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Pump Couplings
By carefully selecting, installing and maintaining
couplings, you can save substantial dollars in
reduced maintenance costs and downtime.
A
variety of flexible couplings
are used on pumps. Yet, only
a small number of specifica-
tions and requirements exist
for these coupling types. The
American Petroleum Industry (API)
addresses a few of these require-
ments in one of its specifications,
API 610, Centrifugal Pumps for
General Refinery Service (Seventh
Edition). This specification states that
couplings must have an alignment
diameter concentric to the bore with-
in 0.003 TIR” to help with alignment,
and that couplings must meet bal-
ance requirements of AGMA 515,
Class 8. There are not many other
industry standards for pump applica-
tions that specify additional require-
m e n t s f o r c o u p l i n g s . More
importantly, these specifications and
requirements do not explain how
couplings work or help in the selec-
tion process.
FUNCTIONS OF FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS
Flexible couplings join two
pieces of rotating equipment while
permitting some degree of misalign-
ment or end movement or both. The
three basic functions of a flexible cou-
pling are to (Figure 1):
1. Transmit power
2. Accommodate misalignment
3. Compensate for end movement
In general, the power lost by a Mechanical element coupling: grid type, horizontal split cover
flexible coupling is small, although
I :
donut, block, jaw, urethane tire, GRID COUPLINGS era1 stiffness is achieved with this
corded tire, shear donut, disc and Grid type couplings are similar to design. Medium and some small
diaphragm. gear couplings. Composed of all pumps incorporate these couplmgs.
GEAR COUPLINGS metal, they have some degree of BLOCK COUPLINGS
resilience. These couplings can damp-
Gear type couplings consist of en vibration and reduce peak or Block couplings use rubber in
two hubs with external teeth that shock loads by 10-30%. They have compression. The rubber blocks are
engage internal teeth on a two- or two hubs with serrations (grooves) installed in cavities formed by inter-
one-piece sleeve. The teeth may be rather than teeth. The grooves are nal sleeve blades, external hub blades
straight or curved (crowned). For an connected by a steel grid. The covers, and two end plates. This type is
application requiring over l/4 degree, which keep the lubrication in, are unique among couplings due to its
curved teeth may be better. These either vertically or horizontally split. “fail-safe” feature. If the elastomeric
couplings obtain their flexibility These couplings do not transmit as fails, the coupling may run for some-
because of the looseness (backlash) much power (per the same outside time on the metal blades. These cou-
between the mating teeth. Gear cou- diameter) as gear couplings but are plings can provide up to l/2 degree of
plings are used for medium and large usually less costly. Grid couplings are misalignment and parallel off set capa-
pump applications, and are probably used for medium and small pump bilities of 1/64-1/4 inch. Large
the most power dense type available. applications. pumps use these type couplings to
They require periodic lubrication, These couplings were originally reduce vibratory torques or because
every l-2 years, depending on duty designed for torsional dampings (soft- it is torsionally soft and is used to
and type of lubrication. If properly ness). They are often misapplied in tune a system. Sometimes medium
maintained (good lubrication and rea- pumps because of their low cost, and and small pumps will use these cou-
sonable alignment), these couplings will fail immediately with loss of plings because if properly aligned,
have a service life of 3-5 years, and in packed lubricants. they require no maintenance (except
many cases 5-10 years. for replacement of blocks every 3-5
Some gear couplings have sleeves COMPRESSION DONUT COUPLINGS years).
that are made of plastic (nylon, or Compression donut couplings JAW COUPLINGS
high molecular plastic) and do not have a precompressed elastomeric
require lubrication. These have much donut. Screws force the donut to a Jaw couplings have their elas-
lower torque capacities than the all- smaller diameter. All legs of the tomers in compression. The flex ele-
steel couplings and are used mainly donut are in compression before the ment can be one piece or split to
on small pumps. load is applied. Low torsional and lat- facilitate replacement. They also have