A hollow pin chain is a specialized type of power transmission or conveyor chain, characterized by its hollow-structured pins instead of the solid pins used in conventional chains. This design retains the basic function of power transmission or material conveying while enhancing performance in specific scenarios through optimized pin structure.

I. Basic Structural Composition

• Chain Plates: Divided into inner and outer plates, connected by pins to form pitch units, responsible for transmitting force or carrying materials.

• Hollow Pins: The core connecting components, passing through the pin holes of inner and outer plates to link adjacent chain links into a single unit. Unlike solid pins, their interior is hollow, with only a certain thickness of outer wall retained to ensure strength.

• Bushings (in some types): Sleeved over the pins, located between inner plates to reduce friction between pins and plates, improving wear resistance.

• Rollers (in some types): Sleeved over the bushings, engaging with sprockets to reduce contact stress and friction loss between the chain and sprockets.

II. Design Advantages of Hollow Pins

• Lightweight: The hollow structure reduces material usage in the pins, significantly lowering the overall weight of the chain. This is particularly important for high-speed equipment (e.g., automated conveyor lines, packaging machinery), as it reduces power consumption, lowers equipment load, and improves operational stability.

• Installation Flexibility: The hollow channel of the pin can be used to insert locating pins, bolts, or other fasteners, facilitating the fixing, splicing, or connection of the chain to other components (e.g., attachments, baffles) at specific positions. This is especially useful in customized conveying scenarios.

• Cost Optimization: Under the premise of meeting strength requirements, the hollow structure reduces the use of metal materials, lowering manufacturing costs and easing maintenance burdens.

III. Application Scenarios

• Automated Conveying Equipment: Such as assembly lines, sorters, and elevators, used to convey workpieces, packages, etc. Baffles, pushers, or partitions can be installed via hollow pins to achieve directional conveying or separation of materials.

• Agricultural Machinery: Including harvesters and seeders, used for transmitting power or conveying crops. The lightweight design reduces equipment energy consumption.

• Mining and Metallurgical Equipment: Used in light conveying scenarios for ores, slag, etc., with the hollow structure facilitating the installation of protective attachments.

• Food and Pharmaceutical Machinery: In scenarios requiring high cleanliness, hollow pin chains are easier to clean, and their hollow channels can be used to introduce lubrication or cleaning pipelines.

IV. Selection Considerations

• Load Requirements: Choose a hollow pin chain with appropriate strength based on the transmitted force or material weight, ensuring the pin’s wall thickness and material meet load-bearing needs.

• Operating Environment: Consider factors such as temperature, humidity, and corrosiveness, and select corresponding materials (e.g., carbon steel, stainless steel) and surface treatments (e.g., galvanizing, chrome plating).

• Pitch and Specifications: Determine the chain’s pitch, chain number, and other specifications based on the equipment’s sprocket parameters, transmission ratio, or conveying distance to ensure compatibility.

• Attachment Needs: Clarify whether attachments need to be installed via hollow pins, and plan the size and installation method of fasteners in advance.