Factors to consider when choosing couplings

When choosing couplings, the following factors need to be considered: 1. The magnitude and nature of the torque to be transmitted, as well as the requirements for buffering and vibration reduction functions. For instance, for high-power heavy-duty transmission, gear couplings can be selected. For severe impact loads or transmissions that require the elimination of torsional vibrations in the shafting, couplings with high elasticity such as tire couplings can be selected.

The following factors need to be considered when choosing couplings:

1. The magnitude and nature of the torque to be transmitted, as well as the requirements for buffering and vibration reduction functions. For instance, for high-power heavy-duty transmission, gear couplings can be selected. For severe impact loads or transmissions that require the elimination of torsional vibrations in the shafting, couplings with high elasticity such as tire couplings can be selected.

2. The working speed of the coupling and the magnitude of the centrifugal force it generates. For high-speed transmission shafts, couplings with high balance accuracy, such as membrane couplings, should be selected, and couplings with eccentricity, such as slider couplings, should not be chosen.

Couplings are used in conjunction with various types of mainframe products. The surrounding working environment is rather complex, such as temperature, humidity, water, steam, dust, sand, oil, acid, alkali, corrosive media, salt water, radiation and other conditions. These are one of the important factors that must be considered when choosing couplings. For working conditions with high or low temperatures, oil, acid or alkali media, flexible couplings with general rubber as the elastic element material should not be selected. Instead, flexible couplings with metal elastic elements should be chosen, such as membrane couplings and serpentine spring couplings.

3. The magnitude and direction of the relative displacement between the two axes. When it is difficult to keep the two shafts strictly and precisely aligned after installation and adjustment, or when there will be a large additional relative displacement between the two shafts during operation, a flexible coupling should be selected. For instance, when the radial displacement is large, a slider coupling can be selected; when the angular displacement is large or for the connection of two intersecting shafts, a universal coupling can be chosen, etc.

4. The reliability of couplings and their working environment. Couplings usually made of metal components and not requiring lubrication are more reliable. Couplings that require lubrication have their performance easily affected by the degree of lubrication perfection and may also pollute the environment. Couplings containing non-metallic components such as rubber are relatively sensitive to temperature, corrosive media and strong light, and are prone to aging.

5. The manufacturing, installation, maintenance and cost of couplings. Under the premise of meeting the performance requirements, couplings that are easy to install and disassemble, simple to maintain and low in cost should be selected. For instance, rigid couplings not only have a simple structure but also are easy to install and disassemble, making them suitable for low-speed and highly rigid transmission shafts. General non-metallic elastic element couplings (such as elastic sleeve pin couplings, elastic pin couplings, plum blossom-shaped elastic couplings, etc.) are widely used in general medium and small power transmission due to their excellent comprehensive capabilities.