Machine Tools

Lecture #

M. A. Hayat Mithu
Professor, IPE, SUST

Department of Industrial & Production Engineering

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
 Page.
Couplings and Clutches
Couplings and clutches are devices used for connecting
one rotating shaft to another.

Couplings: If two shafts are permanently

connected so that they can be
disengaged only by disassembling the
connecting device, the device is known
as a coupling.

Clutches: Devices that can readily

engage shafts to transmit power and
disengage them when desired are known
as clutches.
 Page.

Couplings
 Page.

1. Rigid couplings require that axial

alignment between the connected
shafts be maintained strictly.

2. In flexible couplings there is

provision for compensating slight
misalignments between the
coupled shafts.
 Page.

• Flange couplings : Flanged type couplings are very convenient

for shafts with integral flanges. Flanges of the shafts are
assembled together by using threaded, tapered pins.
The flanges are machined with male and female-precision running fit
spigots to ensure the requisite alignment of the shafts.

• Sleeve couplings : Muff or sleeve couplings are sleeves bored

and key-wayed, to suit the coupled shafts.
A wide undercut at the center, provides clearance for overshoot of the tool
while machining the keyways.
 Page.

• Sleeve with Tapered pin couplings: The threaded,

tapered pins can be replaced by close-fit bolts, and
nuts, with washers.
Flanges can be made detachable by using keys for
anchoring flanges on the shafts.

• Clamp coupling: Clamping couplings lack

accommodation for shaft misalignment and are popular
for slow or intermittent shafting arrangements where
alignment is not of concern.
They are the simplest form of shaft coupling and apart
from their lack of misalignment tolerance, are
inexpensive zero-backlash devices.

• Compression coupling: The split muff coupling, also

called compression coupling, is a rigid type of coupling
where the sleeve is made of two halves.
The halves are made of cast iron, clamped together by
means of mild steel studs or bolts and nuts.
 Page.

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e)
Fig: Various couplings: (a) Sleeve; (b) Taper pin; (c) Clamp type;
(d) Ring- compression type couplings; and (e) Flange type coupling
 Page.

If there is considerable misalignment between

the shafts to be connected, an elastic flexible
coupling can be used.

In this coupling the shafts are

connected through a Cardan or
Hooke’s joint, which consists
of yokes that are mounted on
the ends of the shafts and a
cross that provides a pivot
joint between the yokes.

Couplings are generally used in

machine tools for connecting
the motor shaft to the first
shaft of the speed or feed box.
Fig. Elastic coupling
 Page.

Clutches can be roughly classified into 2 groups:

1. Positive-action clutches, and

2. Friction clutches.

A positive-action clutch is incapable of

slipping. It can be engaged only when the
shafts to be connected are stationary or are
rotating at identical speed.

A friction clutch transmits torque by virtue of

friction between the halves. It can engage
shafts rotating with different speeds or a
rotating shaft with a stationary shaft.
 Page.

The most commonly used positive action

clutch is the jaw clutch.

Fig. Jaw clutch

The clutch consists of two halves, of which

one is rigidly fixed on one of the connected
shafts and is stationary, while the other is
mounted on the second shaft on a key or
splines and is moved into engagement.
 Page.

Other types of clutches include:

• Disc type clutch: A disc-type friction clutch

consists of one or more discs which are pressed
against each other between the with external
splines, outer discs 3 with splines on their
periphery and inner discs 4 with splines on their
bore hole. The housing is rigidly mounted on one
of the shafts and the sleeve on the other.
 Page.

Cone clutch: In this type of clutches, the

frictional surface is located as a cone that is why
it is named as a cone clutch.

Two surfaces transmit torque through utilizing

the concept of friction. The engine shaft consists
of a male and a female cone. It is categorized
under two sections they are ‘internal and
external’ cone clutch.
1. Cones: female cone (green), male cone (blue)
2. Shaft: the male cone is sliding on splines 3.
Friction material: usually on the female cone,
here on male cone 4. Spring: brings the male
cone back after using clutch control 5. Clutch
control: separating both cones by pressing 6.
Rotating direction: both directions of the axis
are possible.
 Page.

• Diaphragm clutch: For engaging clutches, this

type of clutch generates pressure on the
pressure plate. This clutch is made of a
diaphragm on the conical spring. The crown or
finger type spring is attached to the pressure
plate.
 Page.

•Centrifugal clutch: Centrifugal clutch uses the

concept of centrifugal force to engage clutches. It is
operated automatically according to the speed of an
engine. Thus, in a vehicle, any clutch paddle is not
required for the movement of the clutch.

•Electromagnetic clutch: The electromagnetic

clutch is made of things that are applied in
electrical devices.

•Vacuum clutches: The vacuum clutch works

through a vacuum. A reservoir is attached through a
valve which is solenoid-operated with the vacuum
cylinder. It is far cheaper than other clutches,
however, multiple components are required to
fabricate this type of clutches.