Tree couplings

Two shafts come together to transmit rotary motion. These can be connected by a wide variety of components, commonly found in industry, which are generally referred to as couplings, coupling joints, coupling sleeves or mechanical joints.

The two trees thus joined form what is known as a tree line.

A complete connection of two shafts should enable both shafts to be considered as a single mechanical part.

The main characteristics of the link are :

• respect for the alignment of the two trees;

• transmission of mechanical actions ;

• stiffness ;

• LIFETIME ;

• possible dismantling ;

• cost price.

The technological design of the complete link can be based on :

• obstacles alone 2 ;

• obstacles using adhesion phenomena 3 ;

• obstacles using gluing 4 .

Readers will find it useful to refer to the articles on related subjects in the same treatise: Tree Couplings , Elastic couplings , Cardan joints , Constant velocity joints and Obstacle links .

The first step in choosing the coupling class is to consider the mechanical problem, and in particular the benefits of isostatic or hyperstatic...