One of the key competencies of R+W, a German based manufacturer of flexible couplings and torque limiters for high speed and high precision applications, is the design and manufacturing of line shaft couplings. Fabricating with highly straight (generally 0.2mm/m) extruded intermediate tubing allows for the line shaft couplings to span very large distances (>6m) unsupported, and at unusually high speeds, depending upon the application requirements.
New designs include light weight CFK tubing, which makes for reduced inertia and higher critical speeds for a given length. New high torque versions handle up to 150,000 Nm with flexible bellows joints and up to 25,000 Nm with elastomer jaw style coupling ends. These newer line shaft coupling designs have been successfully deployed in material handling, printing, and sheet metal fabricating equipment, as well as some custom designed solutions for cooling tower applications.
R+W America
http://www.rw-america.com/products/line_shafts/
::Design World::
Filed Under: Couplings, MECHANICAL POWER TRANSMISSION