Coupling Type Approx.

Capacity Max Speed Shaft Bore

1000HP @ 1800rpm roller type

Chain Coupling 3000HP @ 1800rpm silent type 5000rpm 8in

Diaphragm coupling 30,000HP 30,000rpm 7in

Elastomeric Coupling 67,000HP @100rpm (Wide variety of designs) 5,000 rpm 30in

Flexible Disc Coupling 65,000 HP @ 100rpm 30,000rpm 12in

Flexible Link Coupling 1,000HP @ 100rpm 1800 rpm 20in

Gear coupling 70,000 HP 50,000rpm 30in

Leaf spring coupling 15,000 HP @ 100rpm 3,600 rpm 12in

Metallic grid coupling 70,000HP @ 100rpm 6,000rpm 20in

Pin Drive Coupling 3,800HP @ 100rpm 4,000rpm 13in

Triple Link coupling (Fractional Medium & low torque application
HP) 3,729 Nm 5in

Triple wound Spring couplg Medium & low torque application

(Fractional HP) 213.5Nm 1.5in

Note:
1) Non-Lubricated couplings are usually require more capital cost, but helps to reduce opex.
2) Elastomer coupling are short life coupling
3) Metallic coupling are infinite life coupling, provided they are not operated out of their max rated conditions, and n
4) "Poor" alignment tolerance means more time neeeds to be spent on alignment
 Shaft Spacing Angular Misalignment / Axial Misalignment / Lubrication
(Spacer length) movement tolerance movement tolerance required? Common ?

depends on chain wid, approx

1/8 to 1/4" Average Poor Yes No

No (Need to
2 to 200in Excellent Poor No customize)

100in (wide variety of designs) Good Good No Yes

200in Good Poor No Yes

Close coupled or 4in Poor Poor No No

200in Average Good Yes Yes

40in Average Good Yes No

12in Excellent Good Yes Yes

1/2" (Close coupled) Poor Excellent No No

Excellent Excellent No Yes

Excellent Excellent No Yes

to reduce opex.

out of their max rated conditions, and not used for cyclical applications
Excellent Less time spent on alignment
Good
Average
Poor More time spent on alignment
Advantages Disadvantages
(summary) (summary)

Limited Speed
Easy assembly Requires Lubrication
Few components Cannot Tahan axial displacement

Good balance characteristic

No lubrication Proper shaft spacing, needs to spend more time compared to other
Light weight coupling couplings
Disconnects upon failure Excess misalignment will transmit high load to shaft
High Temperature Cannot Tahan axial displacement
High speed (nowadays up to 80k rpm) Very high cost, usually customized

Minimal wear in coupling

Elastomer = gd vibration damper Limited Speed
Elastomer = good elec insulating prop Elastomer damage quick from environment ie. Temp, oxidation, stress
Disconnects upon failure relaxation.
No Lubrication Elastomer may fly out if damaged
Can Tahan axial movement & vibration Excessive heat due to cyclic flexing

See Diaphragm Coupling

See Diaphragm Coupling Not as tolerant as Diaphragm coupling to misalignment
*Most popular type, meaning high stock availability. Does not disconnect upon failure

Cannot Tahan axial displacement

No Lubrication required Cannot Tahan misalignment

Freedom of axial movement Requires Lubrication

Very high speed! Temp limitation (due to lubricant)
Low weight Complicated calculations reqd
Good balancing if installed w/ proper fit and curve tooth tip Not very tolerant to misalignment compared to Flexible disc &
Known to be extremely reliable. Diaphragm

Require Lubrication (for damping)

Tortionally soft & good damping Temp limitation (due to lubricant)
Accepts large amount of misalignment Loss of oil leads to poor performance

Easy assembly Requires lubrication

Known to be extremely reliable Temp limitation (due to lubricant)
Tortionally soft Speed limiration
Can tahan 1/2" axial misalignment
No lubrication required Cannot tahan Misalignment

Can tolerate high misalignment

See Triple link coupling

on alignment

on alignment
Remarks

Chain and sprocket to link up coupling

High Reliability with proper alignment

Shaft cplg --> Spacer <-- Shaft Cplg

Periodic replacement of elastomer reqd, and good it does not

damage metal
Design is always improving

Same design as diaphragm coupling. Multiple thin disc pack used in

place of a diaphragm
*Disc pack shall be flush flat after installation, reassemble if
distorted.

Cross laced by flexible link (metal plates) on outer bolts, like bike
wheel
Axial fixation device can be installed to prevent axial movement.

Rule of thumb clearance is 1mil per inch of ext gear tooth diameter
Same thing as sprocket to shaft, looser fit (backlash) higher wear,
easier to alignment. Tighter fit, low wear rate, difficult to align.

Looks like bimetallic steam trap

Used for reciprocating machines
Good for transmitting shock higher than other coupling types

Is an S-shaped spring ring that locks on square profile teeth of the

coupling forming a grid

Looks like flexible link, but only 3 link

Lovejoy - Delta Flex

Looks like bellow type coupling, but 3 pieces of bellow overlapping

each other.
Usually for small rotating eqpt
Lovejoy - Uniflex
Souce: Machinery's Handbook 21st edition Industrial Press New York 1980