COUPLING

A mechanical device that is used for uniting or

connecting parts of a mechanical system. The couplings are
classified of different types such as: rigid coupling, flexible
coupling, collar coupling, chain coupling, flexible disk
coupling, Oldham coupling, gear type coupling, hydraulic
coupling and universal joint.
 Types of Coupling
 Rigid couplings are permanent
couplings, which by virtue of their
construction have essentially no degree of
angular, axial or rotational flexibility; they
must be used with collinear shafts. Examples:
sleeve coupling, muff coupling, flange
coupling, clamp coupling, compression
coupling and split coupling.
SLEEVE COUPLING
MUFF COUPLINGS
FLANGE COUPLING
CLAMP COUPLING
COMPRESSION COUPLING
SPLIT COUPLING
 Flexible couplings used to connect two shafts
and to accommodate their misalignment. Examples:
bushed pin type coupling, universal coupling and
Oldham coupling.

 Flange coupling is the most common

coupling. It has the advantage of simplicity and low
cost but the connected shafts must be accurately
aligned to prevent severe bending stresses and
excessive wear in the bearing.
BUSH PIN TYPE COUPLING
UNIVERSAL COUPLING
OLDHAM COUPLING
 Collar coupling consists of a cylindrical
collar pressed over the ends of the two
collinear shafts being connected,
approximately one half of the collar contacting
each shafts.

 Chain coupling consists essentially of two

chain sprockets connected with a short
continuous length or roller or silent chain.
COLLAR COUPLING
CHAIN COUPLING
 Flexible Disk coupling refers to steel,
leather, fabric or plastic material bolted at
alternate points to the two flanges.

 Oldham coupling can be employed for

connecting two parallel shafts with axial
eccentricities from zero to a reasonable
amount.
FLEXIBLE DISC COUPLING
 Gear type coupling provides for angular and
axial flexibility.

 Hydraulic coupling often called a fluid

coupling, employs a fluid to provide angular flexibility
between the input and output shafts.

 Universal joint a linkage that transmits rotation

between two shafts whose axes are coplanar but not
coinciding.
GEAR TYPE COUPLING
HYDRAULIC COUPLING
 FLANGE COUPLING NOMENCLATURE
BOLT CIRCLE
DIAMETER

SHAFT DIAMETER

BOLT DIAMETER FLANGE THICKNESS

 Calculations For The Safe Torque

1. Based on shearing of the key:

T = SsDwL / 2

2. Based on compression between key and the

keyways:
T = ScDhL / 4
STRESSES IN FLANGE COUPLING
1. P = 2πTN
2. F = T/r
3. Fb = F / Nb
4. Ssb = Fb / Ab
5. Sc = Fb / td
3. Based on shearing bolts between the flange
faces:
T = FsDbc / 2 = SsπDb2DbcNb / 8

4. Based on compression between the bolts

and the flange:
T = FcDbc / 2 = ScDbtDbcNb / 2
Note: Calculations of coupling design is
based on the assumption that shafts are
perfectly or accurately aligned so that bending
loads are negligible. Therefore, coupling
problems are analyzed for torsion only. The
usual problem is to determine the safe power,
which can be transmitted by the flange
coupling such as: shearing of the key,
compression of the key, shearing of the bolts
between the flange faces and compression
between the bolts and the flange.
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. A flange bolt coupling has ten steel 25.4 mm diameter
bolts evenly tighten around a 415 mm bolt circle.
Determine the torque capacity of the connection if
the allowable shearing stress in the bolt is 50 MN/m2.
2. A flange coupling has an outside diameter of 200
mm and connects two 40 mm shafts. There are four
16 mm bolts on a 140 mm bolt circle. The radial
flange thickness is 20 mm. If the torsional stress in
the shaft is not to exceed 26 Mpa, determine the
shearing stress in the bolts if uniformly distributed.
3. A flange coupling connects two 2 inches
diameter shafts. The flanges are fitted with 6
bolts of SAE 1040 steel on a 7 inches bolt
circle. The shafts runs at 300 rpm and
transmits 45 hp. Assume a factor of safety of
5, ultimate tension of 70,000 psi, and ultimate
shear of 55,000 psi. Find the diameter of the
bolts and the thickness of the flange.
 PLATE NO. 2
1. A flange coupling has six (6) steel 25.4 mm
diameter bolts around a 152.4 mm bolt circle.
Determine the torque transmitted by the
connection if the allowable shearing stress in the
bolt is 50 Mpa.
2. A flange coupling has a bolt circle diameter of
152.4 mm and connects two 50.8 mm solid shafts.
Determine the no. of 16 mm bolts required if the
torsional stress of the shaft is not to exceed 26
Mpa and the shearing stress of the bolt is 22 Mpa.
3. A flange coupling is to connect two 57 mm shafts. The hubs of the
coupling are each 111 mm in diameter and 92 mm thick and the flange
webs are 19 mm thick. Six 16 mm bolts in a 165 mm diameter circle
connect the flanges. The key is 6 mm shorter than the hub’s thickness
and key is 14 mm x 14 mm. Coupling is one-half the yield point in
tension or compression which is 448 Mpa. Find the shearing stress in
bolts.

4. Two short shafts having identical diameters of 38.1 mm and rotating

at 400 rpm are connected by a flange coupling having 4 bolts with a 100
mm bolt circle. The design shearing stress of the bolt is 12 Mpa and
design compressive stress of the flange is 15 Mpa. What diameter of the
bolt should be used?

5. A flange coupling has an outside diameter of 200 mm and connects

two 40 mm shafts. There are four 16 mm bolts on a 140 mm bolt circle.
The radial flange thickness is 20 mm. If the torsional stress in the shaft is
not to exceed 26 Mpa, determine the bearing pressure in the bolts.