Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

Name: Hassan Mahmood CMS ID: 336583 Class: ME-12 C

Lab Report 2
Introduction to Chain Drive Mechanism

Objective
• To verify the speed ratio of chain Drive

𝑵𝟐 𝑫𝟏 𝒏𝟏
= =
𝑵𝟏 𝑫𝟐 𝒏𝟐
• To measure input loads for different output loads

Introduction
A chain drive mechanism is a fundamental and widely used method of transmitting mechanical
power and motion in various engineering applications. It is a mechanical system that relies on the
use of a continuous loop of interconnected links or rollers, known as a chain, to transfer rotational
motion or force from one component to another. Chain drives
have been employed for centuries and have evolved over time
to meet the demands of modern industries.

The key principle behind a chain drive is the transfer of

motion through the engagement of a sprocket or pulley with
the chain links. When one sprocket or pulley is turned, the
chain wraps around it, causing the chain to move, and
consequently, transferring motion or power to another
sprocket or pulley connected to a different component.

This simple yet highly effective mechanism offers several advantages, such as

• High efficiency,
• Reliability
• Ability to transmit power over relatively long distances.

Chain drives find application in a wide range of industries, including automotive, manufacturing,
agriculture, and even in bicycles and motorcycles. Their adaptability and robustness make them
suitable for various environments and load-bearing requirements.

The speed ratio for a chain drive is given by.

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡

𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 =
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡

The Number of teeths is represented by n.

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 Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

Apparatus
The following apparatus is required for this experiment.
• Chain drive unit fitted on base plate.
• 2 Nuts
• 2 Hooks with small attachable masses

Types
The five most common types in use are as follows:

• Roller chain (bush roller chain)

• Silent chain or inverted tooth chain.
• Leaf chain.
• Flat-top chain.
• Engineering steel chain
Procedure
The procedure of this experiment is as follows.
1. To start with the experiment, determine the number of teeth on each sprocket.
2. Upon observation we found that the first sprocket has 36 teeth second sprocket has 12 teeth.
3. The gear ratio comes out to be.
𝑁2 𝐷
= 𝐷1=3
𝑁1 2
4. We proceeded by attaching a weight on the bigger sprocket and checking the output on the
smaller sprocket.
5. The output weight in this case was 1N. We can use this output weight to find the input
weight.
6. By calculation we found that for an output weight of 1N the input weight is 0.8N.
7. We repeated the experiment with 2N,3N and 4N.

Results
Sr. No Outer Applied Load(N) Inner Balancing Load(N)
1 1 0.8
2 2 1.3
3 3 1.6
4 4 2.1

Discussion
The efficiency of the gear teeth within the sprocket is less than perfect, primarily due to friction. If it
were 100% efficient, the balancing weights on either side would need to be equal, assuming both
pulleys have identical diameters. To ensure a proper engagement between the gear teeth and the
pulleys, it's essential that the pitch (the distance between corresponding points on adjacent gear
teeth) of both sprockets matches because the chain is firmly fixed between these two sprockets.

When we examine the gear ratio, it becomes clear that as the gear's diameter increases, so does the
number of teeth on the gear and consequently, the quantity of cogs on the gear's sprocket. The

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 Mechanism and Mechanical Vibration Lab

speed ratio is determined by dividing the number of cogs on the larger sprocket by the number of
cogs on the smaller sprocket.

An analysis of the results reveals that the efficiency of the pulleys is not perfect, primarily due to
constant static friction. It's also noticeable that when an additional 1N of external load is applied,
the inner balancing weight increases by 0.5N each time. This observation suggests that half of the
weight is used for balancing, while the other half is employed to counteract the friction between
the pulley and the chain drive.

The chain drive experiment plays a crucial role in dealing with high torque situations that can
potentially result in slipping between gear teeth and pulleys. Roller chains, which have a roller
mechanism interacting with the gear teeth, are the most used type in such scenarios.

Conclusion
To sum up, our experimental exploration of chain drives has provided valuable insights into their
functionality and performance. We successfully determined the speed ratio between sprockets,
clearly illustrating the direct relationship between gear diameter and number of teeths.
Furthermore, our observations have confirmed that the efficiency of the pulleys is less than 100%,
primarily due to consistent friction.

Additionally, we noted that when applying increasing external loads, the inner balancing weights
adjusted proportionally, which highlights the crucial role of weight distribution in mitigating both
balancing and frictional effects.

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