high speed coupling - Coupling Technology Blog by R+W

Maintenance-free and torsionally stiff connecting elements for smooth stable running

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For many decades engineers have turned to the flexible disc pack coupling for applications requiring maximum reliability and uptime, minimizing wear on adjacent equipment, and eliminating the need for lubrication or maintenance of the coupling itself.  Prior to the invention of the disc coupling, flexible couplings nearly always included either gear teeth that required periodic lubrication, or rubber and plastic parts that degraded over time and required replacement.  Further, as industrial processes became more sophisticated in the latter portion of the twentieth century, the need to improve coupling balance became critical as a means of reducing shaft vibration to protect the bearings and seals of the connected equipment &#; something the flexible disc coupling helped with a great deal.  Over time the use of disc couplings has grown into a wide variety of applications, with numerous machine designs taking advantage of their unique characteristics.  This introductory article provides a brief overview of the basic construction of industrial disc couplings and what gives them the performance and longevity that so many engineers value.

Flexible disc packs are composed of thin sheet metal shims, generally stamped or laser cut in a ring shape with a series of mounting holes; normally 6-8 but more or fewer are also used, depending on the size of the coupling, with the smallest designs commonly using 4 and with any number of holes being used for the very largest of disc couplings.  The shims are stacked together and held in place with bushings, and the resulting disc pack is bolted into the coupling system.  Misalignment compensation depends on the flexibility of the shims themselves, and generally the larger the stack, the greater the overall stiffness of the disc pack in terms of both torsion and bending.  Centering of the disc pack in the coupling can be accomplished by different means, with one common method being precision machined pockets in the adjacent mounting flanges which hold the disc packs concentrically in place by their bushings.  The disc packs are mounted to their respective hubs with the bolted joints alternating between the driving hub and the driven hub.  The portions of the disc pack bridging the distances between the respective bolted joints provide the flexibility and allow a single disc pack connection to pivot and compensate for an angular bend while transmitting rotation and torque.  A single disc pack is generally rigid in shear, meaning that it cannot compensate for misalignment between two independently bearing supported shafts, unless used in conjunction with a second disc pack to make the opposite angular bend and complete the parallel offset.  The exception to this rule is when a single disc pack is used in conjunction with a self-aligning ball bearing, which replaces the second disc pack in providing the second angular freedom of movement.  The greater the distance between disc packs, the larger the parallel misalignment which can be compensated for at a given bending angle.

The stiffness in shear of a single disc pack provides one of the keys to smooth running at high speed.  Most flexible couplings have some level of softness in the radial direction, which means that centrifugal forces will more easily deform the flexible element when rotating at higher speeds, leading to instability, and making vibration more likely.  In contrast disc couplings have a unique ability among flexible coupling systems to hold all of their components rigidly within their rotational axes, including any spacers, drive shaft tubing or other components which might be mounted in series between the two flexible joints.  This makes them an excellent choice for high speed balancing.  A further advantage of the radial stiffness of a single disc pack is its ability to support intermediate devices.  Most commonly this intermediate device is a torque meter, used widely in test stands and other applications which require condition monitoring.  This allows for the torque meter to become an integral part of the coupling system, held in concentric rotation by the radial stiffness of the single disc pack coupling mounted on each of its driving and driven faces. 

Also related to rotational speed is the number of bending cycles a disc pack can tolerate before failure.  Because they have no wear or moving parts, no abrasion occurs over the course of a single rotation, and misalignment compensation is accomplished purely through the bending of the sheet metal.  Steel components are generally considered to possess long term fatigue strength when able to withstand 107 load cycles of a given stress amplitude.  Because industrial disc couplings are generally rated for misalignment and torque conditions which can be withstood for at least this number of cycles, they are considered fatigue resistant for a service life approaching an infinite number of rotational bending cycles &#; key to their reputation for maintenance free reliability.

Because of the diversity of applications into which flexible disc couplings are implemented, a wide variety of configurations exist, and most manufacturers offer customization and special features.  Below is a short overview of common standard designs, the features of which can often be readily made into combinations of different hub styles and with the extended spacers cut-to-length, making it by no means an exhaustive listing.  

