How are Gear Coupling designed
Gear couplings are flexible couplings that are used to connect two shafts together for transmission of power. They transfer rotational movement caused in one shaft to the other. They are available with every crowned gear coupling manufacturer in India in an array of sizes depending upon their capability of transmitting a high torque at a high speed. Every coupling is made of 2 hubs combined with exterior gear teeth. These hubs are further joined by flange sleeves fitted with internal gear teeth. The flanges are then bolted together.
How are Gear couplings made?
Depending on the usage and application of the gear coupling, there are three types of teeth designs that are used in them-
- Straight teeth
- Teeth crowned with constant radius and
- Teeth that are crowned with variable radius
In addition to this, there are other parts like O rings and gaskets that help in preventing the lubricant filled in the coupling from getting leaked. Normally, the coupling is closed. Most of the general purpose gear couplings made by the crowned gear coupling manufacturer in India are made from carbon steel. It is because of this designing that torsional stiff coupling is able to withstand shock loading. However, there is a limit to it and significant amounts of the same can damage the design.
What is the importance of lubrication?
Periodic lubrication is an importance part of maintaining gear couplings. It needs to be done after every 1-2 years depending on the type of lubrication used and the application of the couplings. If maintained properly as per manufacturer’s orders with a reasonable alignment and a good lubrication schedule, the service life of a gear coupling can be extended up to 5-10 years. Additionally, there are certain gear couplings that have a sleeve made from high molecular nylon plastic that do not require any lubrication. However, these couplings have a lower torque capacity as compared to steel couplings and are mainly used in small pumps.
What is the importance of misalignment?
Another important aspect that needs to be taken care of is the misalignment. Gear couplings can accommodate three types of misalignment- angular, axial and parallel. This is due to the difference and clearance between the gear teeth. There are couplings that have crowned teeth allowing for higher angular misalignment. If there is excessive misalignment, it will shorten the life of the coupling to a significant extent. Thus, it is always best to consult the installation instructions of your gear coupling manufacturers in India to choose the best coupling suitable for your application.
