Continue: Euroflex Design Review

In many engineering situations, there arises the need to couple together two items of rotating machinery, to enable the transmission of power from one to the other. For example, Motor to Pump, Turbine to Alternator, Gas Turbine to Compressor, etc.

• In an ideal situation, it would be possible to simply couple the two machines directly. Unfortunately this simple solution is rarely practical.

In practice, the two rotating machines can:

Firstly - be only positioned and aligned, within finite limits.

Secondly – during operation the thermal expansions could cause differential shaft / casing growths.

Finally – Vibrations and influence of time lead to settling of foundations, leading to unavoidable misalignments.

Hence, the only acceptable way in which torque can be transmitted from one rotating machine to another, while catering to misalignments, is by introducing a FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

A flexible coupling has, thus become a critical equipment, which joins two rotating shafts, permitting transmission of the desired power at the rated speed, while catering to the misalignments inherent in the equipment train and ensuring that no damage to the bearings in the rotating machinery, on account of the imposed or transmitted forces.