A coupling is a very useful component in industry. It is a gadget which is used to join together two shafts together at their ends with the aim of transmitting power. The determined coupling of the shafts can be used to send rotary power from one shaft to another, where both shafts turn about the same nominal centerline. The application of couplings mainly aims at joining two pieces of rotating equipment while permitting some degree of misalignment or end movement.
There are assorted categories of shaft couplings. All the different types have specific applications. The first category is the rigid coupling. When there are requirements for the correct shaft alignment, the rigid coupling will be used. There are also many kinds of this coupling such as the flange coupling and the muff coupling. The second type is the torque limiting coupling which can protect systems against conditions of over torque.
The third type is the flexible coupling. One foremost function of a flexible coupling is connection of a driving shaft or flange element with an adjacent in-line driven member. Besides, It must flex enough while rotating to accommodate, within limits, undesirable effects caused by axial misalignment, shaft end movement, and vibration between associated members. This kind of couplings can also be added divided into many other types. For instance, three are universal couplings, bellows couplings, disc couplings, jaw coupling, and gear couplings, etc. Taking the bellows coupling as a specific example, this coupling consists of a one-piece flexing element with end hubs which provides both low conclusion and low side thrust. It has a wide range of usage which is from light market power transmission applications to instrumentation. When in the light industries, it can be applied to join together step motors and servomotors to encoders and tachometers.
Like many other mechanical component, different types of couplings all need maintenance. Generally, it is rather straightforward to enounce the coupling. You just need to do a regularly scheduled inspection of it. There are many aspects you can refer to. For example, you should clean them regularly. And if the coupling is lubricated, you have to check and convert lubricant regularly. Although you may do quite well on the maintenance of couplings, they can still fail sometimes. The failure may be coursed by improper installation, immoderate misalignment, and poor coupling selection and so on. In order to enhance coupling assistance life, you should try best to forestall it prior to its failure.
Categories and Maintenance of Shaft Couplings