Product category:
Chains and belts
News Release from: Renold Chain | Subject: Stanza chain
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 26 June 2001
Innovative design of fork-lift-truck
chain
A new range of fork-lift-truck chain with an innovative new design and a host of benefits for manufacturers and end users alike has been launched by Renold Chain.
A new range of fork-lift-truck (FLT) chain with an innovative new design and a host of benefits for manufacturers and end users alike has been launched by Renold Chain Branded Renold Stanza, the new FLT chain is the first in the world to be designed specifically for use on fork-lift trucks rather than being based on existing chain components and standards
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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FLT chain is a derivation of old transmission chain standards using the same plates and a range of pitch sizes.
Chain for heavier lifting applications is made by increasing the size of the plates, by adding more plates, and by increasing the pitch.
However, this is far from satisfactory as chain with more plates is more vulnerable to premature wear, either at the pin or at the interference fit with the outer plates.
Furthermore, FLT chain does not run on sprockets and therefore does not require the same range of pitch sizes common to transmission chain.
This variety of pitch size means that different FLT chains could be selected for the same application, either by selecting a smaller pitch with more plates or a larger pitch with fewer plates.
As a result, selecting the correct size of chain has been a somewhat hit-and-miss affair, and manufacturers have had to carry heavy stocks because of the unnecessarily large range.
The optimised design of Renold Stanza has enabled Renold to cover the workload achieved by about 26 old FLT chain sizes with just three sizes of Stanza.
This has been achieved following a lengthy period of research and development that made extensive use of ANSYS finite-element-analysis (FEA) software.
Renold's engineers dispensed with traditional thinking on the design of FLT chain and gave Stanza an optimised plate design, pin diameter and pitch.
Each size of Renold Stanza has just four plates, and, with the design optimised for use on fork-lift trucks it may be possible for engineers to specify a smaller size of Renold Stanza than the equivalent old FLT chain.
A narrower chain will improve visibility for fork-lift truck operators and a smaller range of chain will enable manufacturers and end users to significantly reduce stock levels as well as simplifying specification.
Manufacturers of fork-lift trucks will also benefit from fewer chain sizes, as they will be able to standardise and reduce the number of components associated with the lifting mechanism where the chains are fitted.
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