TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL CHAIN LINKS

The world of roller chains is broad and complex, which can make finding exactly the right part for your next project quite a chore! If you're not familiar with the dozens of sizes and styles of chain and using them on a regular basis, you can easily become confused and need some guidance. Fortunately, the experts at PEER Chain have your back -- we are always looking for ways to help you get your projects moving quickly and efficiently. From our exceptional customer service team to high-quality chains and fast shipping times, it's no surprise that we have been America's go-to source for quality roller chains and attachments since 1969. Here's all you need to know about the types of industrial chain links that can be found at PEER Chain.

The History of Types Of Industrial Chains

Chains have been used to amplify work for hundreds of years, with the earliest known chains seen in sketches by Leonardo da Vinci as early as the 1600s. This simple, efficient method of transferring power allows humans to achieve greater results using less energy. Short cylinders are held together by links on the side, and roller chains work hand-in-hand with sprockets to drive machines of all sizes. These chains have been refined over the years to reduce overall friction, increase power transmission and enhance durability.

Over the years, a variety of sizes and styles of chains have developed to help support unique needs or specific industries such as food service, printing, transportation, agriculture and more. The various chains share many common characteristics but have different tolerances in terms of bearing weight and length of service. Industrial chains generally fall under one of two standards agencies: ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or ISO (International Standards Organization), also known as British Standard. Both types of chains provide superior durability and ease of use, but with slightly different sizes.

How Roller Chains Increase the Power of Work

In any moving system, an engine of some sort will transform electrical energy into mechanical energy -- and this energy will ultimately need to be transferred to a load in order to move the load from its current location to a preferred destination. While you are sometimes able to connect your engine directly to the item being moved, there are times when that is not efficient . . . or even possible. In those situations, engineers often turn to industrial chains to help smoothly transfer the energy from one location to another and move the load.

With roller chains, one end of the chain is connected to a sprocket driven by the engine where energy is being converted. The other end connects with the load to be shifted. As the chains roll smoothly around a rotating sprocket, the chain can experience wear over time, which manifests as some measure of stretching or loss of integrity. As chains age, they naturally need to be replaced but it's not unusual to have difficulties measuring your chains or ensuring that you have the correct part for replacement. This guide and subsequent pages are targeted to gain a greater understanding of chains and how they are used in various applications.

Roller Chain: The Workhorse of the Manufacturing World

When you look at the types of industrial chain links, roller chains are one of the most common and widely-used. You will find these hard-working chains doing everything from transferring power to the wheels of a motorcycle . . . to driving some of the largest agricultural machines in the world. Reliable and cost-effective, PEER roller chains are available in a range of styles, including:

Different Types Of Industrial Chain Links

Weight ratings with these chains begin only over 1,000 pounds of tensile strength to over 150,000 -- providing plenty of power for nearly any application. Anytime you need to repetitively lift heavy loads or handle a conveyor situation, roller chains provide an option with a long productive life and little maintenance.

Specialty Chain: Unique Options for Your Special Projects

Sometimes a standard roller chain simply won't work for your project -- you're either in a challenging environment, have heavy-duty requirements or demanding applications. While we also offer machining options for chains and attachments, these "standard" specialty chains are some of our most-requested chains. Need spikes on the top of your chains or bindery chain? No problem! Our specialty chains have you covered. From sharptop to sidebow, each of our specialty chains is crafted with care to meet exacting ANSI standards so you can be confident that your machinery will work as expected without unexpected breakdowns or bowing of the chains.

Agricultural Chain: The Ideal Solution for Your Toughest Work

Keeping the nation's farmers moving requires a wide range of machines that can perform reliably in even the toughest conditions. Agriculture is an industry that waits for no one, which makes it extremely important to ensure that you have access to the correct tools to manage food- and resource-producing activities without undue waste or delays. Agricultural chains are ideal for high-impact applications such as baling hay while also handling excessive dirt and dust that could easily gum up the works and cause chains to stretch or even grind to a halt. Extreme heat and cold and long hours of activity can also take a toll on your equipment, making it vital to know that your agricultural chains can be trusted over time.

Engineering Class Chain: Conveyors to Steel Mills -- We Have You Covered

With superior strength and durability, engineering class chains offer exceptional strength and a high fatigue point to provide an added measure of safety for your next project. You might find engineering chains in everything from a car wash to a heavy-duty food service application such as conveyors. This class of chains is ideal for situations where you will have a great deal of stress and jolts, and are also hardy enough to be used in dirty, dusty or greasy situations. Repetitively picking up and moving items such as with a tow truck or other heavy applications are where machinery designers tend to use engineering class chain due to their compact form factor, extreme durability and their ability to maximize power transfer.

Leaf Chain: Durable, High Tensile Strength Chains

Need some heavy-duty lifting? Leaf chains are extraordinarily strong and have an interlocked design that helps reinforce the strength and durability of these chains. Leaf chains are different than roller chains due to their stacked plates and pins that fit together tightly. With leaf chains, you are able to get a much greater strength profile in a compact form factor, providing up to an 8 x 8 lacing that can significantly boost the longevity even when using these chains in the most demanding conditions.

Sprockets: Keep Your Roller Chains Moving

Engineers will tell you -- roller chains are not effective without sprockets to get everything moving smoothly and efficiently! Whether you need roller chain sprockets or conveyer chain sprockets, you will have peace of mind knowing that you can trust the quality of everything that you purchase from PEER Chain. There are many different types of sprockets available at PEERChain.com, but we also offer custom manufacturing options so you can be sure to get exactly what you need for your machinery. With our quick shipping options and extremely large inventory, you will not ever have to worry about excessive downtime with your projects. We will quickly and efficiently steer you in the right direction in terms of specific chains, sprockets and attachments with the customer-focused service that you have come to expect from the professionals at PEER Chain.

If you're still feeling a bit fuzzy about the various types of chains and trying to find (not to mention measure) the chain that you need, never fear! The professionals at PEER Chain are available during normal business hours and are happy to work with you to ensure you have the right chains for your needs. Whether we're going through the different types of industrial chain links or helping discern which attachments you will need for a specific project, our over-the-top customer service helps you get your project moving again -- pronto! Contact our friendly and knowledgeable experts at 888-629-7896 or via email to info@PEERChain.com to get started.