Roller chain or bush roller chain is the type of chain drive most commonly used for transmission of mechanical power on many kinds of domestic, industrial and agricultural machinery, including conveyors, wire- and tube-drawing machines, printing presses, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. For starters, roller chain consists of 5 basic components: Pin, bushing, roller, pin link plate, and roller link plate. Each of these components are manufactured and assembled to precise tolerances and heat treated to optimize performance with regard to wear resistance, fatigue strength, and tensile strength.
Bicycle chains are made of multiple pairs of steel outer plates and inner plates held together by rivets. A roller separates each pair of inner plates. The rivet (pin) is pressed tightly through both outer plates. The rivet then pivots freely on the inner plates and roller. The rollers are placed equidistantly between chain links. These rollers engage with the sprocket teeth and transfer power through the chain. An important advantage of roller chains is that they rotate as needed when they come into contact with the sprocket teeth, thus reducing power losses.
A chain is a reliable machine component, which transmits power by means of tensile forces, and is used primarily for power transmission and conveyance systems. The function and uses of chain are similar to a belt. To measure the chain size, if you have just the sprocket, use calipers to measure between the teeth. Measure from center to center of where the chain roller would set between the teeth that will give you the pitch. Once you know the pitch you can determine what chain size you would need.
