Assembly of Conveyor Chain

Unless otherwise specified, new conveyor chains are usually supplied in 3m (10ft.) lengths to
facilitate handling. The chain is made in even numbers of pitches, with an inner link at one end and
an outer link at the other end, so they may be easily joined together.

To connect the chain:

1. First fit the pinholes of the outer link plate to the bushing holes to be connected and insert the
pins.

Inserting the Pins

2. Hold the counter plate with a hammer and tap the pin heads with another hammer until the pins
are completely inserted into the link plate.

Putting on the Link Plate

3. Insert new T-pins or cotter pins into the bearing pins and bend the ends to prevent loosening.

Inserting T-Pins or Cotter Pins

Note

Do Not Grind the Circumference of the Connector of the Side Bar Hole to Ease Insertion of the
Connector.

Do Not Heat Side Bars to Ease Pin Insertion. Side Bar Fatigue may Result Which will Cause the
Entire Chain and Bucket Assembly to Fall into the Boot of the Elevator.

Installation of the Chain

Before starting to install elevator chain, the foot shaft take up should be positioned at its upper end
of travel to provide for maximum adjustment. To accomplish this, tie off the take up beam
assembled in the top of the boot section.

For convenience in shipping and handling, chains are coiled in segments approximately 3 meters
long. The chain can become twisted if improperly handled.

Newer pick up the chain by hooking into the center of a coil.

Avoid This

Support the entire coil.

Do This

Do not feed the chain into elevator on its side.

Avoid This

Do This

Assemble and disassemble chain quickly and safely in the elevator with the portable tool.

After the chain connection has been made, check to determine if the joint is too tight, a sharp rap to
the cotter end of the pin with a hammer will aid in relieving the tightness. This can be easily
accompanied before buckets are attached.

The chain may now be installed in the elevator casing. The chain lengths should be connected
together outside the elevator casing and fed in through the boot.

No more than 6 meters of chain should be connected together outside of the elevator during
installation, to avoid twisting or bending. Be sure that the chain is oriented properly.
 Drop a line into the far-side of casing from the top. Using an air tugger or other means available,
feed chain around the bottom of the foot wheel and upward to the top of the head wheel. At this
time, tie off the chain, making sure chain is secure. Repeat the same procedure, feeding the chain
upward on the opposite side of the casing. Connect chain at the head wheel maintaining firm grip on
the chain while making connection. Return to the clean out door and connect the chain. Make last
chain connection in boot after chain is installed.

Secure the chain in such a way, using a hoist for tying off to a structural member laid across the
bearing angle, so that there is no chance of the chain running away and dropping into the boot. Do
not mount buckets to chain until the chain has been installed in the elevator.

It is recommended that all elevators be equipped with a positive stopping device. This feature will
eliminate extensive damage to the equipment by preventing a backward action of the elevator.

Chain Installation
 Initial Start Up

1. Guards, access doors and covers must be securely fastened before operating this equipment.

2. Electrical interlocks to warn personnel and shut off power whenever discharge of elevator is
interrupted.

3. Over load protection, Zero speed protection, Emergency stop switch and all other interlock
keep in working condition.

4. Be sure all debris, foreign objects and tools are removed from the elevator inside and
adjacent areas.

5. Confirm motor rotation. Ensure it is running in the right direction.

6. Auxiliary equipment feeding the elevator must be electrically interlocked with the elevator
to prevent boot flooding when elevator is not in operation.

7. Complete one or two revolution of the chain and buckets by auxiliary drive or manual to
check for proper assembly and clearances. If no difficulties are experienced during auxiliary
drive rotation, run the elevator with out load for one hours .
 Normal Operation

Before start up, make sure there is no obstruction to free discharge of material.

Elevator should be started with empty buckets only. Starting under load places undue strain on
chain. Therefore, it is imperative to allow all buckets to empty before stopping elevator.

Stop elevator only after feed has been stopped and elevator allowed to discharge the material.

Successful operation of any elevator is dependent on con feed. Material must be feed at a controlled
rate within rated capacity or boot will flood and stall elevator.

Avoid loading buckets to the extent of material spilling back down into the boot section. Boot must
not be allowed to pile up with spilled material.

The operator(s) should become familiar with all aspects of the construction and normal operating
conditions of the equipments. Thereby, immediately recognizing an abnormal situation or operating
condition before serious damage occurs

Maintenance General

Special tools or equipment recommended to maintain or service your elevator chain include a
standard torque wrench, portable jack and hammers to be used when checking.

