Couplings

Couplings create connections between drive shafts and driven shafts in order to transmit rotary motion and torque. For example, they are used to combine the shafts of motors and transmissions into a single drive unit.

Alongside the primary purpose of transmitting torque, couplings also carry out other important tasks:

• Compensating for shaft offsets and misalignments
• Absorbing runout errors and axial motions
• Damping vibrations and shocks

Couplings are used in a very wide range of applications. The spectrum ranges from simple drives to complex control, regulation and measurement applications.

Flexible couplings – Misalignment and runout tolerances
Like all mechanical parts, shafts are subjected to manufacturing and assembly tolerances that cannot be entirely eliminated. If these deviations are not taken into account in the design, they can result in vibrations, running noises, and wear or damage to the shafts and their bearings. Suitable couplings effectively compensate for misalignment and runout errors while simplifying the assembly process and reducing overall labor. Shaft misalignment and runout errors can vary in nature and should always be considered when selecting the appropriate coupling.

Areas of application – Coupling types
The applications of couplings can generally be divided into two classes.

Torque and power transmission
or torque and power transmission, the focus lies on pure transmission of force. This requires couplings that can withstand high torques and heavy loads while functioning reliably in harsh conditions.

Jaw coupling:
Elastomer jaw couplings GN 2240 transmit very high torques while compensating for shaft misalignments and runout tolerances. 

Oldham coupling:
Oldham couplings GN 2243 can compensate for large lateral shaft misalignments while transmitting high torques. 

Rigid coupling:
Rigid couplings GN 2260, GN 2262 and GN 2264 connect supported shafts or are used as couplings for shaft extensions. They transmit angular positions and high torques precisely and with zero backlash, without compensating for alignment errors and runout tolerances. 

Motion control
For motion control applications, rotational movement is transmitted with very high precision and accuracy.

Bellows coupling:
Bellows couplings GN 2244 transmit angle positions and torques with extreme precision and zero backlash. The metal bellows also reliably compensates for shaft misalignments and runout tolerances.

Beam coupling:
Beam couplings GN 2246 transmit angle positions and torques with extreme precision and no backlash. They are manufactured of a single piece and offer high torsional stiffness thanks to the alternating slits. The clamping hubs make beam couplings very easy to assemble.