to the rider's body. When increasing the throttle, there is a phenomenon of torque generation in the rear (the reaction phenomenon of torque - the body will tilt in the opposite direction of shaft transmission rotation during rapid acceleration or deceleration). MOTOGP has no one using shaft drive. And the shaft drive is heavier than the chain drive. But today, a new type of shaft drive anti tilt damping system has been developed (due to the installation of bevel gears at both ends of the shaft drive, there will be no torque reaction during rotation). Both ends of the shaft drive are equipped with bevel gears. The yamahaxv400 shaft transmission is equipped with bevel gears at both ends, so there will be no torque reaction during rotation.


The safety of the crew and chain drive system depends on the correctness of the calculations at this stage. It is recommended to work with sufficient safety factors.


But today, a new type of shaft drive anti tilt damping system has been developed. Due to the installation of bevel gears at both ends of the shaft drive, there will be no torque reaction during rotation.


Modern chain transmission devices form a compact whole of the connecting parts of a machine, which is a key component for improving mechanical performance.


The above three transmission modes each have their own advantages and disadvantages, so different transmission modes will be matched during design based on the vehicle model and usage.


Engineering steel chains are equally important today. However, their strength, wear rate, load-bearing capacity, and pitch have increased to meet today's industrial needs.


In the drive chain, the roller link plate (on each side of the roller) is higher than the roller. This can prevent the side plate from coming into contact with the sprocket during operation. In addition, they act as guides and prevent the roller chain from slipping.


Chain hoists may be the most common machinery used for lifting and lowering equipment. They can effortlessly lift huge weights using pulleys.


The roller chain is composed of inner plate (roller chain plate), outer plate (pin chain plate), bushing, pin and roller. The rollers are placed equidistant between the chain links. These rollers mesh with the sprocket teeth and transmit power through the chain. An important advantage of roller chain is that when they contact with sprocket teeth, they will rotate as required, thus reducing power loss.


For the roller chain in the conveyor, the roller diameter is relatively larger than the height of the side bar. This can prevent contact between the side bars and conveyor tracks, and improve efficiency by eliminating translational friction. A larger roller can also reduce rotational friction.


It is recommended that the center distance between axles be within the range of 30-50 times the chain pitch. Designers must also ensure that a minimum contact arc of 120 degrees is obtained on the smaller sprocket. If the number of sprocket teeth is small, there must be at least five teeth in contact with the chain at any given time.


The components of the chain are made of carbon steel or alloy steel and undergo heat treatment to improve strength, wear resistance, and impact resistance. The roller chain can be made into single row chain and multi row chain. When transmitting high power, double row chain or multi row chain can be used. The carrying capacity of multi row chains is directly proportional to the number of rows. However, due to the influence of accuracy, the load borne by parallel chains is not easily uniform, so the number of rows should not be too large.


The Yamahaxv400 shaft transmission is equipped with bevel gears at both ends, so there is no torque reaction phenomenon during rotation.


Another common application of chain transmission is conveyor chains. The conveyor uses chain drives designed specifically for material transportation. They have hundreds of different design and motion characteristics, such as low friction, high temperature resistance, and chemical resistance. They can also be antistatic and magnetic.


Most chain drives require lubrication to achieve satisfactory wear life. The type, size, load, and operating speed of the chain will determine the need and degree of lubrication. Depending on the application, designers may prefer manual, drip, oil bath, or forced supply lubrication.


On the other hand, compared to chains, its power transmission is more delicate, resulting in a very smooth power output. For motorcycles with very heavy body or high load, the axle transmission energy can withstand greater torque, so it can still bring smooth power.


In the Northern Song Dynasty of the 10th century AD, Zhang Sixun was inspired by the principle of gear chains on dragon bone waterways that were widely used in rural areas, and applied this important invention to his astronomical clocks.


Chain transmission is our most common transmission method. For motorcycles, the biggest advantage of chain transmission is its low cost and wide applicability. Moreover, when the engine brakes, the chain has many gaps, which can absorb vibrations. The disadvantage is that the friction between the chain and gears can easily cause chain relaxation, gear wear, and high noise.

chain transmission.jpg

The modern anti segregation paver uses gear transmission, with the maximum power of more than 100KW and the maximum torque of more than 8000N. m. The powerful torque can make the materials fully embedded in the screw, realize secondary forced mixing, and effectively solve various paving segregation problems.


But now we have developed a new type of axle drive anti tilt damping system~! (Due to the installation of bevel gears at both ends of the shaft drive, there will be no reaction of torque during rotation~!)


The torque generated by the rotation direction of the chain and the forward direction of the car only causes the front of the car to lift upwards, which has little impact on high-speed driving.


Cleaning: Use a low volatility cleaning solution combined with a chain cleaner to clean the oil stains outside the chain and the sand particles inside the chain.


When the belt is in motion, the outer layer is stretched, while the inner layer is mainly subjected to squeezing pressure. Therefore, making the inner layer of the belt into a toothed shape is more suitable for the stress situation of the belt at these working positions, thereby extending the service life of the belt.


For higher power requirements, designers can choose multi chain roller chain. For the same load requirements, multiple strands are allowed to use low speed and small chain pitch.


The transmission chain is crucial for most motorcycles and is also the most direct first link of power output. The quality of the transmission chain directly affects the durability, comfort, and reliability of motorcycles. The chain transmission mechanism of motorcycles may experience varying degrees of wear and elongation of the chain after use for a period of time. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly inspect and adjust the chain transmission device, and replace irreparable chain sprockets in a timely manner.


When it comes to chains, roller chain may be one that most people think of. Roller chain or sleeve roller chain are widely used for power transmission in bicycles, motorcycles and other applications in the transportation industry. They are usually made of ordinary carbon steel or steel alloys.


