Though one may not think of gears as being flexible, gear couplings are very much considered to be a flexible coupling. A gear coupling can be a mechanical device designed to transmit torque between two shafts that are not collinear. The coupling typically includes two flexible joints, one fixed to each shaft. These joints are often linked by a third shaft called the spindle.
Each joint generally contains a 1:1 equipment ratio internal/external gear pair. The tooth flanks and external diameter of the external gear are crowned to allow for angular displacement between your two gears. Mechanically, the gears are equivalent to rotating splines with modified profiles. They are called gears because of the relatively huge size of one’s teeth. Gear couplings are generally limited by angular misalignments of 4 to 5°.
Gear couplings ordinarily can be found in two variations, flanged sleeve and continuous sleeve. Flanged equipment couplings consist of brief sleeves surrounded by a perpendicular flange. One sleeve is positioned on each shaft so the two flanges line up face to face. A number of screws or bolts in the flanges hold them jointly. Continuous sleeve equipment couplings feature shaft ends coupled jointly and abutted against one another, which are after that enveloped by a sleeve. Generally, these sleeves are made of metal, but they can also be made of Nylon.
Single joint gear couplings are accustomed to connect two nominally coaxial shafts. In this program the device is called a gear-type flexible, or flexible coupling. The one joint allows for minimal misalignments such as for example installation errors and adjustments in shaft alignment due to operating conditions. These types of gear couplings are generally limited by angular misalignments of 1/4 to 1/2°.
Gear couplings are torsionally rigid and are supplied to two designs – completely flexible and flexible/rigid. A totally versatile coupling comprises two hubs with an exterior gear and two outer sleeves with an interior gear. It’s a general coupling for all sorts of applications and accommodates all feasible misalignments (angular, offset and combined) as well as large axial moments. Machines, bearings, seals, and shafts are therefore not subjected to the additional forces, sometimes of significant magnitude, which arise from unavoidable misalignment usually associated with rigid shaft couplings.
A flexible/rigid coupling comprises one flexible geared half and one rigid fifty percent. It does not accommodate parallel displacement of shafts but does accommodate angular misalignment. This kind of couplings are primarily used for “floating shaft” applications.
Sizes 010 – 070 all have crowned teeth with a 20° pressure contact. This enables to accommodate up to 1 1,5° static angular misalignment per equipment mesh. However, reducing the operational misalignment will increase the life span of the coupling and also the life of various other machinery components such as for example bearings etc.
SERIES H Features & Benefits
Higher Misalignment Capability
Sizes 1-7 compensate for up to ±1 1/2° static angular misalignment per gear mesh.
Minimizing working misalignment will increase the life of the coupling. Refer to the Installation and Alignment Instructions for alignment recommendations.
Larger Bore Capabilities permit the most economical size selection for shafts up to 10 5/8″.
Higher Torque Ratings due to larger tooth pitch diameters than other couplings.
Versatility in that Series H’s are interchangeable by fifty percent coupling with competitive coupling styles.
1 1/2° Curved-Face Teeth are a prime feature of the Series H coupling, sizes 1-7. The crowned hub teeth certainly are a 20° full-depth involute tooth form with flank, tip, and root curvature. When
used in combination with the straight faced sleeve teeth, these 1 1/2° curved face hubs offer increased shaft misalignment capability
CENTER FLANGE BOLTING
All couplings feature precision-drilled flange bolt holes, and tight tolerance Grade 5 flange bolts to assure a long-lasting flange to flange and fastener fit. Exposed bolt flanges are
regular. Shrouded bolt flanges could be supplied through size 5. Size #5 1/2 and bigger couplings are only obtainable with uncovered bolt flanges.
LUBRICATION
Each sleeve flange is supplied with two pipe plugs 180° apart. This permits assembly of a full flex coupling with four lube plugs positioned every 90°, facilitating lubrication. The lube seal is a Buna-N O-ring to greatly help retain grease and exclude contaminants. KHP or KSG coupling greases are suggested to be able to obtain maximum operating life.
Ever-power COUPLING Features & Benefits
The Ever-power gear coupling is available in 
two basic products:
Ever-powercoupling for medium to heavy-duty applications
Sizes 1 1/2 through 7 with integral end ring.
Sizes 8 through 30 with bolt-on end ring.