Used to connect driving equipment to driven equipment, couplings are a critical machine component that can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to selection and maintenance. These critical components come in many different shapes and sizes, so it can be confusing trying to navigate what couplings are used for, what they do, and which couplings are best for your machinery.
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We have put together the essential list of everything you need to know about each different type of Coupling, including their features and benefits and in what machinery you will often find them:
Flexible Couplings come in many different variations, but all of these have 1 thing in common – its elastomeric properties. These properties typically come in the form of an elastomer or elastic type element that is often made of a rubber or urethane compound. This element absorbs impact, dampens vibrations, and cushions shock loads, making it ideal for applications with high shaft misalignment. Depending on your application, the type of flexible coupling you use differs and can provide additional benefits to your machine.
Jaw couplings are made up of 3 parts, two metallic hubs and an elastomeric spacing element (also known as a spider) this means depending on your application, these couplings offer different levels of dampening protection. In addition, these versatile couplings have a fail-safe design, meaning that even if the spider fails, the coupling can continue to operate without its dampening properties until the spider is replaced. They also do not require lubrication during operation, making them a low maintenance option that helps to reduce machine downtime for your business.
Tyre couplings have two metal hubs with a tyre shaped spacer positioned in between – this enables the coupling to transmit torque. The tyre also gives this coupling outstanding vibration dampening capabilities and excellent resistance to shock loads, helping to extend the life of the connected equipment in a wide range of industries.
Gear couplings are a great option for universal use and are often suitable for most applications as they can transmit high torque while working at low speeds.
Curved tooth gear couplings are known for their easy of assembly and their maintenance free operation making them ideal for inhospitable environments. These couplings also have a good resistance to chemicals, meaning they offer a low cost, reliable service for industries such as: Minerals & Mills, Pulp & Paper, Petrochemical, Oil & Gas, Machine Tools and Railway.
Claw couplings can be a great option for machinery where either angular, parallel or axial shaft misalignment is an issue. These couplings generally have a short overall length, meaning they are suitable for applications where space on the shaft is limited. Similar to other flexible couplings, a claw couplings elastic element dampens vibration and cushions shock loads, helping to extend the life of surrounding equipment in a range of industries.
Another fail-safe coupling option is pin and bush couplings. These couplings also have fantastic vibration and shock load dampening properties, all while accommodating up to 0.5° of misalignment. Also, their fail-safe design make them ideal for use in safety equipment such as fire pumps and elevator drives.
When your application has high levels of vibration and large shock loads, grid couplings are the ideal solution. Due to the grid that runs between the two slotted hubs of the coupling, these components have a high torsional flexibility. This helps to reduce vibration, which aids in prolonging the life of the surrounding drive equipment.
Back-lash free couplings are often found in applications where precision is key. Back-lash occurs because of the spacing of components within an application, this backlash often accumulates in the couplings as the joining piece for components. Using a back-lash free coupling minimises the effects of backlash within the system, helping to increase accuracy levels. These couplings come in the form of:
Rigid Couplings are often found in lower speed or lower torque applications and are used where a solid connection is required between two shafts of the same size. They tend to be high strength couplings that are used to maintain alignment between shafts. These couplings are often considered the most basic, but most cost-effective coupling.
There are three different variations of rigid couplings, each provide different features and benefits for applications. These variations include:
Torsionally rigid couplings are generally suitable for most industrial applications. This category includes disc and composite couplings. These can feature zero back-lash, low-restoring forces, and electrically insulated designs.
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These Couplings can fall into either flexible or rigid depending on the requirements of your application.
Flywheel couplings, also known as flange couplings, is a torsionally rigid coupling that provide maintenance free operation that’s free from resonance. This makes them ideal for applications such as cranes, harvesting machines and floor conveyors.
Chain couplings have flanges that are linked with duplex roller chains, meaning they are a high strength coupling option. Not only this, but these couplings can transmit high levels of torque AND accommodate up to 2° of misalignment, helping to protect surrounding equipment from damage.
Where vibration in machinery is high, you may find a fluid coupling. This is because these couplings have an excellent level of vibration dampening and provide a controlled soft start up. Commonly found in applications such as conveyors, mills, shredders, crushers and agitators, fluid couplings can withstand the harsh conditions found in the environments these applications are often found.
This is just a basic overview of the different types of couplings that Acorn can provide, alongside custom solutions, we can help you to find the exact coupling your machine needs. Our specialised Couplings & Drives department are on hand to answer all of your coupling questions and queries, so get in touch with them today.
First of all, the definition of high speed. Strictly speaking, if the coupling speed reaches 750r/min-1, it has already reached the high speed requirement. In the actual use process, it is generally recognized that the speed reaches 1500r/min-1 and above, and a dynamic balance experiment is required to ensure the normal use of the coupling.
With the increase of speed, the requirements of dynamic balance level are getting higher and higher, and dynamic balance is not a panacea. If the machining accuracy and concentricity cannot meet the requirements of dynamic balance, or the quality deviation is too large, it may cause the dynamic balance experiment to fail. Proceeding, or the required balance accuracy cannot be achieved. Here is a concept expressed-high speed, which depends on the machining accuracy and dynamic balance adjustment level.
High-speed couplings are mainly used in test benches, dynamometers, and high-speed running power sources to output torque.
The main selection principles or characteristics of high-speed couplings:
First, the weight is light, and the material selection is based on this principle. The lighter quality is selected as much as possible to facilitate the later adjustment of quality deviations and dynamic balance.
Second, micro-correction, elastic components. No matter how high the accuracy of the mechanical transmission is, the deviation of concentricity and the unbalance of quality are unavoidable. However, the direct rigid connection at high speed generally has the problems of on-site noise and vibration. In terms of practical application, elastic elements are basically necessary. If you really can't find a suitable elastic element, you can temporarily connect it with a rigid coupling, but long-term use, the result of vibration is often easy to damage the connection part, and it will be more difficult to re-install and center.
Third, high-strength elastic elements. Now the most used elastic element is the diaphragm, and the main material of the diaphragm is stainless steel. The choice of stainless steel sheet requires high thickness uniformity, high tensile strength, good surface gloss, excellent and uniform material, and good resilience. The price of stainless steel that is generally suitable for manufacturing high-speed elastic components should be above medium, and the material directly affects the elastic components Service life.
Finally, the machining accuracy. Generally, the machining accuracy with a rotation speed of more than 10,000 revolutions generally needs to be controlled at a higher level.The key size of the coupling, the aperture and keyway, must be within 1 wire tolerance, and the center deviation can be guaranteed at this level.
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