Coupling

The primary purpose of couplings is to join two pieces of rotating equipment while permitting some degree of misalignment or end movement or both.

In a more general context, a coupling can also be a mechanical device that serves to connect the ends of adjacent parts or objects.

Another advantage of being an all machined coupling is the possibility to incorporate features into the final product while still keeping the single piece's integrity.

The material used to manufacture the beam coupling also affects its performance and suitability for specific applications such as food, medical and aerospace.

In this coupling, the muff or sleeve is made into two halves parts of the cast iron and they are joined by means of mild steel studs or bolts.

Torque is transmitted between the bolts through a series of thin, stainless steel discs assembled in a pack.

[2] In windsurfing terminology it is usually called a "universal joint", but modern designs are usually based on a strong flexible material, and better technically described as an elastic coupling.

Elastomeric types, then again, gain flexibility from resilient, non-moving, elastic or plastic elements transmitting torque between metallic hubs.

[citation needed] Gear couplings are generally limited to angular misalignments, i.e., the angle of the spindle relative to the axes of the connected shafts, of 4°–5°.

The single joint allows for minor misalignments such as installation errors and changes in shaft alignment due to operating conditions.

Torque is transmitted between the two coupling shaft hubs through the metallic grid spring element.

This type of coupling provides an effective damping of torsional vibrations, and high displacement capacity, which protects the drive.

These couplings also compensate shaft displacements (radial, axial and angular) and the torque is transmitted in shear.

[5] Hirth joints use tapered teeth on two shaft ends meshed together to transmit torque.

It can provide the ability to hermetically separate two areas whilst continuing to transmit mechanical power from one to the other making these couplings ideal for applications where prevention of cross-contamination is essential.

Its center traces a circular orbit, twice per rotation, around the midpoint between input and output shafts.

The coupler is named for John Oldham who invented it in Ireland, in 1821, to solve a problem in a paddle steamer design.

Clamped or compression rigid couplings come in two parts and fit together around the shafts to form a sleeve.

A sleeve coupling consists of a pipe whose bore is finished to the required tolerance based on the shaft size.

Based on the usage of the coupling a keyway is made in the bore in order to transmit the torque by means of the key.

A gib head sunk keys hold the two shafts and sleeve together (this is the simplest type of the coupling) It is made from the cast iron and very simple to design and manufacture.

The basic idea is similar to a clamp coupling but the moment of rotation is closer to the center of the shaft.

[7] An alternative coupling device to the traditional parallel key, the tapered lock removes the possibility of play due to worn keyways.

[11] A flexible coupling made from two counter-wound springs with a ball bearing in the center, which allows torque transfer from input to output shaft.

The amount of coupling unbalance that can be tolerated by any system is dictated by the characteristics of the specific connected machines and can be determined by detailed analysis or experience.