GEAR COUPLINGS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Gear couplings are one of the most used machinery parts used for connecting the process equipment. If installed, maintained and selected properly, these couplings have a long reliable life. They have several advantages over other the other types of couplings such as exceptional torsional stiffness and several others. However, there are some cases where gear couplings are a complete failure. These pros and cons should always be kept in mind when choosing the right coupling equipment for your process.
Types of Gear Couplings
Let us take a brief look at some of the commonly found types of gear couplings available in the market. One can choose the one best suitable to their process:
- Full gear couplings
- Half gear half rigid couplings
- Rigid couplings
- Floating shaft assemblies
- Slide couplings
- Shear pin couplings
- Disconnect couplings
- Flanged gear couplings
- Continuous sleeve gear couplings
Advantages of Gear Couplings
One of the main applications of gear couplings is for large sized equipment where more torque transmission is required. This refers to machines like compressor, pump, conveyors, turbine gearbox etc. Some of the common advantages of gear couplings that make them a popular choice are as follows:
- Low cost of maintenance
- High torque transmission
- Simple construction and lesser down time
- For preventing any failures, the only maintenance that is required is replacement of the lubricant
- Lesser space required for the installation of the coupling
- Can easily compensate little misalignment
- Absorbs vibrations and shocks produced in the machine.
- The coupling can be easily dismantled or assembled due to its simple construction.
- Long life as compared to other types of couplings
Disadvantages of Gear Couplings
Gear couplings are used in a wide variety of processes and applications due to the advantages they offer. However, there are certain disadvantages too that need to be kept in mind. These are as follows:
- Gear couplings require regular lubrication for optimal working. Failure to do so may cause damage to the coupling
- Improper or insufficient lubrication of the gear coupling can cause increased wear and tear along with an increase in heat.
- They are also subjected to the backlash error.
- There is also a common problem of inevitable sludge build up.
Material selection for Gear Couplings
Gear couplings that are used for high speeds and powers are mostly made from alloy steels. However, One of the most common mode of failures in these couplings is tooth wear. This makes the choice of tooth material an important one. In most of the cases, the teeth are given some selective hardening so as to give them adequate wear and tear properties. Though it is common to use the same material for the coupling teeth, several processes are now underway that use dissimilar materials with different levels of hardness, especially for applications where worm tracking is common. Thus, depending upon your company process and loads involved in the same, choose the material that is best suitable. This will ensure a longer life and better functioning of the machine.
