Coupling
-mechanical device for uniting or connecting
parts of a mechanical system.
• Couplings may be employed for a permanent or semi-
permanent connection between shafts, or disconnection of
machine components to permit one member to run while
the other is stationary.
• Couplings are also required to connect the shaft of a
driving machine separately built driven unit.
• Rigid couplings – are permanent coupling which by
virtue of their construction have essentially no degree of
angular, axial, or rotational flexibility.
• Flexible couplings – it will able to accommodate
reasonable amounts of axial angularity between shafts, a
small amount of eccentricity between parallel shafts, or
axial movement of shafts during use.
• Hydraulic couplings (fluid Coupling) – employs a fluid to
provide angular flexibility between the input and output
shafts. An oil or water is usually employed as the fluid,
although in some applications air has been used.
Types of coupling
• Flange coupling – the most common coupling.it has
advantage of simplicity and low cost, but the connected
shafts must be accurately aligned to prevent severe
bending stresses and excessive wear in bearings.
Rigid coupling
• Compression coupling- torque is transmitted by keys
between the shafts and the cones and by friction between
the cones and the outer sleeve.
Rigid couplings
• Collar coupling – consist of a cylindrical collar pressed
over the ends of the two collinear shafts being connected,
approximately ½ of the collar contacting each shaft.
Rigid Coupling
• Elastic-material bonded coupling – a more complicated
version of this coupling with several smaller pieces of
elastic material separating the two halves of the coupling
is depicted. Elastic material as neoprene, teflon, or similar
material)
Flexible Coupling
• Chain coupling-consist essentially of two chain sprockets
connected with a short continuous length of roller or
silent chain.
Flexible coupling
• Oldham coupling – can be employed for connecting two
parallel shafts with axial eccentricities from zero to
reasonable amount.
Flexible Coupling
Hydraulic Coupling
• A flange coupling has an out side diameter of 200 mmand
connects two 40 mm shafts. There are four 16 mm bolts
on a 140 mm bolt circle. The radial flange thickness is 20
mm. if the torsional stress in the shaft is not to exceed 26
Mpa, determine:
• a. the power that can be transmitted at 600 rpm
• B. the shearing stress in the bolts if uniformly distributed.
• C. the maximum stress induce in the bolts which initial
tension is 16,000 lb/in .
• D. the bearing pressure in the bolt .
Examples
• A cast-iron flanged coupling is used to join two steel
shafts 2(1/2) in., in diameter, delivering a maximum
torque of 60 ft.-lb. The two halves of the couplings are
joined together by 4 bolts, placed equidistant on a bolt
circle of 3 in. diameter. If the design stress is 10,000 psi
in shear for the bolt material, evaluate the diameter of the
bolts.
example
• A rigid flange coupling shown in the figure below has 4
bolts 3/4 in., in diameter with a preload of 4000 lbs. on
each. A 1(1/2) in. diameter shaft rotates at 400 rpm. The
shaft material has an ultimate tensile strength of 75,000
psi and a yield strength of 40,000 psi. Assuming a
coefficient of friction of 0.2, evaluate: (1) the horsepower
delivered by the shaft. (2) The horsepower delivered by
the coupling assuming the bolts to be sufficiently tight
and power is delivered by friction. Compare the two
horsepower values in (1) and (2).
Assignment
• A 2" diameter solid steel shaft runs at 160 rpm and
delivers 60 hp to another shaft connected by a solid
coupling as shown in the figure. If a (1/2)" square key is
used and design stresses for shear and crushing being
30,000 psi and 60,000 psi respectively, calculate the
factor of safety f, based on: (a) Shear of key (b) Crushing
of key (c) Shear of bolts (d) Crushing of bolts (e) Shear
of flange at the edge of hub.
Assignment