Material should be centrally delivered at the specified uniform rate. Avoid loading buckets to the
extend that the material spills back down into the boot section. The boot itself must not be allowed
to fill up with spilled material. Chain should be operated at its rated speed.
Chain Check Points

Chain life is generally considered to have expired when the chain does not engage properly with the
sprocket / Traction wheel due to damage of its parts or elongation. The chain is usually replaced
when this occurs. A long working life without unexpected trouble can be achieved if the chain is
properly selected for the conditions of its application. To help prevent premature wear or damage,
the following points should be checked.

Points to Observe

1. Abnormal Noise

2. Vibration of the chain

3. Chain rising on the sprocket / Traction wheel

4. Chain winding around the sprocket / Traction wheel

5. Stiff bending of chain, or links

6. Amount and condition of lubrication

7. Whether the chain contacts the case

8. Appearance of the chain. Check for dirt, corrosion, damage on the outside surface of the
roller, contact marks, etc. Also check the inside and edge surfaces of the link plate and edge
surface of the pin.

9. Damage on the sprocket teeth / Traction wheel surfaces and side surfaces of teeth and
engaging area

10.Abrasive stretch of the chain

11.Bending of chain and rotation of roller

Check Points

1. Link Plate

If repeated loads in excess of the allowable load are applied to the chain, there is a strong
possibility of fatigue breakage of the link plate. Fatigue breakage is difficult to anticipate until a
crack is produced. Usually a crack develops at the edge of a hole or at the side of the link plate, as
shown in the illustrations below. The presence of cracks should be checked carefully. Continuous
checking can prevent accidents.
 Positions where cracks are likely to develop

Example of an expanding crack

2. Roller

Care should be taken to avoid repeated impact loads over the allowable load as fatigue breakage
may occur. The roller should be checked in the same way as the link plate. If foreign objects
interfere with the engagement of the roller and sprocket, the roller may be damaged and a crack may
develop. Careful attention should be paid to this. Chains damaged due to fatigue breakage must be
completely replaced.

3. Sprocket

Chain and sprocket engagement can be checked by observing the roller and tooth surfaces. The
proper margin (A) and improper margin (B) are shown in the fig. The installation should also be
checked. The normal area where wear will occur is slightly above the bottom of the lowest point
between the sprocket teeth. If tension remains on the slack side, the roller will slightly touch the
lowest point between the sprocket teeth. When an idler or tightener is used, wear will occur almost
directly between the sprocket teeth.

Areas to Check for Sprocket Wear

Maintenance Check Point

Check Points Comments

A high precision guide rail is essential to ensure proper

centering of the conveyor. If centering is not accurate (with
Centering
no side guide rail), the conveyor chain will wobble and
weave resulting in shorter conveyor chain life.

When two or more sprockets are installed in a row, be sure

to align the position of the sprocket teeth. If the sprocket
Sprocket alignment
teeth are not properly aligned, the working load will not be
equally divided and will cause the chain to twist.

If take-ups on both sides are uneven, the conveyor chain will

Take-up
not engage smoothly with the sprocket.

Maintain adequate chain slack. If chain tension is too high,

Initial chain tension loss of power will result. This is a dangerous situation and if
too loose, the chain will climb the sprocket.

An unloaded trial run should be conducted after installation

by switching the system on and off several times
Trial run
intermittently. After inspection, continuous operation may
begin.

The conveyor should be stopped when it is not loaded,

Stopping the conveyor otherwise the conveyed material may cause an overload
when the conveyor starts again.

Except for conveyor chain like the Flow Conveyor, which

runs without lubrication, conveyor chain should be
Lubrication
lubricated periodically. Lubrication of the reducer, bearing,
and driving roller chain is also essential.

Parts fastened to the conveyor such as buckets, aprons,

Securing conveyor parts slates, etc. are apt to loosen due to vibration. Pay careful
attention to fastening nuts and bolts securely. Be sure to
check periodically.
Amount of chain slack Regularly check and adjust the amount of chain slack.

Temperature and prevention of When differences in temperatures (summer and winter or

freezing between day and night in the winter) are very severe,
conveyor damage may occur. Under these circumstances,
operate the conveyor carefully taking any variations in
 temperature into account.

