Solutions from Ruland: Jaw Couplings for Gearboxes
Ruland zero-backlash jaw couplings have a balanced design, accommodate all forms of misalignment, and have high dampening capabilities making them an ideal fit for gearboxes. They offer system designers a wide range of sizes and performance characteristics to fit their application requirements, which is especially critical in gearboxes given the range of industries and equipment they are used in.
Zero-backlash jaw couplings from Ruland are made from two polished aluminum hubs and a spider type insert. The curved jaw profile of the hubs press fits to the spider ensuring zero-backlash operation. Hubs are available in clamp or set screw style with inch, metric, keyed, and keyless bores. Spiders are available in three durometers: 98 shore A for high stiffness, 92 shore A for a balance of stiffness and compliance and 85 shore A for the highest amount of dampening. Gearbox manufacturers can mix and match hubs and spiders to create a coupling that best fits the need of their application.
Ruland jaw couplings have a standard balanced design for reduced vibration at higher speeds which is critical when the coupling is being used on the input shaft from the motor. Jaw couplings are considered fail safe because if the spider fails the jaws on the two hubs will interlock with no loss of power transmission. This prevents the system from coming to an abrupt stop and damaging other sensitive system components. .
Ruland jaw couplings are made from bar stock sourced from select American mills and carefully manufactured in our Marlborough, MA factory. They are available in bore sizes ranging from 1/8” to 1-1/4” or 3mm to 32mm. Stainless steel hubs and spiders with a center hole are available by request.