Custom designed for your application

Positive Drive Chain Edge (PDCE)

Positive Drive Conveyor Belts for Exacting Applications.

When your application requires positive drive, indexing or synchronization, a chain edge design is the practical choice. Positive drive conveyor belt assemblies employing a chain edge are also widely used due to their uniformity in pitch, high tensile strength with relatively light belt/chain weight, and good durability under severe loads.

Features

Specifications

Options

Downloads

CUSTOM DESIGNED FOR YOUR APPLICATION

PDCE are truly custom conveyor belts, whereby either standard or special chains are added to a custom designed support system for your product and process. PDCE conveyor belts can be produced using many different materials including various grades of malleable iron, high strength cast alloys, heat treatable malleable iron, stainless and carbon steel.

ASHWORTH BELTING PROFESSIONALS ARE READY TO ASSIST YOU

Many different wire mesh configurations are available, including balance weave, compound balance weave and conventional weave. Plastic modules are also available to serve as the product support surface. However, the appropriate wire mesh or module is both application and belt support member specific. Ashworth belting professionals stand ready to assist you in selecting the proper combination of chain, cross supports and mesh overlay, plus any required guard edge plates, lifts or lane dividers to meet your specific requirements.

For Exacting Applications

Uniform in pitch
Straight tracking
High tensile strength
Durable under severe loads
Longer belt life than pin roll drives

Application Options

Choose from a variety of chain weights and strengths
Customize with different conveyor meshes or plastic modules
Available with guard edges, lifts and/or lane dividers

Design Assistance

Ashworth's Belt Professionals stand ready to assist you in selecting the proper variations and options for your specific application

DIRECTION

straight run

STRAIGHT RUN

APPLICATIONS

SMOKER

COOKER

DRYER

FRYER

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Available Sprocket Options

Sprocket Reference

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Nom. Size	Display	Teeth	Pitch Diameter in (mm)	Hub Diameter in (mm)	Bore Min in (mm)	Bore Max in (mm)
3	2052B8 CS	8	3.27 (82.96)	2.52 (63.91)	0.62 (15.88)	1.9 (48.26)
4	2052B10 T304	10	4.05 (102.74)	3.3 (83.69)	0	2.55 (64.77)
5	2052B13 CS	13	5.22 (132.66)	4.43 (112.65)	0	3.45 (87.63)
10	2052B26 CS	26	10.37 (263.4)	9.62 (244.35)	0	8.13 (206.5)

Material Reference

Acetal - polyoxymethylene plastic
Celcon - acetal copolymer
CI - cast iron
Hardened Steel
Nylon
T303 - stainless steel
T316 - stainless steel
UMHW - polyethylene plastic

Technical Specifications
Available Materials (Mesh and Connector Rods)	Stainless steel, carbon and galvanized steels, high temperature seel alloys
Minimum Width*	Defined by customer specfied chain and mesh widths
Maximum Mesh Width*	No absolute maximum width; dependent on customer appliation and belt specifications
Conveying Surface	Equal to mesh width or inside guard edge dimension if guard edges are used
Weight	Dependent on mesh, rod, and chain weights
Allowable Tension	Defined by chain strength
Available Mesh Types	Balanced weave, compound balanced weave, or conventional weave
Turn Capability	Straight run only
Maximum Temperature	Dependent on chain type and material
Method of Drive	Positive drive via matching chain and sprockets

Notes

PDCE belt assemblies employing metal roller chains are widely used in conveyor applications because of uniformity of pitch, high tensile strength and relatively light weight. An almost unlimited variety of custom-designed PDCE belts are possible, combining the numerous types of mesh, chain, and cross supports (rods).

Chains

Roller Chains

Ashworth can incorporate almost any precision roller chain; such as RC50, C2060H, or C2082H. Chain types can be either single or double pitch, and double pitch chains can have either a standard or oversized roller.

Engineering Class Bushed Roller Chains are all-steel chains, appropriate for heavy-duty service and for difficult operating conditions. Heavy duty, long pitch oversized roller chains are also commercially available and may be incorporated in PDCE belts.

Drag Chains

Drag chains are defined as any chain that does not have a roller. Pintle chains fall into this class and have great durability and will handle medium loads at low speeds. Fabricated from malleable iron, they will operate satisfactorily at temperatures up to 600°F (316°C). For handling heavy loads, a high strength cast alloy is recommended. For severely corrosive conditions or temperatures in excess of 1050°F( 566°C), several types of cast stainless steel alloys are available.