After installing the conveyor, prepare a record of the

expected capacity to be conveyed, the conveyor's speed, and
r.p.m. of the main shaft, electric current, voltage, working
Record of conveyor use and
hours, actual conveying capacity, inspection date, lubricating
maintenance
date, details of trouble, etc. This will serve as protection
against unexpected accidents. This record will also be
convenient for maintenance and repairs.

Preventive Maintenance
Once the elevator is placed in operation, Preventive maintenance program should begin.

1. The buckets should be checked periodically for loose bolts and build up of material. All
damaged buckets should either be repaired or replaced to eliminate material falling into the
boot.

2. Check the rubber lip or tongue plate on the discharge spout of the elevator, which should not
touch with the bucket.

3. Check take up of bucket clearance with bottom of boot.

4. Side bars inner surfaces should be checked for wear. This is an indication of misalignment.

5. Loose or unseated pins are danger signals and could lead to a sudden and unexpected chain
shut down.

6. Excess material building in the chain and attachments could cause improper seating on
traction wheel rims / sprockets and rough elevator operation.

7. Round parts in chain; that is, the pins and bushings should be inspected for wear.

8. Traction wheel / Sprockets should be inspected for alignment and excessive wear.

Weekly Inspection (once in 175 Hrs )

1. Check motor load.

2. Check bucket fixing bolt missing & looseness.

3. Check boot for material build up and clean.

4. Check material build up in chain components and hammer it so that it can dislodge.
 5. Check chain for connecting pin seating.

Quarterly Inspection ( once in 2000 Hrs )

In addition to weekly inspection points, following pointes are to be checked

1. Check inside block links for wear

2. Check all side bars on bushing OD for wear.

3. Visually inspect clearance between each set of inner and outer side bars. Excessive
clearance suggests pin fracture.

4. Check for loose segmental fasteners. Check torque values for segmental rim bolts.

5. Check segmental traction wheel unusual wear.

6. Check for loose or missing buckets.

7. Inspect and adjust tongue plate at discharge point for wear and replace if excessively worn.

8. Check gravity take up guides and stop blocks; check for free operation of take up guides,
check for evidence of wear on guides.

Annual Inspection ( Once in 8000 Hrs )

In addition to weekly & Quarterly inspection points, following pointes are to be checked.

a) Traction wheel / Sprocket

1. Check for loose or missing segmental fasteners and torque values. If fasteners are missing,
replace with proper diameter high strength type.

2. Check for evidence of axial movement of sprocket along shaft.

3. Check for evidence of unusual or excessive wear and replace sets of segments as required.

b) Gravity Take up

1. Check stop blocks; check for free operation of take up in guides; check for evidence of wear
on guides.

c) Buckets

1. Check for loose or missing bucket fasteners.

2. Check for unusual wear patterns or damage buckets.

d) Drive station

1. Check head shaft bearings for evidence of wear.

 2. Check foot shaft bearings and sleeves for evidence of wear.

e) Chain section

1. Check all side bars and bushing OD s for uneven or deep wear patterns.

2. Check inside blocks for unequal wear from traction wheel / Sprocket.

3. Check chain for missing T- pin.

4. Check for chain elongation wear.

5. Remove 5 or 10 pins at random and measure the pin OD and bushing ID. Hammer test all
pins for soundness.

Chain Tension

Adjustment of Chain Tension

The correct amount of chain slack is essential for proper operation of the chain. When the chain is
too tight, working parts such as chain, sprocket wheel, shaft, bearing, etc. carry a much heavier load.
On the other hand, too much slack is also harmful and causes the chain to climb the sprocket teeth.

Frequency of Adjustment

The chain has a tendency to stretch a certain amount at the beginning of operation due to slight
distortion of its component parts. After such initial elongation, the chain stretches slightly, but
constantly, by normal wear. To maintain proper chain tension, adjustments, if necessary, should be
made at regular intervals. Neglect of careful inspection increases the chance of an accident.

Frequency of adjustment:

1st week - once a day

2nd ~ 4th week - twice a week

Thereafter - twice a month

Note:

The above frequency schedule is based on 8 hours operation a day. When working hours are
increased, the frequency of adjustment should be increased accordingly.

Even Adjustment of Take -up on Both Sides

This can be easily accomplished when take-ups are cooperating screw type or counterweight type.
Where two parallel chains are adjusted by two independently operated take-ups, care must be taken
to ensure even stroke on both the left and right side. An uneven adjustment will cause the link plate
and the side of the sprocket teeth to interfere with each other and result in an overload condition.

