Design and Selection of Machine Elements – Chains and Sprockets

Machines have become one of the most critical parts of our lives. We all use devices in daily life. However, some machines are used to produce goods on a large scale. These machines are heavy weighted and are commonly used in factories. These heavy-weighted machines are made of various parts. Chains and sprockets are some of the most frequently used parts that are usually used to make heavy-weighted machines.

What are chains and sprockets?

Chains involve a sequence of metal pieces that are intertwined together such that they fit perfectly with one another. They are used as a support or control or measure. They are widely used, commonly as a part of a giant machine.

Sprockets meaning are wheels that have teeth at the edge of their circumference. The teeth that are present are made to be locked with a chain. When the wheel rolls, the teeth keep on closing to the other chain gaps. This continuous locking process helps in simplified and manageable movement in more giant machines or equipment.

Both chains and sprockets are commonly made out of metals, but they can also be made from plastic or other sturdy material. The material must have the capacity to bear the force of a chain that moves constantly. One can easily confuse sprockets with gear, but they are very different. Gears are a set of wheels that have teeth projecting out. They spin to get interlocked among themselves. However, sprockets are also wheels with teeth, but they do involve more than one wheel and usually the spin to get interlocked with a chain. Bicycles are one of the most common examples of how sprockets and chains work when they are assembled.

While manufacturing sprockets, the manufacturer must be conscientious. The sprockets should be ideally made according to a specific type of chain. An inaccuracy in the manufacturing of sprockets will cause it to be incapable of bearing the pressure of a moving chain. The specifications about the diameter, circumference, dimensions, length, and width of each tooth must be perfect. The sprocket must be the ideal match for the chains because if it fails to turn the chain properly, then there is a high possibility of the sprocket slipping out, and the whole machine may fall apart. Falling apart of the device may cause a lot of damage, and therefore a manufacturer must always be careful while producing any vital machine.

Specifications of chains and sprockets

A fully functional sprocket is made by assembling two different components, a wheel with teeth and a chain. When the teeth interlock when it spins on a chain, the sprocket is functional as it makes the wheel capable of handling the pressure exerted by the moving change. However, any inaccuracy towards the diameter, circumference, size, or dimension of the wheel will make the sprocket impossible to work. As a result, the machine where the sprocket is fitted may fall off as the wheel slips out of the chain.

Type

There are a plethora of types of sprockets. Each sprocket can be easily differentiated by the thickness of the hub. A hub can be defined as the width or thickness of the plate present at the middle of the sprocket. That part of the sprocket does not consist of any teeth. There are mainly four different kinds of sprockets.

Type A sprockets- These types of sprockets do not possess any added hub or thickness.

Type B sprockets- These sprockets contain only one added hub that is presented only at one side of the sprocket.

Type C sprockets- These sprockets have two additional hubs. Each hub possesses an equal amount of thickness, and both are placed at either side of the sprocket.

Type D or Type offset sprockets- These sprockets also contain two different types of hubs. However, these types of sprockets are asymmetrical in shape because the seats that are attached do not have a similar thickness.

Different types of sprockets are used for other purposes. Usually, the first two types, type A and type B, are used in additional equipment, while type C is thick and needs more weight to support.

Conclusion

Chains and sprockets are available in different sizes and types. Chains and sprockets have a plethora of applications. They are used in agriculture, automotive, vehicles, and additional power transmission equipment. These chains and sprockets are an essential aspect of the field of machinery.