What are the causes of failure in conveyor chain gears?

Tooth Surface Wear of Conveyor Chains: In open gear transmissions or enclosed gear transmissions with unclean lubricating oil, due to the relative sliding between the meshing tooth surfaces, hard abrasive particles enter the friction surfaces. This alters the tooth profile, increases backlash, and leads to excessive thinning of the teeth, ultimately resulting in tooth breakage. Typically, wear caused by abrasive particles during operation occurs only when the lubricating oil is contaminated with such particles.

Fatigue Pitting of Conveyor Chains: When the teeth of two meshing gears come into contact, the forces and reactions between the tooth surfaces create contact stress. As the meshing point changes and the gears undergo periodic motion, the contact stress fluctuates in a pulsating cycle. Under the action of this alternating contact stress, small cracks appear on the tooth surface. Over time, these cracks expand laterally within the surface layer, forming loops that cause micro-area spalling on the gear tooth surface, resulting in fatigue pits.

Tooth Surface Scoring of Conveyor Chains: In high-speed, heavy-load gear transmissions, due to high friction between tooth surfaces, the temperature in the meshing zone rises excessively. If lubrication conditions are poor, friction between tooth surfaces intensifies, leading to heightened interaction. During relative motion, the harder tooth surface may tear material from the softer tooth surface, forming grooves.

Tooth Surface Plastic Deformation of Conveyor Chains: Under impact or heavy loads, the involute tooth profile surface is prone to plastic deformation, leading to distortion of the tooth shape.

Gear Fracture of Conveyor Chains: During operation, gears function like cantilever beams, with their roots subjected to pulsating cyclic stress. If this stress exceeds the fatigue limit of the gear material, cracks may develop at the tooth root and gradually expand. When the remaining part of the gear can no longer withstand the driving force, fracture occurs. In operation, severe impact, uneven loading, or material inconsistencies may also lead to tooth breakage.