Chain Pitch Elongation

 When the chain engages with the sprocket or runs on a curved rail section, the chain flexes causing
the chain to stretch. In most cases, this is due to wear of the bearing parts such as the pins and
bushings. As chain pitch elongation increases, the chain tends to climb the top of sprocket. This
makes smooth operation of the conveyor impossible. The limit of pitch elongation is generally 2% -
6 % of the chain pitch.

Places to Measure Chain Elongation

Fig. indicates the way to measure chain pitch. Using a steel tape measure, measure as many pitches
as possible (at least 4 pitches required). Measuring points should be properly determined according
to (A), (B) or (C) in Fig., depending on the wear condition of the conveyor chain. The chain pitch
elongation per link is to be computed by comparing the actual pitch measured against the original
chain pitch.

Chain Pitch elongation can then be calculated.

Chain Elongation = Measured Length - Std. Length x 100(%)

Standard Length

Standard Length = Chain Pitch x Number of Links

Note

When measuring, use at least 6 to 10 links to help keep any measuring error to a minimum. When
measurement cannot be done with a vernier, it is possible, though less accurate, to use a tape
measure. If a tape measure is used, the measured length should be as long as possible.
 Life of Chain and Sprocket
After a certain period of time, wear will eventually appear on the chain and sprocket. The life of
conveyor chain depends on the wear of each component part and on pitch elongation. Careful
inspection is required more often than for power transmission roller chain.

The life of the conveyor chain component parts is shown below. TIDC recommends that periodic
inspections of the wearing parts are conducted and that care be taken to ensure that proper
maintenance is carried out. Also, a schedule for changing the chains should be established.

Roller Life

When wear between the rail, bushing and roller causes the under surface of the link plate to contact
the rail, the chain has usually reached the end of its usability. As shown in Fig, when the link plate
starts contacting the rail, rolling contact suddenly turns into sliding contact between the link plate
and rail, resulting in greater wear, an increase in chain tension and a reduction in transmitted
horsepower. Such wear generally appears on horizontal or inclined apron conveyors, slat conveyors,
etc.

Where a curved section of rail is provided, the allowed wear amount is decreased by a dimension
equivalent to "S". More care must be taken to observe wear than with horizontal sections.

The chain life has expired as soon as holes or crevices appear on the rollers due to wear.

Bushing Life

Bushings are generally useable until holes appear. Holes may appear as a result of conveying very
abrasive materials such as iron ore powder, coke, etc.

Link Plate Life

Reciprocal friction between inner and outer link plates and contact between side surfaces of rollers
and inside surfaces of link plates causes wear as indicated by (A) and (B) in Fig.
 If the amount of wear exceeds 1/3 of the original plate thickness, the tensile strength of the chain
will be reduced. When link plate wear appears faster than wear of other component parts,
misalignment of the conveyor during installation is the cause in most cases. Misalignment can also
develop during operation of the conveyor. Therefore, careful inspection is required to ensure
maximum working life.

Please check the following items:

1. Correct alignment of driving and driven sprockets

2. Correct alignment of shafts in horizontal and vertical planes

3. Preciseness of level gauge and accurate leveling

Sprocket Life

When the sprocket is worn, the chain tends to cling to the sprockets and vibrate. The amount of
allowable wear depends on the conveyor type and chain size, but generally, wear to a depth of 3mm
(0.12") to 6mm (0.24") is a sign that the existing sprocket should be repaired or replaced with a new
one to ensure continued chain life. One of the following means may be used to extend sprocket life:

1. Cut section (A) shown in Fig. with a grinder

2. Reverse the sprocket to change the engaging area of the tooth

3. Surfacing can be made using a welding rod to obtain the correct tooth profile. However, it is
more effective to replace the existing sprocket with a new one.

If the sprocket teeth are worn as shown in Fig. , the alignment of the sprockets may be incorrect.
Proper axial alignment of the sprockets will help reduce or even eliminate this type of wear.

Sprocket wears
Wear Characteristics of Conveyor Chain
Mechanical wear

When conveyor chain is used under reasonable conditions and a normal atmosphere, mechanical
wear causes the bearing surface of the chain to shine brightly. With proper lubrication, further life
can be assured.

Wear caused by conveyed material

Material having excessive wear characteristics tends to stick to the chain and to wear the surface of
the chain due to reciprocal friction between the material and chain. Under such conditions, care
should be taken to prevent material from falling on the chain. For extra protection, chains should
have higher wear resistant specifications.