The drop-out spacer coupling shown as the last item in the overview is available with a specific set of features to make the coupling compliant with API-610 which is a standard developed by the American Petroleum Institute to address design reliability in centrifugal pumps and couplings.  Instead of the disc pack bolting directly to the shaft hub, it bolts to an intermediate guard ring that in turn bolts to the shaft hub.  This creates a spacer cartridge which allows for easy installation and removal without any need to move the shaft hubs.  This drop out feature is useful for gaining access to pumps and gearboxes for maintenance with minimal effort.  The intermediate guard rings also extend through the center holes of the disc packs, providing a safety catch to prevent the intermediate tube from being thrown in the event of unexpected disc pack failure.  Use of this drop out spacer feature has become popular in applications beyond those found in the oil and gas industry, such as in rotary test stands and other devices where the need for semi-frequent coupling disassembly is anticipated.

Another useful customization is a configuration with a carbon fiber drive shaft tube.  This allows for industrial disc coupling systems to span longer distances at higher speeds.  The combination of light weight and high stiffness of carbon fiber tubing allows for smooth running in extended shafting applications with minimal imbalance or whipping contributed by the tube.  Pictured below is an example of an industrial disc coupling configured with carbon fiber tubing as well as a special plumbing system that allows fluid to be passed through the center of the coupling to provide lubrication for machine tool applications

Perhaps the most interesting add-on feature for disc couplings is a newly developed remote sensor system which can be integrated into the spacers.  These new sensor systems provide wireless transmission of torque, speed, vibration and thrust load data in real time via Bluetooth connection to either a smartphone or tablet with a special app, or to a wireless gateway for integration of performance data transmission into existing control systems.  This technological advancement is of significance to engineers and operators who previously experienced some difficulty in monitoring data at critical locations in the drive line, having needed to either estimate loads or run time consuming and expensive tests for periodic monitoring of loads in the past. 

Depending on the configuration industrial disc couplings continue to be the best option for heavy-duty transmission in applications that require the highest reliability and uptime, spanning of long distances between shafts, and combinations of high power and high speed.  While a variety of off-the-shelf configurations are available for standard applications, customization also abounds.  Consulting with manufacturer applications engineers is always the best starting point, and R+W is ready to assist with an evaluation of project and performance requirements, and to help determine the best solution for any application.  Contact us at for details.

R+W has been designing and manufacturing high performance flexible shaft couplings and torque limiters since and continues to expand its product portfolio with each passing year.  With a reputation for performance, quality, and customization, it is considered by many to be the top precision coupling manufacturer in the world.

Selecting a coupling type for any drive application requires considering not only design concerns, but other factors related to maintenance, size, and cost. Depending on your area of concern, some of these may be easily overlooked.

Most engineers consider design parameters such as torque rating, service factors, speed, misalignment, and bore size in selecting couplings. But others who influence component selection have different priorities. Purchasing agents are concerned about price, delivery, and vendor support. Production or maintenance personnel give high priority to reliability, ease of installation, and maintenance costs.

To illustrate the many factors that a system design engineer should weigh in choosing couplings, we selected a bulk-material-handling belt conveyor application. In this example, a 150-hp motor operating at 1,750 rpm drives a double-reduction parallel-shaft gearbox with an output speed of 84 rpm. Couplings must be used to connect the shafts between motor and gearbox (highspeed section) and between gearbox and conveyor (low-speed section), Figure 1. The example considers four types of flexible couplings commonly used in conveyor applications: grid, gear, elastomeric, and disc, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, to Figure 5.

The table lists the selection factors and coupling options, which are described in the following sections. Values shown for the different parameters (torque, service factor, etc.) are typical, but may vary with different models and manufacturers.

Though the example focuses on conveyors and specific coupling types, the same selection method applies to other high-torque applications and couplings.

Design considerations

This section briefly describes how each design factor listed in the table influences coupling selection. Cost and maintenance factors are covered later.

Torque rating. One of the key factors in selecting a coupling is its torque rating &#; the amount of torque that it can transmit. Another factor &#; also important &#; is the amount of torque it can transmit in a given size. This is called the torque density (sometimes called power density), which is defined as torque rating divided by OD.

Gear couplings pack the most torque capability in a small size. However, the maximum bore size of gear couplings generally limits their selection. After gear couplings, other types with metallic flexible elements, such as grid or disc, offer the most torque for their size. The elastomeric couplings considered in this example are of the rubber tire type that is loaded in shear. These couplings offer less torque capacity than the other types.

Service factor. Once the torque requirement has been determined for normal operating conditions, you need to increase the selection torque requirement to accommodate torque fluctuations in the particular application. To do this, engineers apply a service factor (SF), usually larger than 1.0, that indicates the perceived severity of the service. Higher numbers indicate more severity.

Unfortunately, coupling manufacturers don&#;t agree on these values. Each manufacturer has developed its own SF values based on experience. The manufacturer&#;s values also vary with the coupling materials, which range from carbon steel to elastomers and composite materials.

