Key Factors That Affect the Service Life of Conveyor Chains
CamelConvey can provide kinds of chains, like power and free conveyor chains, floor conveyor chains, or other transmission chains. Different of chains have different life. So which factors will affect the life of a chain in a particular environment? CamelConvey list the below factors.
The load on the chain and therefore the bearing pressure between the pin and the bush.
The design of conveyor chain is such that at the calculated working load of the chain (relative to the breaking load) then the bearing pressure between the pin and the bush will be at a maximum of 24N/mm2 (3500lb/in2) for a clean well lubricated environment. This pressure should be reduced for anything less than clean, well lubricated conditions and this is allowed for by increasing the factor of safety.
The characteristics of the material
Some materials are extremely abrasive and if the material cannot be kept away from the chain then the bearing pressure must be reduced to lessen the effect of the abrasion. It is possible to improve the abrasion resistance of chain components by more sophisticated heat treatments at extra cost but the usual way of ensuring an acceptable life is to reduce the bearing pressure.
Corrosion
Some materials are aggressive to normal steels and the nature of the attack will be to reduce the side plate section and therefore the chain strength, or cause pitting of the pin, bush and roller surfaces.
The pitting of the surface has the effect of reducing the bearing area of the component and therefore increasing the bearing pressure and wear rate. The process will also introduce (onto the bearing surfaces) corrosion products which are themselves abrasive.
Materials such as Nitrates will cause the failure of stressed components due to nitrate stress cracking.
Maintenance by the end user is one of the most important factors governing the life of a chain
For the basic maintenance measures required to obtain the maximum useful life from your chain consult the Installation and Maintenance section.
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