EXPERIMENT 5

UNIVERSAL COUPLING

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment, students should be able to understand the

operating principles and application of the universal coupling.

5.1 INTRODUCTION

A flexible coupling or universal joint is frequently used to link with two shafts and
transmit circular motion from the other. Indeed continuous circular motion is
perhaps the single largest thing that mankind produces in the world with the
available energy. A universal joint is simply and combination of machine
elements which transmit rotation from one axis to another.

5.2 THEORY

Shafts are used to transmit rotary motion and in most cases these shafts rotate
in bearings set in a straight line. However, there are cases where the shaft
cannot be straight and it has to be operated through an angle X, refer Figure 1.
A good example in common use is the shaft which transmit power from a motor
car engine through its gearbox to the back axle to drive the rear wheels. Here
the shaft is generally at an angle and the operation is further complicated by the
fact that the angle varies when the motor car runs over bumps in the road.

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Such condition can be satisfied by the use of universal couplings as shown at A
and C in Figure 1. For uniform power transmission the design and assembly of
the two couplings must be carefully considered.

Figure 1 Universal Coupling Diagram

5.3 ADDITIONAL THEORY

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 (10 marks)
5.4 OBJECTIVES

(5 marks)

5.5 APPARATUS

Table 1: Universal Coupling Equipment List.

No Apparatus Quantity
1 Universal Coupling 1
2 Allen key 1

Test 1 and Test 3

Test 2 and Test 4

Figure 2: Mirror and 90 degree

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 Figure 3: Test 1 and Test 2

Figure 4: Test 3 and Test 4

5.6 PROCEDURES

Test 1
1. Set right coupling so that the shaft is in a straight line. Refer to D1 to D4
position in Figure 2 (Mirror).
2. Set the right and left coupling scales as 0 degrees. Maintain the position
with tighten the screws D1, D2, D3 and D4. [Refer Figure 3].

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3. Based 0 degrees scales, turn the left coupling to 20˚. Then record the
reading of right coupling scale.
4. Repeat step 4, each time increasing the angle by 20˚until 180˚. Record the
reading for right coupling scale.

Test 2
1. Set right coupling so that the shaft is in a straight line. Turn D1 to D4 90˚ as
in Figure 2 (90 degrees).
2. Repeat procedure (2) until (4) in test 1.

Test 3
1. Remove the right coupling assembly and move it to position shown in Figure
4. Set the angle to be about 40˚ as in Figure 4.
2. Repeat procedure (2) until (4) in test 1.

Test 4
1. Turn D1 to D4 90˚ to be mirror as in Figure 2.
2. Repeat procedure (2) until (4) in test 1.

5.7 RESULTS

Table 2: Experimental results

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4
Coupling Coupling Coupling Coupling
Left Right Left Right Left Right Left Right
0 0 0 0
20 20 20 20
40 40 40 40

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 60 60 60 60
80 80 80 80
100 100 100 100
120 120 120 120
140 140 140 140
160 160 160 160
180 180 180 180

APPROVED BY

(15 marks)
5.8 OBSERVATIONS

Plot the graph Right Hand Dial against Left Hand Dial Result for Test 1, Test 2,
Test 3 and Test 4.

(10 marks)

5.9 CALCULATION

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 (10 marks)

5.10 DISCUSSIONS
1. Discuss the graphs obtained in 5.8 (Observation).

(8 marks)

2. Discuss about shaft and coupling in the straight line assembly.

(7 marks)

5.11 QUESTIONS

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1. Give two (2) example of Universal Couplings application in mechanical
engineering.

(8 marks)

2. How Universal Coupling works in both example in question 1.

(7 marks)
5.12 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Deduce conclusions from the experiment. Please comment on your
experimental work in terms of achievement, problems faced throughout the
experiment and suggest recommendation for improvement.

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 (15 marks)
5.13 REFERENCES

(5 marks)

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