Almost all manufacturers rate their couplings for peak overloads of 200% of the catalog rating to accommodate motor start-up loads. But ultimate strength varies greatly among different coupling types and different brands. This variation often depends on the coupling materials.

To avoid the confusion of these different ratings, select coupling types that are field-proven in your type of service and recommended by the manufacturer.

Outside diameter. Large coupling diameters and long hub lengths often cause interference with base plates, piping, shaft fans, and coupling guards.

Below 50-hp capacity, the four coupling types have similar diameters. But, as torque and shaft size increases, couplings with metallic members (grid, gear, and disc) have smaller ODs than elastomeric types. This is particularly evident in our example, where the elastomeric coupling for the low-speed shaft is twice the diameter (24 in.) of the metallic couplings.

Weight. At 674 lb, the elastomeric coupling for the low-speed shaft weighs 500 lb more than a comparable gear or disc coupling. Such weights may induce deflections in the shafts of the connected equipment, and can cause vibration. Therefore, you should check the drive for the effect of such loading on shaft and bearings.

Moment of inertia. Where conveyor applications require controlled acceleration and deceleration, design engineers use coupling inertia values (wr2) to properly size motors for start-ups and brakes for stopping. However, for belt conveyors that usually have long acceleration and deceleration times, the coupling inertia is seldom a problem.

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Torsional deflection. As torque is transmitted through a coupling, its flexible element rotates slightly, a condition known as torsional deflection or windup. Some torsional deflection is normally desirable, as it cushions uneven torque loads, thereby saving wear and tear of the connected equipment.

Torsional deflection in the grid coupling of our example lets the shafts rotate 1/2 to 3/4 deg relative to each other, whereas the torsionally soft elastomeric couplings allow 51/2 to 6 deg. Gear and disc couplings have negligible windup.

Torsional stiffness. The resistance of a coupling to torsional deflection, called torsional stiffness, affects the critical speed of the system. Designers often overlook this factor for conveyor applications. But they should evaluate the effect of torsional stiffness values on critical speeds and vibration.

Gear couplings offer the highest torsional stiffness, and elastomeric couplings the lowest. Grid and elastomeric couplings get progressively stiffer as the applied torque increases in a given size coupling.

Backlash. Rotational clearances between coupling parts allow another type of rotation, called backlash. Gear couplings contain a small amount of this clearance between hub teeth and sleeve teeth. In grid couplings, the clearance occurs between the grid member and hub slots. This clearance accommodates misalignment and provides space for a lubrication film.

A disc coupling has no backlash because its components are tightly held together. Elastomeric couplings don&#;t have backlash either but they deflect torsionally under changing loads or starts and stops, giving an effect similar to backlash.

Misalignment capacity. Coupling manufacturers offer widely varying recommendations on allowable shaft misalignment. The suggested operating limits in the table allow for simultaneous extremes of offset and angular misalignment. Our experience shows that exceeding these limits increases loads on both the coupling and its connected equipment and can reduce their service lives. Some coupling manufacturers publish higher values that allow more angular misalignment if there is no offset misalignment and vice versa.

Manufacturers also give suggested installation and static limits. Installation limits are smaller than operating limits to allow for dynamic movement of equipment and settling of foundations. Static limits apply to nonrotational conditions. For example, removing paper rolls from a paper machine (static condition) may require more angular misalignment than operating conditions.

Be sure you know whether the coupling manufacturer is giving you installation, operating, or static design limits. Often, these three sets of values are poorly labeled in sales literature, leading to reader confusion.

The four coupling types vary in their ability to accommodate shaft misalignment. Shear type elastomeric couplings typically handle the most misalignment.

Within the metallic coupling types, gear couplings have the most misalignment capability, followed by disc and grid couplings.

Shaft gaps. Grid and gear couplings let you assemble equipment with the smallest shaft gaps (distance between shaft ends), an important factor where space is limited. Close-coupled disc couplings are not available for high-torque, low-speed applications. However, a recently developed disc coupling, Figure 5, offers the same gap as grid and gear types for most motor shaft (high-speed) applications (listed in table).

A shear-type elastomeric coupling requires larger shaft separation to accommodate its flexing element. This gap typically ranges from 1 in. on a small coupling to over 5 in. on a large one.

Balance.Coupling unbalance can cause vibration in the connected equipment. The amount of coupling unbalance is expressed by its AGMA balance class, where higher numbers indicate better balance and smoother operation. Most gear and disc couplings can be balanced by the manufacturer to improve their balance class rating and operating speed range.

