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Friction on conveyor chain reduced to a third

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 20, 2001

Tsubaki's unique Bearing Roller Conveyor Chain integrates cylindrical roller bearings inside its chain rollers, reducing the friction to one third of conventionally constructed conveyor chain

Tsubaki's unique Bearing Roller Conveyor Chain (BRCC) integrates cylindrical roller bearings inside its chain rollers, reducing the frictional coefficient of the chain to 0.03, about one third that of conventionally constructed conveyor chain.

This allows a decrease in driving power of 80%, enabling users to downsize and reduce costs by using smaller drive motors, gearboxes and a chain size up to two sizes smaller than with conventional roller chain.

Compared with roller chains fitted with general purpose ball bearings, Tsubaki's BRCC allows up to three times higher loads.

The chain's unique, patent pending, design also ensures that any irregular movement of the conveyor caused by skidding or stick slipping is completely eliminated right down to chain speeds as low as 2m/min.

The low friction operation of BRCC is further enhanced by packing and sealing grease into the bearing area of the chain rollers.

This reduces lubrication maintenance by up to ten times, depending upon the application, and increases the superior energy efficiency characteristics of the chain.

In addition, the combination of sealed lubricant and the chain's low friction coefficient extends chain wear life far beyond that experienced with standard conveyor chains.

As a result, BRCC chain is the ideal choice for users with wear-induced chain life problems.

The advantages of the unique BRCC design are evident from the fact that 3 tonne and 5 tonne conveyor chains which could not be manufactured using conventional bearing technology are now standard sizes for BRCC.

Altogether, 19 different sizes, with load capacities from 3 tonne to 36 tonnes are available with either R or F type rollers.

Specifications are the same as for standard conveyor chain and standard attachments such as A-2, A3, SK-2, SA-2 and G-2 are available.

BRCC chain is rated for operation at speeds up to a maximum of 30m/min and in the ambient temperature range from -20oC to +80oC.

The chain is suitable for conveying operations in all market sectors, automotive, electrical, building materials, paper processing, steel and many more.

The suitability of the chain for use in these environments is enhanced by a specification which includes options such as waterproofing, dust proofing and the facility for oil seals.

Since its initial launch in Japan Bearing Roller Conveyor Chain has cured stick-slip and kinking problems on conveyors used in the assembly of large electric generators.

In an application on a bulk paper roller conveyor, the product has realised huge reductions in space requirements and a 40% to 50% decrease in total equipment costs.

BRCC has also overcome poor roller rotation on a pipe conveying line.

On the same application the product has decreased guide rail wear, vibration and noise.