Archive for the ‘Rivetless Chain’ Category

Understanding Drop Forged Rivetless Chain

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Drop forged rivetless chain is the universal chain used in conveyor systems.  Millions of feet are in use in thousands of different types of industrial plants throughout the world, giving steady, reliable service every day.  Roughly 90% of all conveyor chain used with overhead trolleys is of the drop forged rivetless type.  Over its life, it has replaced practically all other types of chain for this particular use.

There are three main components of drop forged rivetless chain: center links, side links, and pins.  The simplicity of the design and construction of the chain makes it easy to replace links or sections without loss of time; assembling or disassembling is a simple, speedy operation.  In addition to the main components, a variety of trolleys, attachments and pusher dogs can be used to fit the specific needs of a plant’s conveyor line.

Trolleys are wheels that mount to the conveyor chain, and allow it to ride on I-beam or in steel channel.  Attachments can be outfitted to the chain to allow parts to connect to the conveyor line and be processed.  Pusher dogs engage key areas of the system to cause specific actions to happen.

Since no tools or special equipment are needed for assembly or disassembly of this chain, the parts can be easily and quickly reversed to increase their useful life and reduce replacement cost.  At the same time, the design and construction prevents the chain from becoming disconnected in service.  This also makes installing chain a relatively easy process.  It is typically shipped in ten-foot strands, which are fed into the system, and connected to one another by the simple turn of a conveyor pin.

Drop forged rivetless chain can be used overhead, or on the floor.  When used overhead, the chain hangs from an I-beam with the trolleys above, and the load below.  Chain that is used on the floor is referred to as inverted, as the trolleys are below the chain, while the load rides above it.  The chain is propelled by conveyor drives, which engage the chain and move it through the system.  Because of its flexible design, rivetless chain will operate over irregular paths with both horizontal and vertical changes in direction.

All rivetless conveyor chains are not the same.  It is the factors of metallurgy, accurate forging, precise broaching, and controlled heat-treating which give drop forged rivetless chains their qualities.  Some common metals used in rivetless conveyor chain are high carbon steel, high alloy steel, and microtuff.  Furthermore, several finishes, such as zinc, dichromate or black diamond, can be applied to conveyor chain to allow it to perform well in many different environments.

Rivetless chain is available in the following sizes: X698, X678, X458 and X348.  The larger the chain, the heavier the load it can sustain.  Heavy-duty applications will likely call for X678 chain, which rides in 6-inch track and can have an ultimate tensile strength in excess of 125,000 pounds. Light manufacturing facilities may utilize X348 chain, which goes into 3-inch track and typically has an ultimate tensile strength of less than 40,000 pounds.

Due to its ability to meet a wide variety of needs, drop forged rivetless conveyor chain is an attractive choice to many manufacturing companies.  Furthermore, its ease of use and low maintenance costs will continue to make it an important technology in many fields.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Conveyors for all of your Rebuilt Conveyor Chain needs or Blue Water Mfg for other Conveyor Chain needs.

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Drop Forged Rivetless Chain – What is it?

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Conveyor systems universally use drop forged rivetless chain.  Throughout the world, there are millions of feet used in several types of industrial plants.  The chain gives steady reliable round-the-clock service to these industries.  Approximately 90% of all overhead trolleys use conveyor chain of the drop forged rivetless sort.  For the overhead trolley use, this type of chain has replaced virtually all other kinds of chain.

The main components of drop forged rivetless chain are these three:  center links, side links, and pins.  The lack of complexity in its design and manufacturing means that links or sections can be replaced with no loss of time.  The chain can be assembled or disassembled very easily and rapidly.  There are, besides the three main components, a number of different trolleys, attachments and pusher dogs able to be used to suit the exact requirements of the plant’s conveyor line.

The trolleys are the wheels that are mounted on the chain that enable it to ride on an I-beam or in a steel channel.  Necessary attachments can be secured to the chain to allow parts to latch on to the conveyor line for processing.  Pusher dogs are involved in key places on the system to allow specific events to take place.

The parts of this chain are simply and quickly reversed without special tools or equipment to allow for assembly or disassembly of the chain to increase their life and lower the cost of replacement.  Furthermore, the design and manufacture of the chain stops it from becoming disconnected while in operation.  Installing the chain is also relatively simple.  Normally, the chain will be shipped in ten-foot lengths, which are fed into the system.  They are then connected to each other by the turn of a conveyor pin.

