Flexible couplings are utilized to transmit torque starting with one shaft then onto the next when the two shafts are marginally misaligned. Flexible couplings can oblige fluctuating degrees of misalignment up to 3° and some parallel misalignment.
Flexible coupling fall into two main categories: Material Flexing and Mechanical Flexing. The material flexible types obtain their flexibility from stretching or compressing a resilient material, such as rubber, or from the flexing of thin metallic discs or grid. Material flexing couplings do not require lubrication, with the exception of grid couplings.
Material Flexing Couplings
Material flexing couplings typically do not require lubrication and
operate in shear or compression and are able to accept angular,
parallel and axial misalignment.
Examples of material flexing couplings are:
- Spider (jaw) coupling
- Nylon sleeve coupling
- Tire coupling
- Flexible disc
- Pin and rubber bush coupling
- Laced belt coupling
- Raffard coupling
Mechanical Flexing Couplings
The mechanical flexing couplings accept misalignment from rocking,
rolling or sliding of metal surfaces. All metal mechanical flexing
couplings require lubrication.
Examples of mechanical flexing couplings are gear,