Wear due to corrosion

Conveyor chain used in applications where acidic or alkaline chemicals are present, will be subject
to corrosive wear as well as mechanical wear. To protect against the chemical corrosion
accompanying mechanical wear, stainless steel is recommended.
Electrochemical corrosion

When the chain is splashed with water, and then enters chemical solutions, the surface of the sliding
area (i.e., Pin/Bush, Bush/Roller) is exposed to electrochemical corrosion, one of the most damaging
types of corrosion.

Troubleshooting and Problem Solving

Symptom Possible Causes Remeady

Excessive wear at
Remove the chain and correct
the inside of the Improper centering of the
the centering of the drive and
chain's link plates or sprocket
driven sprockets
the teeth surface

The chain is being pushed to the Remove the cause of the push
. side and/or install a guide roller

Vibration caused by the inaccurate Check and correct the faulty

finishing of the sprocket's axle locations and replace the
.
hole sprocket with a new part

Install a partition to protect the

Improper flex or
Rusting or corrosion chain or select a chain of
bending of the chain
suitable specification

When the chain is Particles of the conveyed material Install a partition to protect the
splashed with water, have contaminated the pin, chain. Select a chain with large
and then enters rolleThis Manual Contains clearance between the pin,
chemical solutions, Instructions for maintenance of bushing and roller.
the surface of the TIDC chains. The reliable
sliding area (i.e., operation and long service life of
Pin/Bush, these chains depends to a greater
Bush/Roller) is extend on the care taken during
exposed to installation and operation and the
electrochemical degree of maintenance.
corrosion, one of the
most damaging types Safety is a factor that
of corrosion. must be considered at
all times in the
. operations and
mechanical
equipment. Use of
proper tools and
methods can prevent
serious accidents that
may result in injury to
the operators and
fellow workers.

Warning

Failure to Observe and

Follow all Safety
Instructions may
Result in Serious
Personal Injury or
Property Damage.

Use care to prevent

injury, Comply with
the following to avoid
serious personal injury

1. Guards must
be provided on
all chain and
sprocket
installations in
accordance
with provisions
of
ANSI/ASME
B15.1 - 1992
"Safety
Standards for
Mechanical
Power
Transmission
Apparatus,"
and
ANSI/ASME
B20.1 - 1993
"Safety
Standards for
Conveyors and
 Related
Equipment," or
other
applicable
safety
standards.
When
revisions of
these standards
are published,
the updated
edition shall
apply.

2. Always lock
out power
switch before
installing,
removing,
lubricating or
servicing a
chain system.

3. When
connecting or
disconnecting
a chain:

a) Eye protection is
required. Wear safety
glasses, protective
clothing, gloves and
safety shoes.

b) Support the chain

to prevent
uncontrolled
movement of chain
and parts.

c) Use of pressing
equipment is
recommended. Tools
must be in good
condition and properly
used.

d) Determine correct
direction for pin/rivet
removal or insertion.
 e) Steady force, such as
mechanical or hydraulic press, is
preferred. If impacting force such
as hammer is used, take special
precautions to avoid metal chir,
and bushings. Otherwise,
contamination from foreign
particles.

Inspect and correct the

Deformation of the chain caused
installation of the sprockets and
. by improper installation
axles

Inspect the lubrication or look

Inadequate lubrication
. into wear resistant chain

Operation in extremely high

Provide adequate clearance.
. temperatures ( Over 400 c )

Provide periodic lubrication.

Seizure from excessive loads
. Reduce load

Pin bending due to excessively

Reduce load.
. high loading

The chain is Adjust the chain length or

winding on the Too much slack in the chain. distance between axles, or
sprocket install a tensioner.

Replace the chain and / or

Excessively worn sprocket. The
sprocket with a correct sized
. chain and sprocket do not match.
part.

The chain is Replace the chain and / or

The chain and sprocket do not
climbing up on the sprocket with a correct sized
match.
sprocket part.

The total arc of contact with the Have the total arc of contact be
chain on the sprocket is at least three teeth on the
.
insufficient. sprocket

Reduce the load by installing a

Excessive load.
. shock absorber

Adjust the catenary or take up

Inadequate back - tension
. idler, or install a tensioner
 Excessive elongation of the chain
Replace with a new chain
. due to wear

The distance between the center

of the chain and sprocket do not Inspect and correct
.
match

Inadequate lubrication to the

Unusual noises connecting portions of the pin and Provide sufficient lubrication
bushing

Inadequate lubrication to the Provide sufficient lubrication.

connecting portions of the Use a bearing roller or plastic
.
bushing and roller roller

Winding or rising on the sprocket See previous symptom

.

