Couplings and Clutches 383

3 List measures that could increase the load carrying capacity of a friction clutch.

4 What kinds of couplings have damping capability? Why is damping capability impor-
tant for a coupling?

Objective Questions
1 The main difference between a coupling and a clutch is _______.
(a) capability of overload protection
(b) capability for engagement and disengagement of two shafts at any time
(c) capability of misalignment compensation

2 The main function of a coupling and a clutch is to _______.

(a) cushion shock and reduce vibration
(b) transmit motion and torque
(c) prevent overload
(d) compensate for misalignment and thermal expansion

3 The resilient material in flexible couplings can _______.

(a) accommodate misalignment
(b) reduce friction
(c) cushion shock and reduce vibration
(d) increase load carrying capability

4 When a stiff shaft rotates at high speed and is subject to impact and vibration, a
_______should be selected.
(a) flanged coupling
(b) universal coupling
(c) Oldham coupling
(d) pin and bushing coupling

5 When the angular misalignment is 30∘ , a _______ is the best choice.

(a) universal coupling
(b) flanged coupling
(c) gear coupling
(d) pin and bushing coupling

Calculation questions
1 A safety clutch with shear pins in Figure P13.1 transmits a torque of T = 500 N⋅m.
The clutch has two identical pins on the circle of diameter of Dm = 100 mm. Pins
are made of medium carbon steel and normalized, with an allowable stress of
[𝜏] = 400 MPa. It is required the safety clutch function at 50% of overload. Decide
the diameter of the pins.
384 Analysis and Design of Machine Elements

Figure P13.1 Illustration for Calculation Question 1.

2 A multiple friction clutch transmitted a power of 5 kW at n = 960 r min−1 . The

friction discs are made of tempered steel, with coefficient of friction of f = 0.15 and
allowable pressure of [p] = 0.3 MPa. There are four driving discs and five driven
discs. The friction surface has inner diameter Di = 80 mm and outer diameter
Do = 120 mm. Decide the axial force required to act on the friction disc.

Design Problems
1 Select suitable couplings for the power transmission system in Figure P13.2. The
electric motor transmits a power of P = 7.5 kW at rotational speed of n1 = 720 rpm.
The diameter of output shaft of the motor is 42 mm. The speed ratio of the belt drive,
gear reducer and chain drive are 2.2, 4.15 and 1.54, respectively. The power trans-
mission efficiency the belt drive, gear reducer and chain drive are 97, 99 and 96%,
respectively. The diameter of shaft connecting the driven machine is d2 = 70 mm.

Figure P13.2 Illustration for Design

Problem 1.

2 Design a flanged coupling using precision bolted joints in Figure P13.3. The coupling
transmits a torque of T = 2000 N m. The allowable stress of bolts is [𝜏] = 150 MPa.
Decide the bolt shank diameter, bolt number and the diameter of bolt circle D for
bolt assembly.
 Couplings and Clutches 385

Bolt diameter d M6 M8 M10 M12 M16 M20

Shank diameter d0 /mm 7 9 11 13 17 21

Figure P13.3 Illustration for Design Problem 2.

3 A multiple friction clutch transmits a power of 1.7 kW at a speed of n = 500 r min−1 .

The friction discs are made of tempered steel with coefficient of friction f = 0.05, and
the allowable pressure is [p] = 0.6∼0.8 MPa. The friction surface has inner diame-
ter Di = 80 mm, and outer diameter Do = 120 mm. The axial force on the friction
disc is F = 2000 N. Assume the service factor is 1.5. Decide the number of discs
required.

4 Explain the reason for a gear coupling in Figure P13.4 accommodating parallel mis-
alignment and angular misalignment.

Figure P13.4 Illustration for Design Problem 4.

Figure P13.5 Illustration for Structure Design Problem 2.

386 Analysis and Design of Machine Elements

Structure design problems

1 Compare the two designs of flanged couplings in Table 13.1, which are aligned by (a)
a piloted boss and (b) precision bolted joints (the joint on the top), respectively.

2 Complete the design of flanged coupling connected by ordinary bolted joints.

3 Design a coupling that can accommodate axial and angular misalignments, and
cushion shock and vibration. Produce a drawing.

4 Design a coupling that can accommodate axial and angular misalignments. The cou-
pling has no resilient element. Produce a drawing.

CAD Problems
1 Write a flow chart for the design process of a coupling.

2 Develop a program to implement a user interface similar to Figure P13.6 to complete

coupling design.

Figure P13.6 Illustration for CAD Problem 2.