Ruland Manufacturing offers a full line of curved jaw couplings with bore sizes ranging from 1/8" to 1-1/8" in the inch series and from 3mm to 30mm in the metric series. Jaw couplings consist of two metallic hubs and an elastomeric element called "the spider". Made of an advanced polyurethane material, the spider provides dampening of impulse loads, minimizing shock to the motor and other sensitive equipment.
Jaw couplings are highly customizable due to their three-piece design. Inch and metric hubs (set screw, clamp style, keyed, or keyless) are interchangeable and can be combined into a single coupling as long as they have the same outside diameter. Available in three durometers, the spider allows the user to tailor the jaw coupling's performance to their application. Selecting a soft spider (85 Shore A - Blue) gives the jaw coupling the greatest dampening characteristics, while a hard spider (98 Shore A - Red) provides the greatest torsional stiffness and strength.
Curved jaw coupling hubs are press fit onto the spider, assuring zero backlash operation. The curved jaw profile concentrates the forces to the center of the spider's limbs, improving the effectiveness of the elastomer material. Raised contact points on the spider limbs help maintain proper spacing between the two hubs, assuring electrical isolation and full angular misalignment capabilities. Jaw couplings are considered fail safe because if the spider were to fail, the jaws of the two hubs interlock for direct power transmission, allowing the application to be safely shut down for maintenance.
Learn more about how to choose a curved jaw coupling for your particular application from a Ruland expert. Read "What to Look for in a Servo Coupling" written by William Hewitson, Vice President of Operations.
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