Loose chain casing or axle

Tighten all nuts and bolts
. bearing

Interference of the casing with the

Inspect and correct
. chain or other moving part

Excessive wear in the chain or

Replace the chain or sprocket
. sprocket

Improper setting of the guide rail Inspect and correct

.

Select a more suitable chain

material. Protect the chain from
Rusting of the chain Inappropriate selection of material
the environment. Apply a rust
inhibitor

Eliminate the temperature

difference between inside and
Condensation
. outside of the conveyor using
insulation etc

Improper roller spin

Provide sufficient lubrication.
and uneven roller Excessive load on roller
Consider bearing roller
wear

Particles of the conveyed material,

Periodic cleaning. Install
or other foreign particles, have
. partition to protect chain
gotten between bushing and roller
 Particles of the conveyed material,
Periodic cleaning. Install
or other foreign particles, have
. partition to protect chain
build up on to the rail

The lubricant is falling on the

roller surface and rail with out
Select the appropriate lubricant
entering between the bushing and
. and lubrication method
roller, and between the roller and
link plate

The bushing and roller have Select the appropriate

. rusted together specifications

Replace with a new chain. Re

The inner plate is moving
inspect the installation and load
. sideward
conditions

When the chain is

splashed with water,
and then enters
chemical solutions,
the surface of the
sliding area (i.e.,
Pin/Bush, Reduce the load and lower the
The bushing is cracked
Bush/Roller) is speed of rotation
exposed to
electrochemical
corrosion, one of the
most damaging types
of corrosion.

.
The side surface of the roller is
Eliminate the cause of the thrust
contacting the side of the link
. load
plate due to a thrust load

The chain and sprocket do not

Check for tooth deformation
. match. Excessively worn teeth

Reduce the load, provide

The roller is opening
Excessive load adequate lubrication, remove
up
any large steps in the rail

The roller or
Reduce the load. Provide
bushing is split Excessive load
adequate lubrication.
(falling off )

. The number of teeth is too few Increase the number of teeth.

 with respect to the conveyor speed Decrease the speed

The roller is Increase the lubrication,

Excessive load or inadequate
becoming hour glass improve loading conditions, and
lubrication
shaped replace the chain with a new one

Excessively worn rail Correct or replace the rail

.

The chain sticks and

slips. (This can be
caused by a
Lubricate the chain and clean
combination of Change the rolling friction
the rail. Change to a bearing
many problems. coefficient of the chain
roller chain
Therefore, the listed
remedies may not
solve the problem)

The conveyor speed is too slow Increase the speed

.

Increase the frame rigidity,

Insufficient rigidity in the frame.
increase the chain model
The conveyor chain is small
. number. Decrease the slack in
compared to the device
the drive roller chain

The force of friction is Lubricate the chain. Change to a

. excessively large bearing roller chain.

Divide the conveyor system into

The machine is too long
. sections to decrease the length

Inconsistent speeds due to

Use a 12 or more toothed drive
movement along a polygon -
. sprocket
shaped path

Excessive wear of
the sprocket teeth Replace both the chain and
Excessive worn teeth
valleys and drive sprocket
sides

Insufficient number of teeth Increase the number of teeth

.

Roller chain is not being used Use roller chain

.
 The hardness of the teeth is
insufficient with respect to the Use a sprocket with hardened
. load and conveyed material or teeth or changeable teeth
foreign particles

Replace the chain or sprocket

The Chain and sprocket do not
with one that is of the correct
. match
size

Attach the supporting block to

Excessive wear of
Increased internal tension when the sprocket. Reduce the load.
the inside link and
meshing with the sprocket Lubricate the chain and
pin on one side
sprocket.

Eliminate causes of the

Sudden fracture of overloading. Install a safety
Excessive load
the link plate device ( fro example shock
relay) Increase chain size

Replace with new part. Install a

cover to protect the chain.
Weakening of chain caused by Periodically lubricate chain.
. excessive wear of corrosion Select a chain with the proper
specifications for the
application.

