chain drive calculation
chain drive calculation
(OP)
I'm trying to calculate sprockets for a chain drive powering a belt transfer conveyor.
Things I known are:
Motor RPM 1800
Gearbox reducer ratio 1:8
Conveyor belt linear speed 100 ft/min
Conveyor belt drive pulley dia 7 inch
Horsepower (assumed) 10
One of the two sprockets will be bolted directly onto the conveyor belt drive pulley, which will drive the belt. The other sprocket will be mounted on the end of the gearbox shaft.
Is this enough information for me to make a selection for what sprocket sizes to select?
Thanks for any information you may be able to provide me
Matthew
Things I known are:
Motor RPM 1800
Gearbox reducer ratio 1:8
Conveyor belt linear speed 100 ft/min
Conveyor belt drive pulley dia 7 inch
Horsepower (assumed) 10
One of the two sprockets will be bolted directly onto the conveyor belt drive pulley, which will drive the belt. The other sprocket will be mounted on the end of the gearbox shaft.
Is this enough information for me to make a selection for what sprocket sizes to select?
Thanks for any information you may be able to provide me
Matthew





RE: chain drive calculation
RE: chain drive calculation
RE: chain drive calculation
You know your gearbox sprocket rpms and you know your conveyor output speed (which needs to be converted to rpm). You need to use the ratio of those rpms for your sprocket sizing.
RE: chain drive calculation
http://www.martinsprocket.com/2001/SecE.pdf
You might get a more reliable and maintenance free drive using Gates PolyChain belt and sprockets. Note that belt tension with a polychain drive will be higher and you need to size components accordingly.
RE: chain drive calculation
RE: chain drive calculation
Gearbox output speed =1800/8=225 rpm
Pulley rpm =speed/ pulley circumference
=100/(7/12 x3.14159)
=54 rpm
Sprocket ratio= 225/54=4.166:1
If you decide on say 15 tooth motor sprocket,
pulley sprocket =15 X 4.166= 63 tooth
If as you said required HP =10, sprockets will be substantial size in relationship to your pulley diameter.
Without knowing what the application is, my gut feel is that a 7" dia pulley is not large enough to handle a design requiring 10 HP, or that the motor is oversized for this task?
Ross
RE: chain drive calculation
RE: chain drive calculation
Was there any basis for this assumption?
Surely a calculated estimate of the required power can be made.
RE: chain drive calculation
No offence-
the question does specify pulley dia=7"
and
PeterCharles
I was hoping Matthew would come back with more info so we could possibly steer him in the right direction.
Ross
RE: chain drive calculation
RE: chain drive calculation
Load analysis will determine Peak Torque applied to the conveyor shaft.
Torque is proportional to HP, so this determines HP.
Torque, HP, and output shaft speed determine the initial gearmotor specs. Your installation requirements and operating requirements determine the shape & size of the gearmotor.
Once you have Torque, HP, and speed, then this determines size & quantity of chains to handle the power transimission from gearmotor to conveyor shaft. Keep in mind that chains typically require periodic lubrication.
I certainly would not "assume" 10 HP without doing the calculations.
Many chain vendors and gearmotor vendors have Engineering Calculation Sections in their free catalogs that will guide you through this.
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: chain drive calculation
www.emerson-ept.com
You can register, then use the 'product selection' pages, it will give you several selections, and relative prices for the various options.
I use it frequently for belt drive selections.