21 Drive Chain Manufacturers in 2023
This section provides an overview for drive chains as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 21 drive chain manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked drive chain companies as of March, 2023: 1.Wisconsin Oven Corp., 2.Donghua USA Inc., 3.PEER Chain.
Table of Contents
What Is a Drive Chain?
A drive chain is an annular metal chain used to transmit power. Combined with thin gears called sprockets and pulleys, it transmits power from the input shaft to the output shaft.
It consists of a plate that supports the load, a bushing that serves as a bearing for the pin and pin, a roller that protects the bushing, and grease with a lubricating action that is sealed between the pin and bushing.
The size is indicated by a three-digit number using the inch table system. For example, a chain with a pitch of 5/8" between frames and an inner pin width of 2.0/8" would have a chain size of "520".
Uses of Drive Chains
Drive chains are often used in industrial products that require precision in movement.
For example, they are used in engine timing chains, transfers of 4-wheel drive vehicles (which transmit driving force to the front and rear wheels), power transmission between transmission and drive wheels of motorcycles, and forklifts of chainsaws and forklifts.
Drive chains are also used in a wide variety of other fields, such as power transmission in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in automobiles, and in drum kits for kick pedals of bass drums and high-hat cymbals.
Principle of Drive Chains
Drive chains have many characteristics, such as little pulsation during power transmission due to cutting or elongation/contraction caused by deterioration, few restrictions on the distance between input and output shafts, adaptability to changes in angle and distance between shafts by using an auto-tensioner, and resistance to shock and tensile stress.
Other power transmitters include rubber belts, gears, and shafts. Among these, drive chains tend to be used more often in products used in daily life, such as automobiles and motorcycles, because they offer a relatively good balance between "reliability" and "cost.
However, when replacing a chain, it is necessary to replace the "meshing sprockets, tensioner and chain guide that touch each other, and lubricating oil," so if the chain is used for an extremely long period of time or in a harsh environment, the running cost is not much different from a rubber belt, gear, or shaft, or even more expensive than a rubber belt, gear, or shaft. In terms of running costs, they are not much different from rubber belts, gears, or shafts, or even more expensive.
In addition, periodic lubrication is required for lubrication and maintenance.
In particular, engine oil, transfer oil, automatic transmission fluid for CVT, and other oils and fats play a role not only in lubrication but also in cooling, shock absorption, and cleaning, so periodic replacement of the appropriate oil or fat for the part used is necessary.
Other Information on Drive Chains
1. Drive Chains Design
When designing drive chains, the chain should be selected by referring to the conduction capacity table. The following three items are the minimum requirements.
(1) Size of the power to be transmitted
(2) Speed and shaft diameter of the drive and driven shafts
(3) Distance between the drive and driven shafts
The number of shaft revolutions and the shaft diameter is calculated in the same way as the reduction ratio of gears. Since the numerical value of the transmitted power is also obtained in proportion to the reduction ratio, the number of revolutions and shaft diameter of the drive and driven shafts are obtained from the reduction ratio corresponding to the input and output, respectively. Since the distance between the shafts is often affected by restrictions such as housing and interference in the mechanism, it is determined in consideration of the location of use and environmental conditions.
After determining (1), (2), and (3) respectively, the length of the chain is determined from the distance between the shafts and the shaft diameter. The chain length is usually a fractional length, which is rare. However, from the viewpoint of smooth power transmission and accident prevention, the chain must have slack, so the appropriate chain length is determined considering the amount of slack.
2. Adjustment of Drive Chains Tension
To keep the drive chains running smoothly, the distance between the drive and driven shafts must be adjusted to a certain strength. As the chain is moved, it will sag over time due to the stretching of the pins and sprockets. Therefore, regular maintenance should be performed to ensure that the chain is tensioned to the proper strength.
The simplest indicator of proper chain slack is generally to keep chain slack within 2% of the distance between axles. Another method is to push the chain between the shafts by hand and tension it so that the dent is within 2% of the distance between the shafts. If the chain stretches and the number of slack increases, remove the sprockets and trim the chain to shorten it. Once the chain has been shortened, it should not be trimmed a second time but replaced, as its strength will be reduced.
It is very important to maintain proper chain tension not only for smooth power transmission, but also to prevent accidents such as chain breakage or rupture.
List of 21 Drive Chain Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
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- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
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- United States of America
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Wisconsin Oven Corp.
Drive Chains
Company Overview
Wisconsin Oven Corporation has operated since 1973 and is located in East Troy, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Oven designs, engineers, and manufactures industrial ovens and other heating equipment for numerous applications including heat treating, powder coating, paper pulp drying, finishing, drying, and curing in the aerospace, automotive, composite, energy, finishing, foundry, heat treating, annealing, military, and pharmaceutical industries. Types of ovens and equipment include custom and standard batch ovens, conveyor ovens, pollution control equipment, and walk-in ovens.
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Emerson Bearing
Drive Chains
Company Overview
Emerson Bearing is based in Boston, Massachusetts and serves both domestic and international customers of industries ranging from mining to machine tools to power generation to wood products to wastewater treatment to robotics and more with bearings and casters. Emerson Bearing’s product list includes adhesives, sealants, ball bearing, roller bearing, mounted nut bearings, linear motion bearings, rod ends, belts, sheaves, chains, sprockets, couplings, clutches, brakes, locknuts, washers, lubricants, pullers, tools, retaining rings, seals, and shaft collars.
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Accent Bearings Co., Inc.
Drive Chains
Company Overview
Accent Bearings Co. Inc. was established in 1993 and is a distributor for industrial bearings. Accent Bearings offers a full range of bearing-related parts including ball, cylindrical, radial, thrust, and standard, as well as CAM followers, rod ends, belts, sheaves, busings, bronze busings, bar stock, pulleys, chains, sprockets, gears, speed reducers, motors, clutches, brakes, couplings, shafts, shaft accessories, oil seals, gauges, retaining rings, air cylindeers, conveyor belts, and fluid power process control equipment.
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U.S. Tsubaki Inc.
Drive Chains
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TIMKEN
Drive Chains
Company Overview
The Timken Company (Timken) was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio. Timken designs, manufactures, and manages engineered bearings and industrial motion products worldwide. Timken operates in two segments, Mobile Industries and Process Industries. The Mobile Industries segment’s portfolio includes bearings, seals, and lubrication devices and systems. The Process Industries segment provides industrial bearings and assemblies; industrial motion components, such as gears and gearboxes; and linear motion products, couplings, seals, lubricants, chains, belts, and related products and services to OEMs and end users in various industries.
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Suzhou Universal Technology Co., Ltd
Drive Chains
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Drive Chain Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of March 2023 in United States of America
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin Oven Corp. | 28.6% |
| 2 | Donghua USA Inc. | 14.3% |
| 3 | PEER Chain | 14.3% |
| 4 | U.S. Tsubaki Inc. | 14.3% |
| 5 | Iwis | 14.3% |
| 6 | TIMKEN | 14.3% |
Ranking as of March 2023 Globally
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Tsubaki Inc. | 25% |
| 2 | Wisconsin Oven Corp. | 25% |
| 3 | Donghua USA Inc. | 12.5% |
| 4 | PEER Chain | 12.5% |
| 5 | Iwis | 12.5% |
| 6 | TIMKEN | 12.5% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the drive chain page as of March 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
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