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Duplex Drive Selection - Step by Step

Drive selection is an iterative process and there is often more than one combination of chain and sprockets that will work well in a given situation. As a starting point it is helpful to initially assume that ½" pitch Rampower duplex will be used in the drive. For an example of the following steps, click HERE.

Information Needed:

  • Type of power source and application
  • Power to be transmitted (W)
  • RPM of shafts (N1 = fastest shaft speed, N2, N3, N4, N5, etc.)
  • Shaft Center Distances (CD)
  • Shaft diameters and keyway sizes

Follow These Steps

1. Construct a preliminary drive layout, as shown on page 11, and identify the power transmitted, the diameter, rotational direction and speed of the driving shaft, and the speed of the fastest shaft in the layout.

2. Select a preliminary number of teeth for the sprocket on the fastest shaft ( Z1).; choose the smallest number of teeth that will accept the diameter of the driving shaft (see table on page 9). If the driving shaft is not the fastest shaft, compute the number of teeth in the driving sprocket(Zd) as follows:

3. Choose a service factor from table yy

4. Compute the design horsepower(Wd) by multiplying the power to be transmitted(W) by the service factor.

5. Compute the required chain width(Cw). using one of the following equations. Initially assume 1/2” pitch Rampower is used.

For Rampower Duplex . . . . . . . . .

For SC Duplex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

For Ramflex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

For V < 400 ft / min

For V > 400 ft / min

Cw= required width (inches), Wd= design power (hp), p= pitch (inches),
V= chain speed (ft / min)

6. Check the chain ordering charts (pages 5-7) to see if there is a chain width equal or larger than the required width calculated in step 5. If there is a suitable width available then goes to step 7. If the required width is much smaller than the smallest available width then go back to step 5 and re-compute using ½" pitch SC duplex. If the required width is wider than any available width then go back to step 5 and re-compute using ½" pitch Ramflex.

7. Based on the desired speed of each shaft, compute the number of teeth for all remaining sprockets, making sure that each sprocket will accept the shaft diameter.

8. Construct a final drive layout using the actual pitch diameter for each sprocket.

Referring to the layout, verify that the chain wraps each sprocket by at least 120 degrees and then compute chain length. These calculations are most easily performed with a CAD program, but can also be completed using geometry and trigonometry.

9. Based on the chain speed, select a method for lubricating the drive.

Forced feed lubrication will provide optimum results and is recommended whenever chain speeds exceed 2500 ft/min. Drip or bath type lubrication may be acceptable at lower speeds. Additional information on lubrication is given in the section describing lubrication. Also, if the drive will not operate inside a housing, a chain enclosure is recommended.