A coupling connects two shafts at their ends to transmit power. Couplings connect two pieces of rotating equipment while allowing for misalignment or movement. Although couplings don’t allow shaft disconnection during operation, torque-limiting couplings can slip or disconnect if there is a torque limit.
Below are some of the types of coupling:
What is Shaft Coupling?
A shaft coupling, is a mechanical part that connects the driveshaft to a motor’s driven shaft to transmit power. Shaft couplings provide mechanical flexibility and tolerance for shaft misalignment.
Shaft couplings can transmit power and torque between two rotating shafts like motors, pumps, compressors, or generators. There are two types of shaft couplings: one for factory automation and one for large power transmissions, such as in wind or hydraulic power machinery.
Marine Coupling
Marine coupling is designed to allow for angular movement. This caters to minor misalignment, pipe deflection, and couplings up to 6o. Flange adaptors up to 3o. Marine couplings can accommodate 10mm of expansion/contraction per fitting, and flange adaptors 5mm, which reduces the need for supplementary expansion joints or bellows.
Beam Coupling
They are also known as helical coupling or beam coupling; this flexible type of coupling allows for torque transfer between shafts and provides for parallel offset and angular misalignment. This coupling is made from a single piece of material. It can be removed from the spiral path to create a flexible beam with a helical outlook.
Sleeve Coupling
It may be the simplest of all the couplings on the market. The elastomeric inserts with male and female splines transmit low to moderate torque between two shafts. It can be made with either hytrel or neoprene and is available in a single- or two-piece configuration.
Flange Coupling
The flanges attach to the shaft ends of the driving or driven shafts. They are then keyed securely. They are then joined using nuts and bolts. This type of coupling can be used to handle heavy loads in industrial equipment.
Disc Coupling
The coupling includes two hubs, a centre member, and two-disc packets. A coupling with only one hub would handle both angular and axial misalignments. The coupling’s two-hub design allows it to manage parallel misalignments of compressors, motors, and other equipment.
For more information about couplings, visit Poly Flex or contact them at +61 7 3284 2799.