The drop forged rivetless chain is not only relegated to be used in overhead processes, it can be installed on the floor as well.  Overhead usage causes the chain to hang from an I-beam with trolleys above while the load is below.  If the chain is for floor usage, also known as inverted, the trolleys are below the chain with the load riding above.   Conveyor drives propel the chain to latch onto it and move it through the line.  The rivetless chain is flexible allowing it to move over irregular paths in directions both horizontal and vertical.

There are differences between conveyor chains.  The factors of metallurgy, accurate forging, precise broaching, and well-controlled heat treatment give the particular qualities to the drop forged rivetless chain.  High carbon steel, high alloy steel and microtuff materials are all common metals used in its manufacture.  There are also several finishes utilized in its making like zinc, dichromate, or black diamond.  These finishes are applied to the chain to enable it to operate well in differing environments.

Rivetless chain can be obtained in sizes of X698, X458 and X348.  The heavier the load, the larger the chain must be.  The X678 is most suited to heavy-duty applications.  The X678 will follow a 6-inch track and carries a tensile strength exceeding 125,000 pounds.  X348 chain will be found in lighter manufacturing facilities, riding in a 3-inch track with a tensile strength below 40,000 pounds.

This capability to be used for many needs make the choice of the drop forged rivetless conveyor chain very attractive for use in many manufacturing processes.  This chain remains a major technology to be used in several fields due to its low maintenance costs.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Conveyors for all of your Rebuilt Conveyor Chain needs or Blue Water Mfg for other Conveyor Chain needs.

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A Look into Drop Forged Rivetless Chain

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

The universality of the drop forged rivetless chain makes it an integral part of most conveyor systems.  There are millions of feet of this chain in use invarious types of industrial plants globally because of their reliable 24/7 service.  A rough estimate of 90% of all of the conveyor chain in use with overhead trolleys is of the drop forged rivetless type.  For this particular use, it has replaced almost all of the other kinds of chain for the overhead trolley operations.

The three main components of the drop forged rivetless chain are center links, side links and pins.  This design is so simple and the building of the chain is so simple that it allows links to be replaced in sections with no loss of time, along with this, assembly or disassembly can be done in  an equally easy and rapid manner.  A variety of trolleys, attachments and pusher dogs round out its components making it suitable for the specific requirements of any conveyor line.

A trolley is essentially a wheel that mounts to a conveyor chain to enable it to move on an I-beam or in a steel channel.  The chain may be equipped with attachments to allow parts to attach to the conveyor line for processing.  Pusher dogs are engaged at key points along the system to initiate specific events.

The parts can be easily reversed allowing assembly or disassembly without special tools or equipment to prolong the chain’s life with reduced replacement cost.  Furthermore, the design and manufacture of the chain keeps disconnection while in service a thing of the past.  This same design and construction makes for ease of installation.  The chain is normally shipped in ten-foot chunks, which are fed into the system, and then linked to each other by turning a conveyor pin.

The drop forged rivetless chain’s usage is not just for overhead trolley loads.  It can also be used on the factory floor.  For overhead usage, the chain dangles from an I-beam keeping the trolleys above the load.  To use on the floor, also called inverted process,  the trolley sits below the chain with the load above it.  Conveyor drives move the chain along the line.  The chain’s flexible design allows it to maneuver over irregular pathways that incorporate both horizontal and vertical directions.

All rivetless conveyor chains are not exactly alike.  They can be made of differing qualities of metallurgy,  forging, broaching, and controlled heat treatments, all providing the drop forged rivetless chain with unique attributes.  They will also sport different finishes, like zinc, dichromate or black diamond giving them the ability to perform well in several different applications.

The chain comes in the sizes of X698, X578, X458 and X348.  For heavy loads the large-sized chain is used, e.g. the X678 size of chain, which will ride in a 6-inch channel and may have a maximum tensile strength greater than 125,000 pounds.  The light manufacturing processes can use the X348 chain, which moves along a 3-inch channel and usually has a maximum tensile strength below 40,000 pounds.

Because of its capability to satisfy a broad variety of requirements, drop forged rivetless chain is the go-to chain for many manufacturing companies.  No less important is its ease of use and low cost of maintenance.  These factors ensure the chain to remain a major technology in several areas of the manufacturing arena.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Conveyors for all of your Rebuilt Conveyor Chain needs or Blue Water Mfg for other Conveyor Chain needs.