Based on our experience, conveyor operating speeds are generally low enough so that it is not necessary to balance the couplings.

Other considerations

Now that we&#;ve discussed the basic design considerations, let&#;s examine the other important selection factors related to cost, maintenance, and environmental conditions.

Initial cost. Grid couplings generally cost the least for shafts up through 4-in. diameter. Beyond this point, the hightorque capacity per size of gear couplings makes them the least expensive.

Elastomeric couplings are inexpensive in fractional to low-horsepower sizes, but their cost grows rapidly as torque and shaft sizes increase. In our example for the high-speed shaft, elastomeric or disc couplings cost $200 more than grid or gear couplings.

For the low-speed shaft, the order of coupling cost, low to high, is gear, grid, disc, and elastomeric. Here, the elastomeric coupling costs $1,200 or more than the other types.

In addition to the purchase price, other costs are incurred for replacement parts and downtime.

Replacement costs. OEMs often supply the lowest cost couplings on their equipment to minimize total equipment cost. Unfortunately, the lowest cost coupling is often not the best choice for the application and causes more expense after installation.

This situation is evident when you consider what parts of a coupling usually wear out and how difficult it is to replace these parts. In a gear coupling, the teeth generally wear out, which requires a completely new coupling. Here, the replacement cost usually wipes out any initial cost savings.

The other three types &#; grid, elastomeric, and disc &#; require replacing the less costly flexible elements only. The cost of a replacement grid is usually well below that for an elastomeric or disc element. This makes the grid coupling a better value for the low-speed shaft even though its initial price is higher than a gear coupling.

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Downtime. A conveyor shutdown caused by coupling failure can easily cost thousands of dollars per hour. The problem is compounded if the failed coupling is difficult to service.

Gear couplings, which must be replaced entirely, are the worst in this regard. Replacement typically requires moving the connected equipment, then removing the hubs. New hubs are then installed, and the equipment must be repositioned and realigned. This is not an easy task, for example, when working on a confined conveyor drive platform 50 ft above ground.

When a grid coupling fails, the grid usually fails in fatigue due to excessive misalignment or it breaks due to overload. The coupling can continue operating until several segments are broken. Grids can be replaced without moving the connected equipment.

With disc couplings, the disc usually fractures due to improper bolt tightening or excessive misalignment. Unitized disc packs, wherein discs, bushings, and washers are held together in a sandwich, simplify replacement and avoid lost components.

Elastomeric flexing elements experience fatigue failures due to excessive misalignment as well as overloads and environmental deterioration. Their flexing elements are usually easy to replace.

Maintenance interval. Until recently, grid couplings had to be lubricated annually to replace grease in which oil separated from the thickeners. A new type of long-term grease (LTG) extends this interval to over 5 years.

When applied to gear couplings, LTG grease extends the interval from 6 mo to 3 yr. Gear couplings depend more on lubrication than grid couplings because of the limited tooth surface area (that transmits the torque) and resultant high tooth stresses. Up to 90% of gear coupling failures relate to lack of lubricant, leakage, contamination, or wrong grade.

Disc and elastomer couplings don&#;t require lubrication. Moreover, disc couplings can be inspected while rotating, with a strobe light. Tiny hairline cracks in the disc assembly are an early sign of failure.

Environmental factors. Bulk material conveyors operating outdoors expose couplings to temperature extremes plus sunlight, ozone, moisture, and abrasive contaminants.

Disc couplings, which have neither seals or lubricants, offer the largest temperature range and are unaffected by most environmental conditions found in conveying.

Grid and gear couplings offer moderate temperature ranges, which are limited by the seals and grease. Grid couplings tend to be more forgiving of abuse and less sensitive to contaminants, compared to gear couplings.

Elastomeric couplings have the smallest temperature range. At temperatures approaching 240 F, they get stiff and brittle; above 150 F, the heat may degrade the elastomeric element. If either of these conditions is common in your application, it could shorten the elastomeric element fatigue life. Ozone and sunlight also may deteriorate elastomeric compounds.

Making the choice

For this particular conveyor application example, we selected grid couplings for both the high-speed and low-speed shaft connections. This coupling is the most economical choice based on total costs. It has a low initial cost and lowest replacement parts cost, and requires little maintenance. It also provides adequate misalignment capacity, gives some resilience for vibration damping, and is not limited by environmental factors.

Tom Geiger is the coupling marketing manager, The Falk Corp., Milwaukee.

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