Conveyors worked example

Conveyor Chain Pull with total moving chain load of 7,000 lb: a worked example

This scenario runs the conveyor chain pull calculation on the strong side: total moving chain load of 7,000 lb, with every other input held at its documented default. a conveyor designer needs a quick chain-pull estimate before selecting a drive or requesting a supplier quote

The inputs for this scenario

  • Total moving chain load: 7,000 lb (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 2,800)
  • Friction and incline pull factor: 0.18 x (unchanged)
  • Operating time basis: 8 hr (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Estimated chain pull = total moving load × friction and incline factor) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,260 lb force for total load, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 158 lb force / hr for hourly equivalent.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 7,000 lb for total moving load.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.18 x for pull factor.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where total moving chain load sits at 2,800 lb and the headline result is 504 lb force, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 1,260 lb force.
  • Use it for early drive and chain sizing, for sanity-checking a vendor's quoted pull, or when load on an existing line changes. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total load: 1,260 lb force (headline result)
  • Hourly equivalent: 158 lb force / hr
  • Total moving load: 7,000 lb
  • Pull factor: 0.18 x

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Conveyor Chain Pull calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.