What are roller chains?

Roller chains, variously called bush roller chains, are types of drive chains designed to enable simple yet highly effective transmission of mechanical power. They feature a typical chain link structure where several cylindrical rollers remain connected to the links and use the wheel component called the sprocket to drive the chain. 

Types of roller chains

Roller chains come in different material variants, including steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, etc. They can also be categorised based on the number of chain link rows, such as:

• Simplex roller chains: These types of roller chains are industry standards and feature a single row of roller chain links.
• Duplex roller chains: These types of roller chains contain two rows of roller chain links. 
• Triplex roller chains: These types of roller chains are built with three rows of roller chain links.  

Applications

Roller chains are used in an extensive range of applications, from industrial to domestic. They are most commonly found in vehicles like bicycles, motorbikes, and cars, as well as in industrial conveyors and printing presses, among other applications. The uses of roller chains transcend different industries as well, including:

• Food 
• Automobile and automotive
• Mining
• Agriculture 
• Warehouse and distribution
• Forestry