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Keys and Coupling

Keys, splines, and couplings are used to connect power transmission components like shafts while preventing unwanted rotation and motion. Keys are inexpensive but can only handle lower torques. Splines can transmit higher torques and prevent vibration, but are more expensive. Rigid couplings precisely align shafts, while flexible couplings allow for misalignment and absorb vibration. Retaining rings, shoulders, and locknuts are used to prevent axial movement of shafts.

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90 views41 pages

Keys and Coupling

Keys, splines, and couplings are used to connect power transmission components like shafts while preventing unwanted rotation and motion. Keys are inexpensive but can only handle lower torques. Splines can transmit higher torques and prevent vibration, but are more expensive. Rigid couplings precisely align shafts, while flexible couplings allow for misalignment and absorb vibration. Retaining rings, shoulders, and locknuts are used to prevent axial movement of shafts.

Uploaded by

thirumalaikumaran
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Keys, Couplings and Seals

Need : Attach power transmission components to shaft &


Prevent rotation and axial motion
Solution :
Torque resistance: keys, splines, pins, weld, press fit, etc..
Axial positioning: retaining rings, locking collars, shoulders machined into
shaft

Purpose of rigid and flexible couplings in a power transmission system:


- Specify seals for shafts and other types of machine elements.
11.2 Keys

Most common for shafts up to 6.5” is the square and rectangular keys:

Advantages:
1. Cost effective means of locking the
2. Can replace damaged component
3. Ease of installation
4. Can use key as “fuse” – fails in shear at some predetermined
torque to avoid damaging drive train.

Figure 11.1
Square and rectangular keys:

Step 1 –
Determine
key size
based on
shaft
diameter

Step 2 –
Calculate
required
length, L,
based on
torque (11.4)
Step 3 – Specify appropriate shaft and bore dimensions for keyseat:

See Figure 11.2

For 5/16” key

SHAFT BORE

Note, should also specify fillet radii and key


chamfers – see Table 11-2
http://www.driv-lok.com
Other types of keys:

a. Tapered key – can install after


hub (gear) is installed over
shaft.
b. Gib head key – ease of
extraction
c. Pin keys – low stress
concentration
d. Woodruff key – light loading
offers ease of assembly
Types of Keys

1. Sunk keys,

-half in the keyway of the shaft and half keyway of the hub or boss
of the pulley.

•Rectangular sunk key.


-Width of key, w = d / 4 ; and thickness of key, t = 2w / 3 = d / 6
where d = Dia of the shaft or dia of the hole in the hub.
The key has taper 1 in 100 on the top side only.
•Square sunk key. - w = t = d / 4
Key - transmitting torque from a shaft to a rotor or hub

Two types of forces act on the key :

1.Forces (F1) due to fit of the key in its keyway, as in a tight fitting
straight key or in a tapered key driven in place.
-produce compressive stresses in the key – difficult to determine
in magnitude.
2. Forces (F) due to the torque transmitted by the shaft.
- produce shearing & compressive (or crushing) stresses in the key.
- distribution of the forces along the length of the key is not uniform

because the forces are concentrated near the torque-input end.


- non-uniformity of distribution is caused by the twisting of the
shaft within the hub.

-In designing a key, forces due to fit of the key are neglected
-the distribution of forces along the length of key is uniform.
Feather key

Woodruff key

Saddle key, Tangent key


The usual proportions of the gib head key are :
Width, w = d / 4 ; thickness at large end, t = 2w / 3 = d / 6
11.4 Design of Keys – stress analysis to determine required
length:

Torque being
transmitted
No load

T = F/(D/2) or F = T/(D/2) this is the force


the key must react!!!
Bearing stress

Shear stress

Required Length based on


Required Length based on
Bearing Stress:
Shear Stress:

2T 4T
L where  d  0.5Sy / N L where  d  Sy / N
 d DW  d DH

Typical parameters for keys:


N = 3, material 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi)
Example: Specify the complete key geometry and material for an application
requiring a gear (AISI OQT 1000) with a 4” hub to be mounted to a 3.6” diameter
shaft (AISI 1040 CD). The torque delivered through the system is 21,000 lb-in.
Assume the key material is 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi) and N = 3.

