Experimental study of pin surface precision on lubrication behavior of pin–bush pairs in industrial roller chains

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of surface precision on the lubrication state of the roller chain under adequate and rare oil supply conditions, respectively. Design/methodology/approach The straightness error and roughness error of the pin generatrices were measured and the influence of surface precision on the lubrication behavior under steady state and reciprocating motion was studied through optical interference experiments. Findings The lubrication state is strongly influenced by the surface precision of the roller surface both under adequate oil supply and rare oil supply conditions. Originality/value In industrial applications, the machining errors of parts cannot be completely eliminated. Studying the influence of the surface precision on the lubrication behavior of pin–bush pairs can provide the experimental basis for the optimal design of the bush roller chains.

Effect of pin generatrix on the elastohydrodynamic lubrication performance of pin-bush pair in industrial roller chains

“…As has been mentioned, 7 the precision of the custommade pin is much higher than the commercial pins. Since the generatrix precision of a custom-made pin is difficult to maintain, and different contact shapes are generated.…”

“…Since the pin and the bush in real industrial chains normally form a finite line contact, in experiments, the tribological pair is formed between a pin and a glass disk. As has been pointed out by the authors, 7 the pins from the industrial chain factory cannot be used directly in optical EHL experiments due to the following 3 reasons. The first, both ends of the pins were deformed by the flat head process.…”

“…The surface precision of the custom-made pin is far higher than a commercial pin. 7 According to Zhang et al, 4 the equivalent radius of curvature of 05B chain is around 54 mm, around two times of the current pin diameter. However, due to the geometry constraint of the test rig, a pin with a larger diameter is difficult to be used in the test rig.…”

“…In the previous study, the authors had used 4 custom-made pins to form EHL contact with a K9 glass disk and studied the lubrication state of the middle region of the pins by difference surface precision. 7 In this paper, the aim is to observe the lubrication contact formed between the edges of the pin and the glass disk. The authors found that for the finish machined pin, there exists obvious differences in the generatrices.…”

“…Zhang et al [4][5][6] respectively used infinite and finite line contact thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) models to study the influence of bush length and bush-pin equivalent radius of curvature on the lubrication behaviour of roller chains. Recently the authors 7 did optical interferometric experiments to study straightness errors and roughness errors of the pin generatrix on the lubrication performance of the finite line contact reciprocating motion.…”