Chain-Vey® tubular drag chain conveyors for gentle, dust-tight bulk material handling
Move delicate products horizontally and vertically in sealed stainless tubing with gentle handling, near-zero product breakage, and Clean-in-Place options. Chain-Vey® tubular drag chain conveyors are ideal for food, coffee, snacks, pet food, powders, plastics, and other bulk solids that need enclosed, low-damage conveying.
Ideal when product protection, sealed conveying, complex routing, and sanitary design matter more than simply moving material from point A to point B.
Why choose a tubular drag chain conveyor?
Tubular drag chain conveyors use stainless or hardened-alloy chain with polymer discs to gently pull bulk material through sealed tubes. This conveying method is ideal when product integrity, dust containment, and long or complex routing are important to the process.
- Low product breakage and strong blend integrity for delicate or high-value materials.
- Sealed, dust-tight tubes help control contamination and protect the surrounding plant environment.
- Flexible routing allows horizontal and vertical conveying with multiple inlets and discharges.
- Food-grade and sanitary options support cleanability, allergen control, and product safety.
See Chain-Vey® in action
Watch how a tubular drag chain conveyor moves product gently through an enclosed path while maintaining clean, efficient material transfer.
Conveying capacities
Actual conveying rate depends on the material, chain speed, routing, and disc selection. The ranges below provide a general starting point, but final capacity should be confirmed with testing and layout review.
| Tube Size | Indicative Capacity | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 3 in | Up to ~175 ft³/hr | Malted barley, seeds, crumbs |
| 4 in | Up to ~650 ft³/hr | Coffee, oats, nuts |
| 5 in | Up to ~1,000 ft³/hr | Pet food, cereals, peanuts, cashews |
| 6 in | Up to ~1,400 ft³/hr | Larger-scale ingredient transfer |
| 8 in | Up to ~2,000 ft³/hr | High-volume food and ingredient systems |
System layouts and integrations
Chain-Vey® systems can integrate with upstream and downstream equipment including bulk bag unloaders, bag dump stations, batching systems, scales, and mixers.
Complex paths, one conveying system
Combine long horizontal runs, elevation changes, and multiple discharge points while keeping product enclosed and gently handled.
Bulk bag unloader to Chain-Vey
Secure bulk bag discharge can feed directly into the conveyor with options for agitation and controlled mass flow for more difficult materials.
Operator-friendly bag dump integration
Bag dump hoods with dust collection can feed directly into the conveyor for clean, ergonomic product loading.
Scales, mixers, and batching systems
Integrate batching equipment, weigh systems, or mixers with Chain-Vey for precise ingredient routing and enclosed transfer.
Sanitation and Clean-in-Place options
Chain-Vey® systems are well suited for food and sanitary applications because they can be configured with different clean-out and CIP levels depending on the process risk and changeover requirements.
- Tier 1 dry clean-out with air knives, brush boxes, and clean-out discs to reduce carryover.
- Tier 2 hybrid wet and dry with spray nozzles, drains, drying ports, and semi-automated clean sequences.
- Tier 3 full wet CIP with flanged piping, CIP turnarounds, automated carts, rinse, wash, sanitize, and hot-air drying.
Durability and upgrade options
For abrasive products, difficult cleaning requirements, or retrofit needs, Chain-Vey® systems can be enhanced with wear-resistant and maintenance-friendly features.
Ceramic elbows
Extend life at high-wear turns and on more abrasive products.
Brush box systems
Scrub chain and discs while simplifying clean-out and reducing fines carryover.
Cable-to-chain retrofit
Upgrade older cable systems to chain-based internals and newer turnarounds.
Design options and common products conveyed
Chain-Vey® tubular drag conveyors are commonly used for coffee, nuts, snacks, cereals, grains, flour, sugar, spices, cocoa, pet food, plastics, resins, vitamins, and minerals where product handling quality matters.
Frequently asked questions
How do tubular drag chain conveyors compare to cable conveyors?
Both are gentle enclosed conveyor styles, but chain-based systems typically offer greater tensile strength, improved robustness, and longer service life in many applications.
Do tubular drag chain conveyors require filtration at the discharge?
The conveyor itself is sealed, so separate filtration at discharge is not typically part of the conveyor design, though receiving vessels may still need venting depending on the process.
What tube sizes are available for Chain-Vey systems?
Common tube sizes include 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 inch designs, with final size selection based on the product, required rate, and system layout.
Need help sizing a Chain-Vey® tubular drag conveyor?
We help plants in North Carolina and South Carolina evaluate the material, route, throughput, sanitation level, and upstream or downstream equipment before recommending the right tubular drag chain conveyor system.