Roller Chain

Roller chains are used in power transmission design of all kinds and in many specialized industries. Roller chain configurations include standard, heavy duty, double pitch for light loads, attachment options and many application-specific geometries. There are many styles of chain; those covered in this search form is characterized by ANSI and BS/DIN standard sizes.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) governs number designations for roller chain pitch.  English roller chain and sprockets are categorized according to ANSI B 29.1M. The number can be used to identify pitch in the following way: the first digits identify the pitch in 1/8" increments, and the last digit is 0 for standard proportions, 1 for lightweight chain, and 5 for rollerless bushed chain. A #41 sprocket is therefore for 1/2"-pitch lightweight chain, a #120 sprocket is for 1-1/2" pitch chain, etc.  British Standard / DIN / International Standards Organization (ISO) designations are governed by European standards committees.  Metric roller chain and sprockets are categorized according to ISO Standard 606. The number correlates to pitch in 1/16" increments, expressed in millimeter units. AN ISO 12 sprocket therefore mates with a chain with 3/4", or 19.05mm, pitch.

Standard configurations for roller chain include single, double, triple, quadruple, and quintuple or higher.  A single configuration has one chain strand.  A double configuration has two chain strands, and so on.  Roller chain comes in a wide variety of metal and plastic materials. Many factors such as cost, environmental conditions, noise and heat generation and design horsepower transmission influence the best material choice. Consult a chain manufacturer on a specific application for material optimization.  Common materials of construction include steel or hardened steel, stainless steel, nylon, acetal, polypropylene, and plastic or metal combination.

Common features for roller chain include attachment chain, double pitch, oversized roller, rollerless, offset link, heavy duty, self-lubricating, corrosion resistant, and flexible.  Some roller chain has an attachment type.  These can include standard straight, standard bent, wide contour straight, wide contour bent, and extended pins.  Specialty applications for roller chain include oil-field chain, bindery chain, lift chain, pin oven chain, film feeder chain, and coupling chain.

Important mechanical specifications to consider when searching for roller chain include tensile strength, maximum allowable load, and chain weight.  Tensile strength is the ultimate failure tension load of a chain.  The maximum allowable load is the tension for which chain is rated to carry in running operation.  Chain weight is specified in weight per unit length. It varies with pitch and special construction techniques.  An important environmental parameter to consider is the operating temperature.

• Next Generation Carbon Synchronous Belts - Making Roller Chain Obsolete?
  Is a synchronous belt drive system really any match for a roller chain drive in high-torque applications? Thirty years ago one might have answered no, but that's not the case today. New materials,...
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• Revolutionary Roller Chain Tensioner: See How It Works!
• Uniform Wear of Silent Chain
  Roller chain and most other chains with straight sidelinks do not elongate uniformly. The pitch of links containing rollers stays essentially constant, while wear of bushings and pins causes every...
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Part Numbers for Roller Chain