In many industrial environments, the transmission of power through the drive train requires couplings that are able to carry high torque while also accommodating misalignment and vibration. Stromag’s range of Periflex® Shaft Couplings use a highly flexible, rubber-fabric ‘tyre’ element to transmit up to 15 000 Nm of torque, while compensating for radial, axial and angular misalignment. Further, wear is limited to the rubber element to minimise the burden of maintenance.
Stromag, part of Altra Industrial Motion Corporation, is a leading global manufacturer of innovative power transmission components for industrial drivetrain applications. It has been manufacturing the Periflex Shaft Coupling series since 1948, making continuous improvements to the design and performance through regular R&D investment. In fact, since the very first couplings were produced, Stromag has improved the nominal torque of the rubber used for the shaft tyre by almost 650%.
The ‘tyre coupling’ design concept allows two shafts to be joined via the flexible rubber compound. This shaft tyre is able to absorb extremely large displacements in every direction with low restoring forces and without noticeable wear and tear. This protects against mechanical wear in the driving or driven components. The couplings are ideal for high impact applications in harsh industries, such as steel production, paper mills, mining and ship building.
A further benefit of the design is simple installation and extremely low maintenance costs. The rubber tyre is held in place using corrosion resistant coupling hubs and pressure rings. During operation it is only the tyre that experiences wear and tear, meaning the metal components will not need replacing. When the rubber tyre has reached the end of its service life, it can be quickly replaced by releasing the pressure rings – there is no need to reposition the driving or driven shaft.
The Stromag shaft coupling series covers a torque range of 25 Nm to 15,000 Nm and is suitable for operation in temperatures ranging from -50°C to 80°C. The composition of the rubber tyre is available in two formats and different hub designs are available to suit many application requirements. Further, when specified correctly, the couplings comply with the requirements of ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU for use in potentially explosive environments: both above and below ground. Stromag’s team of expert engineers are available to offer specification, installation and maintenance support world wide to ensure that end-users are able to enjoy the maximum benefit from the design.