Detachable link chains are also available in either malleable iron or pressed steel, Positive drive conveyors employing detachable link chains are used in applications with light loads and slow speeds. these chains must be well lubricated and are normally used where nonabrasive operating conditions exist.

Chain manufacturers' catalogs afford complete data, specifications, and types of attachments available for all types of chains that can be incorporated into Ashworth PDCE belts.

Mesh

A PDCE belt's mesh can be of any balanced weave, compound balance weave or conventional weave variety. However, the second count (SC) number is a function of cross support spacing, unless a special spiral* is used or the cross support is attached to the underside of the mesh. (For more infomation see the section on "Mesh Designation for Woven Wire Belts".)

Meshes on PDCE belts can be manufactured in one of three ways:

Thicker than normal mesh is woven to accommodate the cross supports, which are inserted through the spirals. The spirals are all of uniform size throughout the belt.
Mesh is of standard thickness but is interspersed iwth special spirals* to accomodate large cross supports or when a very dense mesh is specified.
Mesh is of standard thickness and is attached to the top of the cross supports (flat bars channels or angles).

* A special spiral is larger than a standard spiral and can be manufactured in various shapes such as oval, diamond, square, etc..

Cross Supports

Rods

Rods are frequently used as cross supports. Their length is generally the same as the overall width of the belt. Rod edges are either welded, washer welded, brazed, washer brazed, or drilled and cottered as specified. winced rods are used to hold the chain sideplates in place when pin-size rods are used with either riveted hollow pins or cottered chains, and are located on every chain pitch. When used as cross supports and engage the chain as pins, the standard size of the rods is a follows:

ANSI Number	Rod Diameter
RC35 and RC41	0.135" (3.4 mm)
RC40, C2040, & C2042	0.152" (3.9 mm)
RC50, C2050 & C2052	0.196" (5.0 mm)
RC60, C2060H & C2062H	0.230" (5.8 mm)
RC80, C2080H & C2082H	0.307" (7.8 mm)

Pipe/Rod

Rods can be inserted through any pipe or tubing which is commercially available and the combination is then inserted through the mesh. the pipe/tubing length is typically the same width as the mesh.

Turned-Down Rod

When the rod diameter is oversized for the chain according to the previous chart, the ends of the rods can be turned down to the standard pin diameter to engage the chain.

Channel or Angle

any commercially-made or manufactured channel or angle available may be used as cross supports. These are normally plug-welded or brazed to the underside of mesh. In general, channel or angle cross supports are bolted to a chin attachment, but in some cases are welded to the chain sideplate.

Flat Bar

Any commercially made or manufactured flat bar available may be used as cross supports. The flat bar's length is determined by type of chain used and its attachment. the flat bar may be inserted through the mesh or attached to the underside of mesh as specified. When attached to the underside, the flat bar is plug-welded or brazed to the mesh through slots or holes in the flat bar. In general, the flat bar is bolted to the chain, but in some cases it is welded to the chain sideplate.

Available Options

Guard Edges

Guard edges are located on the inside of the chain. Height above the belt surface and material is customer specified. Guard edges are usually used with round cross supports (rods, turned down rods, or pipe/ rod) which are inserted through holes in the guard edge.

Guard edges are generally plates that may be offset, of interlocking design, or flat plates that are assembled in either a shingled or staggered arrangement. Plates can be square or rectangular and either flared or notched as required (Figure 18). Plates with double tabs may be used. The bottom tabs may be inserted through the mesh or the tabs may straddle the mesh and are welded or brazed to it. Whenever guard edges are specified, the inside guard edge (IGE) dimension should be specified by the customer.

Flights (Lifts or Cleats)

Generally, flights are attached to the belt by welding or brazing them to the mesh and/or the guard edges (if applicable). The style, material, height, and spacing above the belt surface is customer specified. The length of the flight is usually the same as the mesh width but can be narrower if specified.

Usually, flights are produced from formed angle stock, although commercially available flat bar, keystock, cut sheet metal, or other customer specified shapes may be used. Angle types usually have slots or holes punched in the bottom to facilitate plug-welding to the mesh. It should be noted that flights are not meant to carry product up inclines but are just to prevent product slippage.

Wipers

Wiper attachments, typically fabricated from wire mesh, hang from the bottom surface of the belt to wipe debris from drip pans, trays, bins, etc. These attachments are typically attached to belt mesh with a straight or crimped connector rod. Mesh designation (if applicable), material, length below belt surface, width of wiper, and spacing are customer specified.