Tube Chain Conveyor are continuous conveying equipment used for transporting powdery, small granular, and small block-shaped bulk materials. Their structure mainly consists of components such as drive device, sealed conveying pipeline, chain & disc, corner sprocket box, automatic tensioner, viewing port/inspection port, and electrical control system. Within the sealed pipeline, the chain pieces serve as the core transmission component to drive the materials to move along the pipeline. Therefore, the design and operation mechanism of the disc directly affect the conveying efficiency and stability.
How Does The Disc System Of Tube Chain Conveyors Work?
Power Transmission
The equipment is driven by the motor to rotate the head wheel, which pulls the chain or plate chain (an endless closed-loop chain) and makes the disc, which is fixedly connected to the chain, move in a circular motion along the pipeline trajectory;
Thrust Formation
During operation, the disc directly contacts and pushes the materials inside the pipe. In the horizontal conveying section, the disc thrust counteracts the frictional resistance between the materials and the pipe wall, while in the vertical lifting section, the disc squeezes the materials to form lateral side pressure, and the internal frictional force between the material particles is utilized to counteract gravity and complete the feeding;
Material Flow State
Under appropriate loading conditions, the disc pushes the materials to form a continuous plug flow filling the pipeline. The rear materials push the entire system forward, rather than scraping at a single point;
Return And Sealing
The empty disc returns from the other side of the pipeline. The entire machine operates in a fully enclosed manner, which can prevent dust from leaking out and also isolate external impurities from contaminating the materials.
What Materials Are Used For The Discs Of Tube Chain Conveyor?
The discs of tube chain conveyor are mainly made of four materials. The selection depends on the characteristics of the transported materials, the degree of wear, and the working environment. Different disc materials have significantly different wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and applicable scenarios, which directly affect the stability of the transportation and the service life.
Nylon (Food Grade)
Nylon has moderate hardness and low friction coefficient, which can reduce the crushing and dust generation of powder-like foods (such as flour, milk powder) during transportation. It is suitable for industries such as food and medicine.
Reinforced Nylon
Non-food grade material. Its wear resistance is better than that of nylon material, but the price is lower than that of food-grade nylon.
POM (Plastic)
POM has high strength, high wear resistance, self-lubrication, and is close to the properties of metals. It is particularly suitable for food, medicine, and powder sealed transportation scenarios.
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Used for high-temperature and food-grade materials. It does not deform under sudden cooling and heating. However, the price is relatively high.
Polyethylene (PE)
PE material is flexible, has good chemical resistance, and has a low cost. It is suitable for food, chemical, mining, and high-maintenance powder transportation scenarios.
Stainless Steel 304
Food grade material. It has excellent corrosion resistance and rust prevention properties, a smooth surface that is easy to clean, and is suitable for transporting materials with corrosiveness, moisture susceptibility, or high hygiene requirements, such as food, medicine, and chemical raw materials. The service life is approximately 3-5 years.
Operating Characteristics Of Tube Chain Conveyor
Excellent Sealing Performance
The entire conveying process takes place within a closed pipeline, effectively preventing dust from spilling out, reducing environmental pollution, and also preventing the materials from getting damp or contaminated.
Strong Conveying Capacity
Due to the use of chain drive, it can withstand considerable tension and can achieve long-distance and large-span material transportation. Whether it is horizontal, inclined, or vertical transportation, it can handle it easily and meet the needs of different production layouts.
Compact Structure
Compared with equipment such as belt conveyors, Tubular Drag Conveyors occupy less space and are highly suitable for installation in factories with limited space and height restrictions.
Stable Conveying
The drive method of the chain disc ensures smooth movement of the materials, reducing the likelihood of blockages. Additionally, the slow pipeline conveying process has almost no friction, resulting in less material damage, and it enables a single conveyor to achieve multi-point feeding and discharging, demonstrating extremely high flexibility.
Wide Applicability
Whether in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical or construction materials industries, Disc Chain Conveyor can handle the transportation tasks of various materials.
From the comprehensive introduction provided in the previous text regarding the operation principle of tube chain conveyor, the compatibility of various disc materials, and the overall operational advantages of the equipment, it can be seen that the disc system is the core power transmission unit of the entire equipment. The selection of disc material and the chain transmission structure directly determine the stability of the transportation, the integrity of the materials, and the service life of the equipment. Relying on the closed-sealed flow transportation mode and combining with multiple disc material options, tube chain conveyor can be adapted to most of the bulk material transportation scenarios in industries such as food, medicine, chemicals, and building materials, while also enjoying multiple advantages such as environmental protection, dust prevention, flexible layout, and low wear and tear maintenance.
If you have any questions regarding the selection of Tube Chain Conveyor, the matching of disc materials, the planning of transportation routes, or the calculation of production capacity, or if you need to customize a complete transportation solution based on the characteristics of the materials and the space of the workshop, please feel free to contact us at any time. We have rich practical experience in powder particle transportation projects and can provide you with free calculations of working conditions, material selection suggestions, and equipment configuration plans. We also offer comprehensive technical explanations, installation guidance, and full-cycle after-sales support to help you match suitable, low-maintenance closed transportation equipment.
