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About Flexible Shaft Couplings
Flexible shaft couplings provide mechanical power in
the form of torque to pieces of rotary equipment. Manufacturers utilize
shaft couplings during the production of rotary equipment, such as power
transmissions, generators, pumps and turbines, in a variety of industries
including automotive, oil/gas, aerospace, water/waste treatment and construction
industries. Engineers mount rotary equipment upon shafts. Shafts aid
in the correct positioning of the equipment and supply the equipment
with an axis of rotation. Shaft couplings connect the shafts of rotating
equipment, allowing greater efficiency during operation. Manufacturers
determine the type of shaft coupling based on the presence of shaft misalignment.
In certain industrial applications, shafts remain aligned with one another,
in which case rigid shaft couplings remain an effective choice. However,
during operation, shafts tend to shift, causing misalignment. When shaft
misalignment is common, manufacturers choose flexible shaft couplings.
Flexible shaft couplings provide efficient accommodation for moderate
shaft misalignment. Shaft misalignment occurs when the shafts’ axes
of rotation become skewed. When shafts remain aligned with one another,
performance is optimum and the shafts’ axes of rotation intersect
in one straight line. Movement, bumps or vibration cause shaft movement,
which results in parallel, angular or skewed shaft misalignment. Parallel
misalignment occurs when shafts' axes are parallel to one another, but
do not intersect with one another. Angular misalignment occurs when the
axes of shafts intersect with one another at an angle. Skewed misalignment
occurs when axial and angular misalignment occur in conjunction with
one another. Flexible shaft couplings provide the means by which rotating
equipment can continue to function during moderate displacement measuring
up to 5° of misalignment.
In addition to transmitting torque and accommodating shaft misalignment,
flexible shaft couplings perform other functions. Flexible shaft couplings
accommodate axial displacement. Axial displacement, also called end float,
occurs when the shafts move along the axis of rotation, either toward
or away from one another. Flexible shaft couplings also provide shock
absorption and lessen the intensity of vibrations, a process known as
damping.
Numerous types of flexible shaft couplings exist. Correct flexible coupling
requires careful analysis of the industrial application and environment
in which the coupling will be used, and the performance of individual
couplings. Certain flexible couplings are better suited than other flexible
shaft couplings for a particular application. Flexible shaft couplings
are categorized according to their means of flexibility and their application.
Three types of flexible shaft couplings exist: mechanical flexible shaft
couplings, elastomeric flexible shaft couplings, and metallic membrane
flexible shaft couplings. Not all manufacturers of flexible shaft couplings
create all three types. Certain manufacturers can make custom flexible
shaft couplings for rare or odd connections.
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Types of Flexible Shaft Couplings
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offer several advantages, which include efficient torque transmission,
high overload tolerance and high torsional stiffness. Compression couplings
include jaw couplings, pin and bush couplings and donut couplings.
- permit angular misalignment, but only a small
degree of axial motion. A sub-type of metallic membrane coupling.
- accommodate angular misalignment, but do not accommodate
parallel misalignment or axial motion. A sub-type of metallic membrane
coupling.
- transmit torque from engines to moving parts.
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contain a resilient element, such as rubber or plastic. Elastomeric
couplings possess many advantages, including a high damping ability,
high shock absorption, a high degree of misalignment accommodation,
and do not require lubrication; however, elastomeric couplings are larger
than metallic couplings, and possess sensitivity to ultraviolet light,
chemicals and high temperatures.
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are designed to continue operating for a certain length of time after
the application of torque has ceased.
- transmit power while compensating for any misalignment.
- accommodate moderate shaft misalignment while transferring power.
-
offer efficient torque transmission in a compact mechanism, and permit
a high degree of axial movement. However, gear couplings require piloting,
and may malfunction at very high or very low torques.
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offer adequate vibration damping and shock absorption. However, significant
axial movement may compromise coupling resilience.
- obtain flexibility through loosely fitted parts that
move past one another. Mechanical flexible couplings maintain high torsional
stiffness and accommodate a high degree of angular misalignment; however,
mechanical couplings require lubrication and maintenance, and may not
permit adequate axial movement.
- do not contain a rubber or a plastic element. Metallic flexible
couplings offer high torsional stiffness and great resistance to chemicals,
ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures.
- obtain flexibility through the bending
of a membrane within the coupling. Metallic membrane couplings require
low maintenance and no lubrication; however, these couplings may be
more expensive than mechanical flexible couplings.
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provide a high degree of misalignment accommodation, produce low reactionary
loads and offer high torsional softness. Shear couplings include tire,
sleeve and molded-element couplings.
- are hinges that enable rigid rods to bend.
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