Flexible Shaft Couplings

Choose the right industrial flexible shaft couplings to keep your driveline running smoothly
By Joanne K. McPortland Flexible shaft couplings distribute the torque between two connected shafts or a shaft and another moving part such as a flywheel or a universal joint. A flexible shaft coupling, in contrast to a rigid coupling, can accommodate up to 3 degrees of misalignment in the coupled shafts. That's especially critical in high speed or precision applications. In addition, industrial flexible couplings help dampen vibration and reduce noise.

Suppliers of flexible shaft couplings provide motion control and power transmission solutions for a wide variety of industrial applications, including power generation, petrochemicals, steel, mining, food production and printing. Use flexible shaft couplings in fans, blowers, turbines and anywhere you need to distribute torque on a driveline. Look for flexible coupling manufacturers that provide:

1. Jaw-type flexible shaft couplings

2. Gear couplings, which have the highest tolerance for shaft misalignment

3. Steel grid flexible shaft couplings

4. Torsional rubber shaft coupling and disk coupling styles, designed to distribute torque between a shaft and a flywheel

5. Specialty or custom flexible shaft couplings

Choose jaw-style flexible shaft couplings for easy maintenance

Jaw shaft couplings use a rubber insert, sometimes called a spider because of its shape, between two interlocking hubs. Jaw-style couplings come in straight, curved and in-shear varieties. They're self-lubricating, and the inserts can be replaced without touching either hub, making maintenance on the fly a snap.
Try:  DieQua's Zero Backlash jaw couplings are available in eight models, with aluminum hubs standard and stainless steel optional. Lovejoy, a leading flexible coupling manufacturer, offers jaw in-shear couplings popular for use in gearboxes, fans, compressors and blowers. Turn to OEP Couplings for jaw couplings that keep the drive hub turning the driven hub, even when the insert fails.

Select gear style flexible shaft couplings for maximum tolerance

You want flexible couplings, not flexible shafts, so choose gear couplings for situations with high misalignment potential. Gear couplings with interlocking teeth have the highest tolerance, handling up to 3 degrees of misalignment without vibration.
Try:  Choose from Magnaloy's nine models of magnesium gear couplings. Both in-stock and custom orders ship within 3 to 10 days. Order an industrial flexible shaft coupling from Reid Supply Company for low vibration and high misalignment tolerance.

Get grid flexible shaft couplings for smooth torque distribution

Grid flexible couplings use a gridded insert that slides along slots in the hubs. Grid style couplings can only handle one-third of a degree of misalignment, but they offer excellent torque distribution.
Try:  Check out the David Brown Series X grid flexible couplings at Cone Drive Operations. They carry a 5-year lubrication warranty. Falk Steelflex grid couplings from Rexnord offer an economical alternative to gear-style flexible shaft couplings. This flexible coupling manufacturer boasts the largest selection on the market.

Use a torsional rubber shaft coupling for flywheels and universal joints

Torsional couplings connect drive shafts to other devices such as universal joints and flywheels, or provide torsional stability in three dimensions.
Try:  ROTEX torsionally flexible couplings from KTR transmit torque even over very small shaft distances. Use the online selection tool to create your own DXF drawings. Stromag's Perimax flexible couplings let you easily connect a shaft to a flange.

Contact flexible shaft couplings suppliers for new designs or custom orders

Manufacturers of flexible shaft couplings are always making improvements in the product. And if you don't find what you need from flexible shaft couplings suppliers' stock, you can always customize your order.
Try:  Frontline's patented Big Boy couplings use an innovative double-engagement design that keeps the hubs floating around precisely machined steel pins. If you want to make innovations of your own, contact The Rowland Company, a veteran-owned business that offers custom design and fabrication of industrial flexible couplings.

• Stock up on replaceable rubber shaft coupling inserts when you order industrial flexible couplings.