Check and correct the

installation. Excessively worn
The link plates are pressed
chain or sprocket. Check the
. outward by the sprocket
chain and sprocket match, and
correct as necessary.

Crack in the link

Excessive load or excessively Eliminate overloading or large
plate (1) fatigue
large repetitive load repetitive loads
breakage

Increase the size or

The factor of safety is not specifications of the chain to
. sufficient increase the factor of safety.
Replace with a new chain.

Eliminate overloading or large

repetitive loads; Increase the
Repetitive load on attachment chain size to increase the
.
allowable load of the
attachment.

( 2 ) Corrosion stress The chain is being used in an Install a cover to protect the
 chain from the environment.
crack. ( Bow shaped acidic or alkaline environment.
Replace with new part. Use a
crack in heat treated ( This is not caused by a repetitive
chain with a high resistance to
metal pieces ) load )
corrosion stress cracks.

Deformed link plate

holes and pin Eliminate the cause of
rotation ( the pin is Excessive load overloading and replace chain
shifted from its with a larger size
normal position )

Improper installation of the Replace connecting link with a

. connecting link new one.

Replace with a new chain and

Excessive load and inadequate
improve the lubrication and
. lubrication
loading conditions.

Seizure of the pin and bushing, Increase the chain size. Increase
improper bending or flex of the the clearance between the pin
.
chain and bushing.

(1) Pin fatigue

The factor of safety used for
failure (2) Pin Recheck the size of the peak
calculation of the peak load versus
corrosive fatigue (3) load, and eliminate its cause.
the breakage load was too small.
Pin brittle fracture Replace the chain with a large
The peak load acted like a
(4)Pin sudden pin diameter.
repetitive load on the chain.
fracture

The pin was subjected to a tensile

load at the side of the fracture Recheck the size of the peak
origin, where the break then load, and eliminate its cause.
progressed. Chain is especially Replace the chain with a large
.
susceptible to this when the pin pin diameter. Use a pin of anti -
surface is corroded and weak corrosive material.
against bending stress.

Poor environment Use an appropriate pin material

.

Eliminate the cause of

Excessive load overloading, and replace chain
.
with a larger size.
 Excessive wear The chain is exposed to acidic or
caused by the alkaline substances, and , Prevent material from falling
conveyed material. therefore, more susceptible to onto the chain. Use a wear
The surface is worn machine wear, which then resistant chain.
away. progresses much faster.

Excessive wear from

The chain is exposed to acidic or
corrosion. Link Use a material not affected by
alkaline substances, and ,
plates not made the chemicals. Use a wear
therefore, more susceptible to
from an anti resistant material for the
machine wear, which then
corrosive material machine worn parts.
progresses much faster.
are corroding.

Excessive wear from

When the chain is covered with Use a material not affected by
electro chemical
water or passes through a solvent, the chemicals. Use a wear
corrosion. Only the
the portions in contact suffer resistant material for the
contact surfaces are
galvanic corrosion. machine worn parts.
worn.

Safety Precautions
This Manual Contains Instructions for maintenance of TIDC chains. The reliable
operation and long service life of these chains depends to a greater extend on the care
taken during installation and operation and the degree of maintenance.

Safety is a factor that must be considered at all times in the operations and mechanical
equipment. Use of proper tools and methods can prevent serious accidents that may
result in injury to the operators and fellow workers.

Warning

Failure to Observe and Follow all Safety Instructions may Result in Serious Personal
Injury or Property Damage.

Use care to prevent injury, Comply with the following to avoid serious personal injury

4. Guards must be provided on all chain and sprocket installations in accordance

with provisions of ANSI/ASME B15.1 - 1992 "Safety Standards for Mechanical
Power Transmission Apparatus," and ANSI/ASME B20.1 - 1993 "Safety
Standards for Conveyors and Related Equipment," or other applicable safety
standards. When revisions of these standards are published, the updated edition
shall apply.

5. Always lock out power switch before installing, removing, lubricating or

servicing a chain system.
 6. When connecting or disconnecting a chain:

a) Eye protection is required. Wear safety glasses, protective clothing, gloves and safety
shoes.

b) Support the chain to prevent uncontrolled movement of chain and parts.

c) Use of pressing equipment is recommended. Tools must be in good condition and

properly used.

d) Determine correct direction for pin/rivet removal or insertion.

e) Steady force, such as mechanical or hydraulic press, is preferred. If impacting force

such as hammer is used, take special precautions to avoid metal chips from the chain or
tools.