Flexible couplings are popular as they are able to accommodate a significant amount of misalignment between the drive and the driven shaft. Where misalignment occurs with a rigid coupling, the result is usually significant damage to the motor and/or the coupling itself.
Not that this flexibility allows for a lack of maintenance or as accurate an alignment as possible, but they do provide a little slack.
Benefits of Flexible Couplings
In machinery applications that involves rotating shafts, a flexible coupling offers protection to the driving and driven shaft components from the damaging effects of misaligned shafts, vibration and shocks. The purpose of a flexible coupling is still to transmit torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft as with any other coupling type. Their extra function of flexibility allows them to compensate for minor shaft misalignment and changes of position to the shaft’s ends.
The extra flexibility of a flexible coupling also helps with vibration damping or noise reduction. They can also serve as a kind of fuse when torque overload occurs.
How to Replace Flexible Couplings
When flexible couplings need replacing, it is not always the best idea to simply replace the worn component with something identical to the coupling that failed. Doing this might actually invite the coupling to fail again in the same way the previous one did.
It is very possible that the previous coupling failed because it was not the ideal coupling design for that particular application. There may well be another design that appears completely different but actually works better and lasts longer with the application you are using it with. This approach to coupling selection may also help extend the life of other components such as bushings, bearings and seals, significantly reducing overall maintenance costs.
Of course, there are so many flexible couplings available from a wide variety of high quality manufacturers that identifying the ideal coupling can be a task and a half. It can help to talk to flexible couplings suppliers. Yorkshire-based YB Components keep local stocks of such machinery parts ready to ship out fast and free all over the UK and the rest of the world. Businesses based nearby in places such as Castleford, Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Pontefract, Knottingley can even benefit from same day delivery.
Flexible Couplings Manufacturers
Flexible couplings suppliers like Yorkshire’s YB Components offer a wide range of products from the best manufacturers from around the world. Here are some of the flexible couplings available:
Dinal (or Din.al) manufacture the GEL coupling, the Specialmatic coupling and the Unimatic and Uniquadra Elasticflex couplings.
Desch are the company behind the Habix, Hadeflex and Orpex couplings.
Falk Couplings have an Elastomeric Couplings range which includes the popular Falk Wrapflex couplings. Their flexible design improves tooth-on-tooth contact and minimises minor misalignment during operation.
If you require any flexible couplings such as Falk wrapflex couplings, then contact YB Components who are the UK’s leading flexible couplings suppliers in Yorkshire.