Spur Gears - Norfolk Bearings and Supply Company, Inc.

A roller chain consists essentially of numerous small bearings
operating under high pressures and requires adequate
lubrication. There are four basic types of lubrication suggested
for chain drives, depending upon the chain speed and the
power transmitted. The Horsepower Rating Tables indicate the
type of lubrication recommended.
Type I—Manual Lubrication
Manual lubrication is accomplished by applying oil with a brush
or spout can to the inside of the chain at the edges of the side
plates. Volume and frequency should be determined by
periodic inspection.
TYPE II—Drip Lubrication
Oil is directed between link plate edges to a drip lubricator. Only
enough oil to keep the chain moist is necessary and a light metal
splash guard will keep the floor and surroundings clean.
TYPE III—Bath or Disc Lubrication
With bath lubrication, the lower strand of the chain runs
through a sump of oil. The oil level should reach the pitch line
of the chain at its lowest point while operating. With disc
lubrication, the chain operates above the oil level. The disc
picks up oil from the sump and deposits it on the chain, usually
by means of a trough. The disc diameter should be such as to
produce rim speeds from 600 minimum to 8000 maximum
FPM. This type of lubrication requires that the drive be
enclosed in an oil tight chain case.
TYPE IV—Oil Stream Lubrication
The lubricant is usually supplied by a circulating pump capable of
supplying the chain drive with a continuous stream of oil. The oil
should be applied inside the chain loop evenly across the chain
width, and directed at the lower strand. This type of lubrication
requires that the drive be enclosed in an oil tight chain case.
Recommended lubricant viscosities for various ambient
temperatures are listed in the following table:
Temp.
Degrees F.
Lubricant
Temp.
Degrees F.
Lubricant
20-40 SAE20 100-120 SAE-40
40-100 SAE30 120-140 SAE50
Chain Drives
Roller Chain Drive Selection (Continued)
SURROUNDING CONDITIONS—Abrasive, corrosive, or high
temperature conditions can shorten chain life. If adverse
conditions exist, special precautions should be taken. It may
be advisable to use a drive with higher capacity than normal,
stainless steel chain, etc.
Roller chain drives may be selected with the following
procedure:
a. From Table #1 of the Application Classification Chart on
Pages 323-324 determine the Service Factor.
b. Multiply the Application HP by the Service Factor to obtain a
Design HP.*
c. The Selection Table below may be used to select an
appropriate chain size using a sprocket of 17 teeth or larger.
d. From the appropriate horsepower rating table (pages 260-
262 determine the minimum size sprocket needed to provide,
at the required speed, a rating equal to (or greater than) the
Design horsepower.
e. The Tables on pages 263-265 may then be used to select
number of sprocket teeth, shaft center distance and chain
length of a drive suitable for the application.
*For Stainless Steel Chains, operating under wet or dry
conditions, the Design Horsepower must be multiplied by a
Factor (see Table below) for selection purposes.
NOTE: Standard Steel Chains are not recommended for wet or
dry applications.
Application Conditions Factor
Wet (Moisture) 2.0
Dry (Unlubricated) 5.0
Horsepower ratings of Multiple Strand chain may be obtained
by multiplying the Single Strand rating by the proper Factor
from the following table:
MULTIPLE STRAND RATING FACTORS
Number of Strands Double Triple Quadruple
Rating Factor 1.7 2.5 3.3
*These Horsepower Ratings are based on certain operating
conditions, see Page 258.
RPM
Smaller
Sprocket
1800
1500
1200
1000
800
700
600
500
400
350
300
250
200
175
150
125
100
80
70
60
50
40
30
25
20
15
10
1/2 1 1-1/2
CHAIN NUMBER
25 25 35
25 25 35
25 35 35
25 35 35
25 35 35
25 35 35
35 35 35
35 35 40
35 35 40
35 40 40
35 40 40
35 40 40
35 40 50
40 40 50
40 50 50
40 50 50
40 50 60
40 50 60
50 60 60
50 60 80
50 60 80
50 60 80
60 80 80
60 80 80
60 80 100
80 100 100
80 100 120
2
35
35
35
35
40
40
40
40
40
40
50
50
50
50
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
SELECTION TABLE
DESIGN HORSEPOWER
3 4 5 7-1/2
35 40 40 40
35 40 40 40
40 40 40 50
40 40 40 50
40 40 50 50
40 50 50 50
40 50 50 60
50 50 50 60
50 50 60 60
50 50 60 80
50 60 60 80
50 60 60 80
60 60 80 80
60 80 80 80
60 80 80 80
80 80 80 100
80 80 80 100
80 80 100 100
80 80 100 120
80 100 100 120
80 100 100 120
100 100 120 120
100 120 120 140
120 120 140 140
120 120 140 160
120 140 160
140 140
10
50
60
60
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
140
140
160
160
15
80
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
140
140
140
160
160
20
60–2
80
60
80
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
140
140
160
160
160
25
80–2
60–2
80
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
140
140
160
160
30
—
80–2
100
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
140
140
140
160
160
P-1930-BG 04/10 Boston Gear 800-825-6544 259
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