A conveyor chain is used for material conveyance under harsh conditions. Like a transmission chain, a conveyor chain consists of bearing

Bearing (mechanical)

A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...

s that are joined by link plates, the bearings consist of a case-hardened pin and bush to allow a roller to revolve while allowing articulation under high pressure.

Types

There are many types of conveyor chain, for example, hollow-pin chain, deep-link chain and solid-pin chain. Hollow-pin chain permits the bolting of attachments to the hollow-pin and outer links, bolted attachments should not span the inner link. Deep-link chain has deep side plates that provide carrying above the edge of the roller. Solid-pin chain is designed for more demanding conditions.

Uses

Conveyor chains are used in

• Mining
  Mining
  Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
  
  
• Food processing
• Sewage treatment
• Timber harvesting
• Agriculture
  Agriculture
  Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
  
  
• Textile machinery
• Car plants
• Cement works
• Material handling

Manufacture

Conveyor chains are manufactured to various standards, British Standard (BS) designed to meet the requirements of the British marketplace. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is used in Europe, Deutsche Institute fuer Normung (DIN) a German organization for standardization.
A free catalogue which includes specifications is available from Conveyor Chain manufacturers, Challenge Power Transmission Plc