Tag: chain

Benefits of Chain Drive SystemsBenefits of Chain Drive Systems

an excavator uses chain drive


The rope and belt drives used in transmission have the disadvantage of slipping. A chain drive is designed to avoid slipping. It is a way of transmitting mechanical power made up of a series of links called roller chain supported with a toothed sprocket gear. This power transmission mainly applies to a motorcycle. The links hinged together with a pin joint provide it with the required flexibility to wrap the sprocket. It makes the chain and sprocket move together. Without slipping, it ensures there is a perfect velocity ratio. If you need a high-quality chain for your machine, you check out the best drive chain distributor who stocks sprockets and chains that can suit your critical and diverse needs.

Below are some benefits of chain drive systems:

Dampens Vibrations

Since a chain drive is flexible, it can damp vibrations. The driver unit can produce a tolerable vibration. However, a machine might undesirably emit excess leading to unbalanced force and broken components. Therefore, it should not be transmitted to a prime mover. In a flexible drive, the flexibility element dumps vibration due to a lack of an intermediate or rigid drive.

Produce the Same Direction of Rotation

rotate wheels in same directionIn a mechanical drive, it is necessary to alter the direction of rotation depending on the requirement. With machines, the direction of motion can be the same or opposite with the prime mover. A chain can drive the subsequent shaft in an identical direction as the driver shaft. If multiple shafts are required to move, the chain drive can offer rotation in all directions. A single-stage gear can only rotate in the opposite direction.

Offers Flexible Drive

Mechanical drives can have or lack intermediate linkages. A flexible drive is where an intermediate link between a driven and driver shaft exists. A chain drive has this advantage since it has a joint between the shafts. It ensures flexibility due to the presence of a chain and used for long-distance transmission. On the other hand, a gear drive lacks such linkage and is a rigid drive, which cannot cover long distances.

Requires Only Frequent Lubrication

As an engagement drive, two bodies are in contact, making heat generate. Wear and tear a common problem in both the gear and chain drive. It is, therefore, necessary to use lubricating oil to mitigate such effects. A chain drive will only require frequent lubrication, while a gear drive will need full lubrication, and the unit is usually fully or partially immersed in the lubricating oil.…