Solution (note since key is weakest material, focus analysis on key!):

See handout
11.4 Splines

Advantages:
•Can carry higher torque for given diameter (vs keys) or
•Lower stress on attachment (gear)
•Better fit, less vibration (spline integral to shaft so no vibrating key)
•May allow axial motion while reacting torque

Disadvantage:
•Cost
•Impractical to use as fuse
Splines

“Axial keys” machined


into a shaft
Transmit torque from
shaft to another
machine element
Advantages
• Uniform transfer of torque
• Lower loading on elements
• No relative motion between “key” and shaft
• Axial motion can be accommodated (can
cause fretting and corrosion)
• Mating element can be indexed with a
spline
• Generally hardened to resist wear
Spline Types
• Straight
– SAE
– 4, 6, 10 or 16 splines
• Involute
– Pressure angles of 30, 37.5, or 45 deg.
– Tend to center shafts for better
concentricity
SAE Spline Sizes
A: Permanent Fit
B: Slide without Load
C: Slide under Load

Pg 504
Two types of splines:

Straight Sided Involute:


Use this for spline
design – SAE
formulas based on
1,000 psi bearing
stress allowable!!

Use this to get


diameter. Then
table 11.4 to get W,
h, d
Torque Capacity
• Torque capacity is based on 1000 psi
bearing stress on the sides of the
splines
T = 1000*N*R*h
N = number of splines
R = mean radius of the splines
h = depth of the splines
Torque Capacity Cont’d
1D d D d
R  
2 2  4
1
h  (D  d)
2

Substituting R and h into torque


equation:  D  d  D  d   D 2  d2 
T  1000 N   
  1000 N  
4  2  8 
  
Torque Capacity Cont’d
• Further refinement can be done by
substituting appropriate values for N
and d.
• For 16 spline version, with C fit,
N = 16 and d = .810D
 D 2  (.810D)2 
T  1000 (16)  

 8 
T  688D 2 Torque in IN-LBS/INCH of spline

D  T / 688 Required D for given Torque


Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines

Pg 505
Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines
Example: A chain sprocket delivers 4076 in-
lbs of torque to a shaft having a 2.50 inch
diameter. The sprocket has a 3.25 inch hub
length. Specify a suitable spline having a B
fit.
T = kD2L
T = torque capacity in in-lbs
kD2 = torque capacity per inch
(from Table 11-5)
L = length of spline in inches
Example Continued
T 4076 in  lbs
k 2  2
 200.7  201
D L (2.50" ) (3.25" )

• From Table 11-5,


use 6 splines
Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines

2.5

4076/3.25
Example: Specify straight spline for the previous problem (i.e. Torque = 21,000 lb-in
and shaft is 3.6 in diameter.
Taper & Screw

Expensive – machining
Good concentricity
Moderate torque capacity
Can use a key too
Couplings
• Used to connect two shafts together at
their ends to transmit torque from one to
the other.
• Two kinds of couplings:
– RIGID
– FLEXIBLE
Rigid Couplings
8T
d
Dbc N(  d )

NO relative motion between the shafts.


Precise alignment of the shafts
Bolts in carry torque in shear. N = # of bolts.
Flexible Couplings
• Transmit torque smoothly
• Permit some axial, radial and angular
misalignment
Flexible Couplings
Flexible Couplings
Lord Corp. Products
Flexible Coupling
Universal Joints
Large shaft misalignments permissible
Key factors in selection are Torque, Angular Speed
and the Operating Angle

Output not uniform wrt input Output IS uniform wrt input


Axial Constraint Methods

Spacers

Retaining ring

Retaining ring Shoulders


Retaining Rings
Locknuts

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