Types Of Coupling, Uses And Application

The literal meaning of coupling is to match two materials that are compatible with each other for optimal performance. The concept of coupling focuses on many utilities and is as important as an engine. Generally, engines experience a lot of vibration and wear.

What is Coupling??

The coupling is a device that keeps different types of axes correctly aligned with each other. In this way, no matter what the axial movement at the end of the shaft, it provides and compensates for the basic transmission of force.

The main and primary purpose of the coupling is to combine the two rotating parts, allowing a certain degree of misalignment or movement at one or both ends. With proper installation, careful selection of couplings as needed further can reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

The coupling is divided into two main categories: Materials Flexion and Mechanical Flexion. The type of flexibility of the material obtains flexibility when stretching or compressing elastic materials such as rubber or by folding a thin metal disc or grid. The flexible material coupling does not require lubrication, except the mesh coupling.

The mechanical bending couplings accept misalignment due to rocking, rolling or sliding of metal surfaces. All mechanical metal couplings require lubrication.

The Material Flexion Coupling : As the name implies, this type of coupling depends more on the type of material used to make the material that can be a sheet of rubber or metal.

The most important part of this coupling is that it does not require lubrication for maintenance and can be angular or parallel and, sometimes, axially aligned.

Examples of material flexing couplings are jaw, sleeve, tire, disc, grid and diaphragm couplings.

Jaw Couplings:- 

The jaw coupling is a bending coupling of material that transmits the torque through the compression of an elastomeric spider insert located between two jaws. Its application is more general and used for dampening of the torsion effectively.

Jaw Type

Sleeve Coupling:-  The coupling of the sleeve delivers an intermediate pair to a low torque between the equipment connected in the previous step through an elastomeric insert with a male groove that engages with the groove of the female hub. The insert material is typically EPDM, Neoprene or Hytrel, and the insert may have a one or two piece design.

Sleeve Coupling

Tire Coupling:- This coupling has rubber or polyurethane elements connected to two cubes. The rubber elements transmit shear force.

Tire Coupling

Disc Coupling:- This works in the concept of torque transmission through the elements of a bending disc. Tension and compression are two important aspects. They can be packages of one or two discs. Individual disk packages are specialized in the handling of axial and angular misalignment, and dual disks are effective for parallel disk arrays. The balance and speed index is impressively high.

Disc Coupling

Diaphragm coupling:-  Diaphragm couplings use a single or a series of plates or diaphragms for flexible members. The torque is transmitted through the reel or spacer piece from the outer diameter of the flexible plate to the inner diameter, and then the diameter is transmitted from the inside to the outside. The deviation of the outer diameter to the inner diameter occurs when the diaphragm is misaligned. Read More 

Diaphragm Coupling 

Mechanical flexion coupling:-  The mechanical bending couplings accept misalignment due to rocking, rolling or sliding of metal surfaces. All mechanical metal couplings require lubrication.

Gear Couplings:- Gear couplings offer maximum torque and maximum torque in all diameters of all flexible couplings.

Grid couplings:- If a coupling part slips or shakes, all imbalances are easily handled. Lubrication is required.

Roller chain coupling:-Commonly double-step roller chains are used. Effective only when the speed and torque requirements are low.