Rigid Coupling Worm Gear
The shafts of the driver and driven units cannot move in either an axial or radial direction when connected by a rigid coupling. When the two shafts are properly and firmly attached, they function as a single shaft. For vertical applications, such as vertical pumps, a rigid coupling worm gear is typically employed. Flanged, split, and compression stiff couplings are the types of couplings covered in this section.
In situations where both shafts may be accessed freely, flanged couplings are employed. When access is restricted on one side, split couplings are used. For flanged and split couplings, keys and keyways are necessary. When using keys and keyways is not possible, compression couplings are used instead (e.g., brass shafts).
Flanged One half of a flanged rigid coupling is on the end of the driver shaft, and the other half is on the end of the driven shaft. To create a strong connection, these parts are bolted together. The connection uses split circular key rings or dowels and axially fitting keys to positively transmit torque and avoid frictional reliance. Flanged couplings are usually used with vertical pump shafts.
What is a Rigid Coupler Worm Gear?
When shafts are perfectly aligned, rigid couplings should be used. Otherwise, they should not be used. Only closely aligned or retained-in-alignment shafts should use a rigid coupling. If the shafts and bearings are not aligned, torque will be transferred to them and probably lead to premature failure. A stiff coupling has no flexible part, in contrast to the majority of other types of couplings.
Rigid couplings come in three primary varieties: clamped, flanged, and sleeved. A rigid coupling for commercial shafting can be either a clamping sleeve or a sleeve with the shafts pressed into each end. An external flange with bolt holes may be present on the sleeves at the ends of the shafts. The shafts of large power machines are held rigidly by couplings that are fastened together, therefore the shafts must be precisely aligned prior to installation.
Gear couplings use gear mesh to tolerate inherent misalignment while distributing power and torque between the connected shafts to create a mechanical connection between the rotating shafts of mechanical equipment.
Types of Coupling
Beam Couplings
A cylindrical piece of metal, typically made of steel or aluminum, with one or more spiral incisions between between solid metal makes up a beam coupling (the beams). Spiral cuts increase flexibility while allowing for torsional wind up. Large degrees of axial and angular misalignment can be accommodated using beam couplings. They are available in single- and multi-beam variants. Compared to single-beam counterparts, multi-beam designs may accommodate more parallel misalignment.
Servo Coupling
Servo/stepper couplings can be utilized to reduce overshoot and settling time by dampening vibration in addition to connecting shafts. There are several different coupling types to handle a range of load, speed, predicted misalignment, and other situations. To assist you in selecting the best coupling for your application, our sales engineers and team members in our Engineered Solutions Group can put their product knowledge and skills to use. Can’t seem to find what you need? To learn more about customizing, get in touch with us.
Bellows Couplings
A bellows coupling is constructed around a metal bellows, as the name suggests. These couplings, which are lightweight to reduce inertia, provide maximum torsional rigidity and flexibility. They work well in applications where a high torque must be transferred with little backlash.
Up to 10,000 RPM, bellows couplings function effectively. The bellows’ construction material is determined by the application. Steel construction offers the most torque per diameter. Although nickel versions are more delicate and require lower torques, they offer higher precision. Bellows couplings can withstand parallel mis-alignments of 0.01 to 0.20″ but only angular mis-alignments of 1 to 2 degrees. In just a few minutes, failure can result from exceeding these amounts.
Disk Couplings
In order to handle flexing and misalignment, disc couplings use thin metal discs that function as springs. These couplings have a low backlash and strong torsional rigidity. They can accommodate torques on par with bellows couplings, but at a less expensive price. High speeds can be handled with disc couplings. Another degree of flexibility for enhancing system performance is offered by the disc material. For instance, nonmetallic discs offer electrical insulation, whereas stainless steel discs are ideal for medical devices. Hubs and discs made of aluminum aid in weight loss.
Gear Coupling
Extremely high torques can be handled via gear couplings. A gear coupling is made up of two shafts that terminate in hubs that have external gearing and a forged sleeve with internal gears. One hub rotates the other when the shafts or hubs are put into the sleeve from opposing directions. Gear couplings are able to handle extremely high torque loads due to the huge surface contact area. They demand lubrication, just like any gearbox. Additionally, they experience backlash, which varies depending on the alignment and shape of the teeth. Gear couplings can function at speeds as high as 30,000 to 40,000 RPM if they are built with a tight fit between the inner gear and the outer gear.
Jaw Couplings
Jaw couplings consist of two opposed hubs made of two or more arms (jaws), which are separated from one another by a spider-shaped piece of plastic. They are made to transmit torque up to a predetermined limit. The spider fails when its tensile strength is exceeded, frequently inflicting damage to its jaws in the process. In general, the spider dampens vibration. Additionally, axial extension and compression can be absorbed. These couplings can be almost backlash-free with careful design and spider selection. They also isolate electrically. The drawback is that they can tolerate very little parallel misalignment and only about 0.5 degrees of angular misalignment.
Rubber Coupling
Rubber couplings are positioned in between two hubs to form rubber connections. The rubber is effective at absorbing vibration, shock, and misalignment. Rubber couplings can be specifically made to account for shear or compression forces. Additionally, they add torsional suppleness. As a result, they may be useful for bearing protection.
Uses of rigid coupling worm gear:
The rigid coupling worm gear is commonly used in various applications where high torque, compact size, and right-angle transmission are required. Some of the uses of rigid coupling worm gears include:
Automotive industry
Rigid coupling worm gears are used in various automotive applications such as steering systems, power steering pumps, and transmission systems due to their high torque density and compact size.
Machine tools:
Rigid coupling worm gears are used in machine tools such as lathes and grinders due to their high accuracy and low backlash characteristics that provide precise positioning and repeatability of motion for machining operations.
Robotics and automation
Rigid coupling worm gears are used in robotics and automation applications such as conveyor systems, pick-and-place machines, and assembly lines due to their high torque density, compact size, and right-angle transmission.
Packaging and material handling:
Rigid coupling worm gears are used in packaging and material handling applications such as palletizers, conveyors, and sorting systems due to their high torque density, compact size, and right-angle transmission.
Medical equipment
Rigid coupling worm gears are used in medical equipment such as surgical instruments, dental equipment, and medical imaging systems due to their high accuracy, low backlash characteristics, and compact size.
Rigid Coupler Worm Gear Manufacturer: INDGIRKA
The most well-known brand of gear coupling exporters in India is INDGIRKA. We produce stiff couplings of the highest quality for unique applications across several sectors. Due to the unrivaled precision and durability of our products, our clients favor us.
The Rigid Coupling is a high-performance, durable component made to link or align shafts in mechanical systems like motors, among many other applications. Rigid couplings guarantee precise alignment when machines are operating at low torque, eliminating any backlash. We provide gear coupling made from high strength steel as one of the leading manufacturers of rigid couplings. Each product is meticulously tested to guarantee its great performance and accuracy.
Also Read : What is a Rod End, and Its Working?