Chain Disks - An Alternative to Augers

Chain Disks, also known as chain conveyors, are an alternative to augers. These disks are often used to move bulk dry solids through tubing. The use of spaced-out disks allows for faster and quieter operation. This is a very beneficial feature, as it helps reduce maintenance and downtime.

The chain disk is a unique piece of technology that combines a robust design, multiple turns, and a patented clear corner housing. It's a good choice for automated feeding in farrowing facilities, breeding facilities, and high-volume finishing facilities.

Chain Disks are constructed of hardened steel chains. Aside from their superior strength, they provide an attractive appearance, which is ideal for breeding facilities. They are also less expensive than augers. However, their lower throughput can make them unsuitable for short runs. In addition, they do not have a curved path.

When comparing a chain disk to a pneumatic system, the most important difference is that the chain disk has fewer discharges. Since the disks on a chain are perpendicular to the chain, there is minimal friction. Shock-absorbing teeth on the drive wheel minimize the risk of breakage.

As a result, the chain disk has a shorter run length than the pneumatic. For example, a single drive can convey up to 2,000 feet of product with only 16 turns. Unlike a pneumatic, the Chain Disk can also operate point-to-point. If a run is altered, the change in length of the chain would not require replacement.

The Chain Disk can transfer state information, which is useful in a variety of settings. Typical uses include individual sow stalls and electronic sow feed systems. Alternatively, it can be adapted to any house size and configuration. Besides its streamlined design, the Chain Disk features a 24-hour clock, actuator outputs, and quality components.

Compared to augers, chain disks are more durable. They have a shorter lifecycle, are more effective at milled grain, and are gentler on particulate matter. Their modularity makes them useful for new products or production lines that need to be moved.

Moreover, their ability to implement turns helps ensure the optimal flow of material. In addition, they offer the flexibility to operate in any plane. Depending on the type of material being conveyed, the Chain Disk can operate in the horizontal or vertical plane.

Although the concept is fairly complex, it's not impossible to develop a prototype. To this end, the Italian manufacturers of chain disks designed a prototype before committing to a design. By using a few experimental methods, they were able to determine the ideal geometry for their device. Eventually, the parameters for their disk were identified. Using this information, they were able to produce a model that could be analyzed.

For instance, they showed that in the case of a seeded disk, the graph representation for its contact and path capabilities is NP-hard. Furthermore, they argued that the optimal outer disk radius is ro+e3, which is higher than the minimum required to accommodate the topmost two disks on the bottom chain.

Chain Disk For Pig Feeding System