What is Roller Chain?
Roller chain Construction
Roller chain only consists of 5 basic components: Outer plate, Inner
plate, Pin, Bush, Roller.-
Inner Link (also known as Roller Link): consists of 2 bushes press
fitted into inner plates with 2 free rotating rollers over the
bushes.
-
Outer Link (also known as Pin Link): consists of 2 pins press fitted
into outer plates.
Pins are normally rivet type to ensure the fastness, but cotter type is
also available to offer for easily disassembly.
Roller chain Connection
Roller chain connecting is used to connect two chains or a chain to other
component.
It could be categorized into 2 types: connecting link and offset link.
Here is the difference between the 2 types:
-
Connecting link
The total quantity of links on a roller chain is usually odd number + 1 connecting link to be an even number chain.
There are 2 types of connecting links: Spring clip type and Cotter pin type.
It is common to use spring clip type for small size roller chains.
Cotter pin type is used for medium/large size roller chains.
-
Offset link
Offset link can be used when an odd number of chain links is required.
There are 2 types of offset links: Single-pitch (OL) and Two-pitch (2POL).
What are the types of roller chain?
As mentioned, roller chains are widely used for many applications so
international standards are set to ensure the specification enable to the
match the sprockets.
Roller chain can be categorized into 2 types as below:
-
American Standards:
the roller chain part number are governed by The American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) so earning the name ANSI chains. Roller
chain and matching sprocket must comply with ANSI B29.1.
>Check for ANSI Roller Chain Dimensions (PDF)
-
British Standards: the roller chain part number are governed by European standards
committees and need to comply with ISO 606.
>Check for BS Roller Chain Dimensions (PDF)
How to identify roller chain part number?
From the part number, we could identify some specification of chains in the
following way.
American Standards
-
Chain pitch: The American Standards is measured in 1/8 inches so the first digit
in the roller part number identify the pitch of 1/8 inches increment.
For example, from the part number ANSI 40, we could identify the pitch is 4/8 inches (equal to 1/2 inches).
The part number could be 3 digits for larger size. For example, ANSI 120 could be identified as the pitch is 12/8 inches (equal to 1-1/2 inches.)
-
Specification
-
0 as the last digit: means the chain is standard chain which covers
the range from ANSI 40 to ANSI 240.
-
5 as the last digit: means the chain is bushing chain. Bushing
chains don’t have rollers.
For example: ANSI 25 and ANSI 35.
-
1 as the last digit: means the chain is lightweight chain.
For example, ANSI 41 is the lightweight version to ANSI 40.
-
0 as the last digit: means the chain is standard chain which covers
the range from ANSI 40 to ANSI 240.
British Standards
-
Chain pitch: The British Standards is measured in 1/16 inches so the digits in the
roller chain part number identify the pitch of 1/16 inches increment.
For example, the pitch of 08B could be identified as 8/16 inches (equal to 1/2 inches) and 20B is identified as 20/16 inches (equal to 1-1/4 inches)
Heavy duty roller chains
Heavy duty version is at optional for both ANSI and BS series. They
differ by having a thicker side plate and could also be identified from
the part number by adding H in the part number.
For example, ANSI 100H and BS 12BH.>check more information for ANSI Heavy Duty roller chain
>check more information for BS Heavy Duty roller chain
Straight sidebar roller chains
Straight sidebar version is also at optional for both ANSI and BS
series.
The side plate is straight instead of figure 8 shape.
The identified code in a part number is “F”.
For example, ANSI 60F and BS 12BF.
>check more information for ANSI Straight Sidebar roller chain
>check more information for BS Straight Sidebar roller chain
The strands of roller chains
Based on the different strength requirement for the application, the
multiple strands are the alternatives for the customer. MAXTOP chain has
the options up to triple strands.In the part number system, adding a hyphen and number to present the strands of the chain.
|
Series |
Chain No. |
Heavy Duty |
Straigh Sidebar |
Single Strand |
Duplex Strand |
Triplex Strand |
|
ANSI |
50 |
50H |
50F |
50 |
50-2 |
50-3 |
|
BS |
10B |
10BH |
10BF |
10B |
10B-2 |
10B-3 |