Form-Flex® disc style couplings enable high torque transmission whilst simultaneously compensating for angular, parallel and axial shaft misalignment.
A disc coupling is primarily a high performance motion control shaft coupling designed to transmit torque, whilst accommodating for shaft misalignment. Typical applications include Servo Motor connection . The disc coupling designs can handle speeds up to 8500 RPM, using either the single disc set style or double disc set style. Higher rotational speeds can be achieved via balancing and design modifications if required.
The trusted TB Woods Form-Flex metal disc style shaft coupling has successfully been used in conjunction with composite shafting for many years. If an application has a large distance between the driver and driven ends, the traditional design would be to incorporate a steel drive shaft between the two flexible coupling units. However, using steel shafting in this way can have its disadvantages. Primarily, the weight of the connecting shaft could mean additional bearing mounts and inertia problems to the whole design especially when large span distances are required and again when using couplings suited to bore sizes of 25mm and above. (Max 400mm). To overcome this the spacer shaft was supplied using a composite material shaft . The key advantages to using composite shafting lies its weight saving characteristics and the inherent nature to reliably transmit high torques with near zero torsional wind up.
A classic example of the TB Woods Form-Flex capability was recently put to the test at a new pumping house in Malaysia. The original design incorporated 4 very heavy cardan shafts to span a vertical distance of 13.89 metres. During an upgrade of the motors within the plant, to cope with increasing demand, it became apparent that due to poor bearing mounts, large inertia and unbalanced cardan shafting, the plant could not safely operate more than about 5-6 of 9 pumps at a time.
By being able to utilise well over 4 decades of the technical expertise, ABSSAC engineers suggested a 3 section lightweight composite Form-Flex coupling design to comfortably transmit the 820Kw at 1500rpm. By reducing the weight of the system it also enabled one of the additional bearing mounts to be omitted, further improving vibration dampening within the design.
Other applications where the Form-Flex couplings and composite shafting combinations have successfully been used include, cooling tower axial fan drives and gearbox to dredge pumps on under water dredging vehicles.
Servo laminate disc style couplings enable high torque transmission, whilst simultaneously compensating for angular, parallel and axial shaft misalignment. . Another advantage of the product is the way in which the disc packs interlock with alternatively mounted hubs and spacers ensures directional engagement and positive locking.
If you require further technical information, please do not hesitate to contact our sales engineers who will be more than happy to help you with your selection.
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