Block shaft coupling advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• Protects shaft-support bearings by exerting consistently low reactive forces, even under large misalignments
• Homokinetic transmission – driving and driven shafts rotate at exactly the same speed at all times
• Zero backlash and high torsional stiffness
• Electrical insulation
• Accommodates moderate radial misalignment in a short length
• Accommodates relatively large axial misalignment
• Easy installation in blind or difficult installations – all block couplings have through bores
• Inexpensive replaceable wear element
• Internal grease reservoir provides continuous flow of lubrication driven by centrifugal force, allowing coupling to survive harsh, dirty environments
• Somewhat “failsafe”, in the sense that the driving hub will continue to turn the driven hub after failure of the midsection

Disadvantages:

• Accommodates a relatively small angular misalignment
• No mechanical “fuse” feature – unlike standard Oldham designs, under overload, all subcomponents of this coupling must be replaced, rather than one inexpensive wear element

Typical applications:

• Submersible pumps, agricultural and garden equipment

OEP Couplings
www.oepcouplings.com