The roller chain is composed of an inner chain plate, an outer chain plate, a pin shaft, a sleeve and a roller. The inner chain plate is fixedly connected with the sleeve, the outer chain plate and the pin shaft with interference fit, called the inner and outer chain links; The gap fit between the roller and the sleeve, as well as between the sleeve and the pin shaft.


At present, many inner layers of belts are made into toothed shapes, which are designed to take into account the stress situation of the belt when it is at the angle of the pulley. At this position, the outer layer of the belt is stretched, while its inner layer is mainly subjected to squeezing force. Making the inner layer of the belt into a toothed shape is more suitable for the stress situation of the belt at these working positions, thereby extending the service life of the belt.


Furthermore, when installing the chain, the loose edge should have a suitable initial sag. The initial sag is approximately 1% to 2% of the center distance of the sprocket. And make the front and rear wheel axles and rear suspension axles in a straight line, at which point the chain is exactly at the theoretical longest value. When adjusting the chain, it is necessary to meet the normal tension of the chain when it is in the position of three axes and one line. If the chain is too tight, it will cause poor transmission, increase power consumption, accelerate the wear of the chain and sprocket, and easily cause the chain to break, and even cause accidents. If the chain is too loose, it will make an abnormal noise during driving, increase the vibration, and there is a risk of chain falling.


When it comes to our common chains, such as streetcars, sports cars, and station wagons, it can be said that besides scooters, they are the most common transmission form because of their low manufacturing cost and high power transmission efficiency. Until now, they have been the preferred choice for many motorcycles.


The A series is a size specification that meets American chain standards; The B series is in line with Europe (mainly in the UK), and the difference between the two chains is not significant;


The length of the chain is represented by the number of chain links Lp, preferably an even number to facilitate the connection of the inner and outer chain plates during chain joints. Cotter pins or spring locks can be used at the joints. If the chain links are odd, transition chain links need to be used at the joint. When the chain is loaded, the transition chain links not only bear tensile force, but also additional bending load, which should be avoided as much as possible.


Compared to gears, chain drives are more versatile in terms of working distance. When the distance between the shafts is greater than the actual distance of the gears, they will come into play. The chain drive is highly efficient at different distances while still maintaining a relatively compact setting. They can be used for short distance applications (such as bicycles) and long distance applications (such as 5-story marine engines). A chain can provide power to multiple shafts simultaneously.


In terms of transmission efficiency, whether it focuses on torque or horsepower, it can unleash the performance of the vehicle, as evidenced by off-road vehicles and simulated races.


Elliptic ring chains are also known as coil chains. They are typically used as lifting chains for medium to low loads and are typically used for low-speed lifting applications. The chain links are oval shaped, each of which is interlocked and welded together.


Recently, the weather has been cloudy and sunny, and it is always sunny outside during work hours. However, on weekends when we are about to go out and play, the sudden rainfall often disrupts the enthusiasm for cycling. In that case, let's talk about the relevant precautions when maintaining vehicles in such weather.


Among them, more than one-third are used for transmission parts with low precision mechanical torque, such as replacing 45 ° bevel gears for multi axis linkage, and more than four to eight are used for transmission between conveyor belt teeth and transmission components. After eight, they are all used for heavy-duty mechanical transmission, such as diesel engines, generators, electric hoists, overhead cranes, elevators, forklifts, cranes, and other occasions with high horizontal and vertical torque.


Due to the diverse forms and functions of various chain designs, selecting the appropriate chain transmission for applications may become somewhat difficult. The correct method for making this choice is to eliminate inappropriate options by evaluating the application and functionality of the chain. This will help narrow down the range of feasible choices before making the final choice. The most important factors in chain drive selection are as follows:


Not all chain drives can handle high-speed applications. Some chain drives are designed specifically for low speeds. Specifications can be obtained by calculating and ensuring that the speed is within the recommended range. This evaluation will greatly reduce the number of designs available for this application.


The dust removal of the chain, especially the cleaning of the chain oil seal, is crucial. Please use a specialized chain cleaning spray to effectively clean and dissolve the dust inside the oil seal, effectively protecting the oil seal.


The basic parameters of roller chain include pitch p, roller outer diameter d1, etc. The pitch p is the main parameter of roller chain. The larger the pitch, the larger the size of each part of the chain, and the greater the power that can be transmitted.


In fact, at the beginning of that incident, BMW had already noticed the problem. In the first half of 2016, it began to rectify the transmission shaft by adding a steel frame inside the transmission shaft sheath to enhance strength, spraying anti rust paint on the transmission shaft, and so on. After that batch of trains, no further problems were heard with the transmission shaft. So it is not this form that affects the reliability of the transmission shaft, but manufacturing issues.


Silent chain, also known as inverted tooth chain. The silent chain can transmit a large amount of power at high speed while maintaining quiet operation. The chain consists of flat plates stacked in rows and connected by one or more pins. Each chain link has a profile of the sprocket teeth on the lower side that meshes with the sprocket teeth.


In addition, belt transmission, with inaccurate transmission ratio, can provide overload protection. Gear transmission, precise transmission ratio but without overload protection. Gears can be reversed, belts cannot. The maintenance of the belt drive mechanism is simple.


GIDI CHAIN LIMITED supply lots of roller chainconveyor chainLeaf Chain, welded chainforged chainPalm Oil Mill ChainHoisting Chain,Mine and Metallurgy Chain, etc. totaling over 3000 varieties. and 90% of chains are exported to worldwide, Which mainly export to Southeast Asia, European, North America, South America. Chains are welcomed by customers with the excellent quality. Our company owns more than 100 sets of advanced and professional manufacturing equipment, Perfect and rigorous QC system is implemented in every process from material purchasing to finished products packaging. Also, we have passed the ISO9001: 2015 Quality Management System Certification.


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