15 Life of RF Conveyor Chain and Sprockets After a certain period of time, wear will eventually appear on the chain and sprockets. The life of conveyor chain depends on the wear of each component part and on pitch elongation. Periodic inspection of conveyor chain is required more frequently than for roller chain. The life of conveyor chain component parts is shown below. Periodic inspection of the wearing parts, proper maintenance, and an established schedule for changing the chains is essential for optimum service life. 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 Figure 15-1, when the link plate begins to contact the rail, rolling contact becomes sliding contact between the link plate and rail and results in greater wear, increased chain tension, and reduced horsepower. Such wear generally appears on horizontal or inclined apron conveyors, slat conveyors, etc.
Bushing
Roller
Rail Figure 15-1: Roller Wear
On a curved section of rail, the allowed wear amount is decreased by dimension (S) and requires additional monitoring.
Figure 15-2: Wear on Curved Rail Section
When holes or crevices due to wear appear on the rollers, the chain life has expired. Bushing Life Bushings are generally usable until holes appear. Holes may appear as a result of conveying abrasive materials such as iron ore powder, coke, etc.
26 I NSTALLATION & M AINTENANCE
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