How to perform routine maintenance and inspection on roller chains?

How to perform routine maintenance and inspection on roller chains?

As a key component in industrial transmission systems, the routine maintenance and inspection of roller chains are essential to ensure the normal operation of equipment and extend its service life. Here are some maintenance and inspection steps based on industry standards:

1. Sprocket coplanarity and chain channel smoothness

First, it is necessary to ensure that all sprockets of the transmission maintain good coplanarity, which means that the end faces of the sprockets should be in the same plane to ensure the smooth operation of the chain. At the same time, the chain channel should remain unobstructed

2. Adjustment of the slack side sag of the chain
For horizontal and inclined transmissions with adjustable center distance, the chain sag should be maintained at about 1%~2% of the center distance. For vertical transmission or under vibration load, reverse transmission and dynamic braking, the chain sag should be smaller. Regular inspection and adjustment of the slack side sag of the chain is an important item in chain transmission maintenance work

3. Improvement of lubrication conditions
Good lubrication is an important item in maintenance work. It should be ensured that the lubricating grease can be distributed to the gap of the chain hinge in a timely and even manner. Avoid using heavy oil or grease with high viscosity, as they can easily block the passage (gap) to the hinge friction surface together with dust. Clean the roller chain regularly and check its lubrication effect. If necessary, disassemble and check the pin and sleeve.

4. Chain and sprocket inspection
The chain and sprocket should always be kept in good working condition. Check the working surface of the sprocket teeth frequently. If it is found to be worn too fast, adjust or replace the sprocket in time.

5. Appearance inspection and precision inspection
The appearance inspection includes checking whether the inner/outer chain plates are deformed, cracked, rusted, whether the pins are deformed or rotated, rusted, whether the rollers are cracked, damaged, excessively worn, and whether the joints are loose and deformed. The precision inspection involves measuring the elongation of the chain under a certain load and the center distance between the two sprockets.

6. Chain elongation inspection
The chain elongation inspection is to remove the clearance of the entire chain and measure it under a certain degree of pulling tension on the chain. Measure the inner and outer dimensions between the rollers of the number of sections to find the judgment dimension and the elongation length of the chain. This value is compared with the limit value of the chain elongation in the previous item.

7. Regular inspection
It is recommended to perform regular inspections once a month. If used in special environments or under conditions such as sudden stops, suspended operation, intermittent operation, etc. during high-speed operation, the time for regular inspections needs to be shortened.

By following the above maintenance and inspection steps, you can ensure the effective operation of the roller chain, prevent failures, and thus improve production efficiency and safety. Correct daily maintenance and inspections can not only extend the service life of the roller chain, but also ensure the stability and reliability of the transmission system.