Keys

Contents
 Types of keys.
 Material.
 Keyways.
 Keys

Key is a type of fastener inserted

between the shaft and the hub or boss
of the pulley to connect these together
in order to prevent relative motion
between them.
• The ASME define key as “demountable
machinery part which when assembled into
keyseats, provides a positive means of
transmitting torque between the shaft and
hub”.
• It is always inserted parallel to the axis of
the shaft.
• Keys are subjected to considerable crushing
and shearing stresses.
• Keys are used as temporary fasteners.
 TYPE OF KEYS
The keys are standardized as to size and shape
in several styles.
Following are the most important type of keys.

1. SUNK KEYS.
2. SADDLE KEYS.
3. TANGENT KEYS.
4. ROUND KEYS.
5. SPLINES.
 Sunk Keys
• The sunk keys are provided half in the
keyway of the shaft and half in the
keyway of the hub. These are the types
of the sunk keys.

1. Parallel key
2. Tapered key
3. Gib head key
4. Feather key
 Parallel Keys

Parallel keys are most commonly used. The

ANSI standard defines particular key cross-
sectional sizes and keyseat depths as a
function of shaft diameter at the keyseat. A
partial reproduction of this information is
provided in the table on next slide for lower
range of shaft diameters.
NOTE: Square key is recommended for the
shafts up to 6.5”diameter. Rectangular keys are
recommended for larger diameters.
PARALLEL KEY
Parallel keys are typically made from
standard cold rolled bar stock, which is
conventionally “negatively toleranced”
meaning it will never be larger than its
nominal dimensions, only smaller.
A special key stock is also available which is
positively toleranced and which is used when a
closer fit between key and keyseat is desired,
the condition may require the machining of
the key stock to the final dimension.
Backlash
When the torque changes sign in a parallel key any
clearance between the key and the keyway will
suddenly be taken up with resulting impact and high
stresses.
 Tapered keys
 The width of a tapered key for a given shaft
diameter is the same as for a parallel key as
shown in the previous table.
 The taper for the key is usually 1:100.
 Tapered keys tend to create eccentricity
between hub and shaft as they drive all the
radial clearance to one side.
 Gib-Head Keys

 A Gib-Head is
optional with a
taper and
provides a
surface for
prying the key
out when the
small end is not
accessible.
GIB-HEAD KEY IN SHAFT
 Feather Key

o It is a key attached to one member of a pair,

which permits relative axial movement.
o It is a special type of parallel key which transmits
a turning moment and also permits axial moment.
It is fastened either to the shaft or hub, the key is
a sliding fit in the keyway of the moving part.
o A feather key may be screwed to a shaft or it may
have double gib heads.
o The various proportions of a feather key are same
as that of rectangular key and gib head key.
FEATHER KEY WITH SET SCREWS
Feather key with Gib-Head
 Woodruff keys
 Woodruff keys are used on
smaller shaft.
 They are self-aligning, so
preferred for tapered shafts.
 The penetration of a woodruff
key into a hub is the same as
that of a square key i.e., half the
key width.
 The semicircular shape creates
a deeper keyseat in the shaft,
which resists key rolling, but
weakens the shaft compared to
a square or tapered keyseat.
 Woodruff key widths are the
function of the shaft diameter
and are essentially the same as
that of a square key.
Woodruff Key
 Saddle Keys

The saddle keys are of two types,

1. Flat Saddle Key.

2. Hollow Saddle Key.
 1)Flat saddle keys

 A flat saddle key is a taper key which fits in

the keyway in the hub and is flat on the
shaft.
 It is likely to slip round the shaft under load.
 It is used for comparatively light loads.
 2)Hollow Saddle Key

A hollow saddle key is a taper key which fits in a

keyway in the hub and the bottom of the key is
shaped to fit the curved surface of the shaft.
Since hollow saddle hold on by friction, therefore
these are suitable for light loads.
It is usually used in fixing and setting eccentrics,
cams etc.
 Tangent Keys

→ The tangent keys are fitted in pair at right

angles as shown in the figure. Each key is
to withstand torsion in one direction only.
→ These are used in large heavy duty shafts
2-dimensional view of Tangent keys
 Round Keys

 The round keys have a circular section and fit into

holes drilled partly in the shaft and partly in the
hub.
 They have an advantage that their keyways
maybe drilled and reamed after mating parts have
been assembled.
 Round keys are usually considered to be most
appropriate for low power drives.
Round key
Splines
 Sometimes keys are made integral with
the shaft which fits in the keyways
broached in the hub.
 Such shafts are known as splined
shafts.
 These shafts usually have four, six, ten
or sixteen splines.
 The splined shafts are relatively stronger than
shafts having a single keyway.
 The splined shafts are used when the force to be
transmitted is large in proportion to the size of
the shaft as in automobile transmission and
sliding gear transmissions
 By using splined shafts, we obtain axial
movement as well as positive drive is obtained.
MATERIAL
 It is important that the key does not damage the
objects it is fastening so it is made up of a
material that is weaker then the material of the
object they are holding.
 This strategy causes the immediate damage
being done to the key instead of the keyseat.
 The key acts like a shear pin in Parts to protect
the more expensive parts from damage. A key is
an inexpensive and is relatively easy to replace if
the keyseat is undamaged.
• Because keys are loaded in shear, ductile materials
are used. Soft, low-carbon steel is most common
choice unless a corrosive environment requires a
brass or stainless steel key.
• Square or rectangular keys are often made from
cold rolled bar stock. The special keystock is used
when a closer fit is required between key and
keyway. Tapered and woodruff keys are also
usually made from soft cold rolled steel.
 keyway

A shallow longitudinal slot cut in a shaft or a hub for

receiving a key.
 Keyway seating machine is a machine tool for
milling keyways in shafts etc., using an end mill
with the work supported on a table at right angles
to the tool axis.
 Keyway tool (keyway cutter) is a slotting
machine tool used for the vertical cutting of
keyways, the tool being equal to the width of the
keyway.