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Seamless Manufacturing with the Help of a Conveyor Chain System

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

A conveyor chain serves a great purpose in the manufacturing business. The main function of this chain is to transport things on from one place to another, normally in a factory setting.

A lot of large factories use these chains to make the production process go by a little faster. Most of these factories are only paid for the amount of goods that they can complete, so you can only guess how important these chains are. A factory worker will simply need to set the item that they need transported to another workstation onto the belt, and it will guide itself to the next workstation.

These chains are normally made from blocks or other solid material that can be left dull or laminated with an oil to lubricate them during their transport process. Normally, the chain consists of one large piece of material that has a series of pins and plates on it. The plates make a difference in the manufacturing process, the deeper the plates are constitute to more items being able to be carried by the belt.

Most of the time, the chains are welded together, but it is not odd to run across chains that are not welded in some places. All chains need to contain a part that is referred to as a sprocket. This small part makes a large difference in the way that the chain operates.

Sprockets, as they are called look like teeth that hook themselves onto the conveyor chain. The teeth have open slots that the chain nestles in. It is these sprockets that allow the chain to move with ease, and move at a faster rate during the manufacturing process.

The system can be made from different materials as well. Some of the most common materials that you will see these chains made from is either a form of plastic or stainless steel. If the chain is made from stainless steel, it will have to be heated in order to enhance the resistance of the chain that is pulled every time that something has to be transported.

The materials that you decide to use for your conveyor chain will be based off of what your opting to utilize the chain to transport. If your transporting light items, a plastic chain may serve a great purpose, however if the items you are transporting are heavy in stature, then you should opt for a stainless steel chain instead.

In most cases the chain is covered with nickel so the chain doesn’t begin to rust or corrode overtime. You can opt to obtain a chain that comes with a source of lubricant or one that does not.

It’s your decision if you want to utilize a source of lubricant for your conveyor chain or not. However, using some kind of lubrication will make the chain be able to perform tasks a little easier. You can get the chains that are already made or you can obtain a chain that you have to put together.

Before making your decision on what type of conveyor chain to obtain, you need to think about the materials that are going to be transported on the conveyor as well as the weight and the overall size of the items that you are going to be transporting. Speed is also another factor to consider, the faster you can manufacture a product the more money you will make once it sells.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Conveyors for all of your Rebuilt Conveyor Chain needs or Blue Water Mfg for other Conveyor Chain needs.

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Drop Forged Rivetless Chain Makes Manufacturing Easy

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Drop Forged Steel Rivetless Chain is the universal chain conveyor systems used.  Millions of feet are in use in thousands of different types of industrial plants throughout the world, giving steady, reliable service every day.

Roughly 90% of all conveyor chain used with overhead trolleys is of the drop forged rivetless type.  Over its life, it has replaced practically all other types of chain for this particular use.

The simplicity of the design and construction of Drop Forged Rivetless Chain makes it easy to replace links or sections without loss of time; assembling or disassembling is a simple, speedy operation.  There are three main components to rivetless chain: Center Links, Side Links, and Pins.  Because of its flexible design, rivetless chain will operate over irregular paths with both horizontal and vertical changes in direction.

All rivetless conveyor chains are not the same.  It is the factors of metallurgy, accurate forging, precise broaching, and controlled heat-treating which give Drop Forged Rivetless Chains their qualities.  Some common metals used in rivetless conveyor chain are high carbon steel, high alloy steel, and Microtuff.

Since no tools or special equipment are needed for assembly or disassembly of this chain, the parts can be easily and quickly reversed to increase their useful life and reduce replacement cost.  At the same time, the design and construction prevents the chain from becoming disconnected in service.

Rivetless chain is available in the following sizes: X698, X678, X458 and X348.  The larger the chain, the heavier the load it can sustain.  Various types of attachments, pusher dogs, and trolleys are available for Drop Forged Rivetless Chain to suit practically any kind of conveyor need.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Conveyors for all of your Rebuilt Conveyor Chain needs or Blue Water Mfg for other Conveyor Chain needs.

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Posted in Chain Conveyor, Conveyor, Conveyor Chain, Rivetless Chain | No Comments »