FAILURE ANALYSIS OF THE CONVEYOR CHAIN PINS: A CASE STUDY OF A SUGAR FACTORY

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the failure of the chain connecting pins in the first caneextraction unit of a sugar factory. In this study, the surface damage of the failed conveyor chain pins andbushings were examined, the hardness and the chemical composition were tested, and the conveyor chainworking mechanisms were studied. The analysis of failure type, the cause of failure, and the cause of severedamage of the connecting pins were then performed. The fracture photographs from scanning electronmicroscope reveals groove and ridge pattern on the surfaces of failed connecting pins. This result indicatesthat the failure of the chain connecting pins occurs by abrasive wear. The study of the conveyor chain workingmechanisms indicates that the friction torque between pins and bushings is the cause of the worn surface ofthese pins. The severe damage of the connecting pins occurs by high friction torque on the pin surface due tothe stretching and climbing on the sprocket of the chain.