Chapter 11 - Keys, Couplings and Seals

11.1

Chapter Objectives:

How attach power transmission components to shaft to prevent rotation

and axial motion?
Torque resistance: keys, splines, pins, weld, press fit, etc..
Axial positioning: retaining rings, locking collars, shoulders
machined into shaft, etc.
What is the purpose of rigid and flexible couplings in a power transmission
system?
Specify seals for shafts and other types of machine elements.

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

11.2

Keys

Most common for shafts up to 6.5 is the square and rectangular keys:
Advantages:
1. Cost effective means of locking the
2. Can replace damaged component
3. Ease of installation
4. Can use key as fuse fails in shear at some predetermined
torque to avoid damaging drive train.

Figure 11.1

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Square and rectangular keys:

Step 1
Determine
key size
based on
shaft
diameter
Step 2
Calculate
required
length, L,
based on
torque (11.4)

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Step 3 Specify appropriate shaft and bore dimensions for keyseat:

See Figure 11.2

For 5/16 key

SHAFT

BORE

Note, should also specify fillet radii and key

chamfers see Table 11-2

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

http://www.driv-lok.com

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Other types of keys:

a. Tapered key can install after
hub (gear) is installed over
shaft.
b. Gib head key ease of
extraction
c. Pin keys low stress
concentration
d. Woodruff key light loading
offers ease of assembly

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

11.4 Design of Keys stress analysis to determine required

length:

Torque being
transmitted
No load
T = F/(D/2) or F = T/(D/2) this is the force
the key must react!!!
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Bearing stress

Shear stress
Required Length based on
Shear Stress:
L

2T
d DW

Required Length based on

Bearing Stress:

where d 0.5Sy / N

4T
where d Sy / N
d DH

Typical parameters for keys:

N = 3, material 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi)
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Example: Specify the complete key geometry and material for an application
requiring a gear (AISI OQT 1000) with a 4 hub to be mounted to a 3.6 diameter
shaft (AISI 1040 CD). The torque delivered through the system is 21,000 lb-in.
Assume the key material is 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi) and N = 3.

Solution (note since key is weakest material, focus analysis on key!):

See handout

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

11.4

Splines

Advantages:
Can carry higher torque for given diameter (vs keys) or
Lower stress on attachment (gear)
Better fit, less vibration (spline integral to shaft so no vibrating key)
May allow axial motion while reacting torque
Disadvantage:
Cost
Impractical to use as fuse

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Splines

Axial keys machined

into a shaft
Transmit torque from
shaft to another
machine element
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Advantages

Uniform transfer of torque

Lower loading on elements
No relative motion between key and shaft
Axial motion can be accommodated (can
cause fretting and corrosion)
Mating element can be indexed with a
spline
Generally hardened to resist wear

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Spline Types
Straight
SAE
4, 6, 10 or 16 splines
Involute
Pressure angles of 30, 37.5, or 45 deg.
Tend to center shafts for better
concentricity

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

SAE Spline Sizes

A: Permanent Fit
B: Slide without Load
C: Slide under Load

Pg 504
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Two types of splines:

Straight Sided

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

Involute:

RJM 3/16/04

Use this for spline

design SAE
formulas based on
1,000 psi bearing
stress allowable!!

Use this to get

diameter. Then
table 11.4 to get W,
h, d

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity
Torque capacity is based on 1000 psi
bearing stress on the sides of the
splines
T = 1000*N*R*h
N = number of splines
R = mean radius of the splines
h = depth of the splines
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity Contd

1 D d
Dd
R

2 2
4
1
h (D d)
2

Substituting R and h into torque

equation: D d D d
D 2 d2

T 1000 N

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

1000 N

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity Contd

Further refinement can be done by
substituting appropriate values for N
and d.
For 16 spline version, with C fit,
N = 16 and d = .810D
D 2 (.810D)2
T 1000 (16)
8

T 688D 2

D T / 688
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

Torque in IN-LBS/INCH of spline

Required D for given Torque

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity for Straight

Splines

Pg 505
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity for Straight

Splines

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Example: A chain sprocket delivers 4076 inlbs of torque to a shaft having a 2.50 inch
diameter. The sprocket has a 3.25 inch hub
length. Specify a suitable spline having a B
fit.
2

T = kD L
T = torque capacity in in-lbs
kD2 = torque capacity per inch
(from Table 11-5)
L = length of spline in inches

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Example Continued
T
4076 in lbs
k 2
200.7 201
2
D L (2.50" ) (3.25" )

From Table 11-5,

use 6 splines

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Torque Capacity for Straight

Splines

2.5

4076/3.25

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Example: Specify straight spline for the previous problem (i.e. Torque = 21,000 lb-in
and shaft is 3.6 in diameter.

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Taper & Screw

Expensive machining
Good concentricity
Moderate torque capacity
Can use a key too

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Couplings
Used to connect two shafts together at
their ends to transmit torque from one to
the other.
Two kinds of couplings:
RIGID
FLEXIBLE

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Rigid Couplings
d

8T
Dbc N( d )

NO relative motion between the shafts.

Precise alignment of the shafts
Bolts
in
carry
torque
in
shear.
N
=
#
of
bolts.
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals
RJM 3/16/04

Flexible Couplings
Transmit torque smoothly
Permit some axial, radial and angular
misalignment

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Flexible Couplings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Flexible Couplings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Lord Corp. Products

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Flexible Coupling

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Universal Joints
Large shaft misalignments permissible
Key factors in selection are Torque, Angular Speed
and the Operating Angle

Output not uniform wrt input

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

Output IS uniform wrt input

RJM 3/16/04

Axial Constraint Methods

Spacers

Retaining ring

Retaining ring
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

Shoulders
RJM 3/16/04

Retaining Rings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04

Locknuts

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals

RJM 3/16/04