KEYS, SPLINES,

AND
COUPLINGS
Prepared by:
ENGR. JOSEPH KIMUEL D. CAGUETE, ME
 INTRODUCTION

A key is a piece of mild steel inserted between

the shaft and hub or boss of the pulley to connect
these together in order to prevent relative motion
between them. It is always inserted parallel to the
axis of the shaft.
Keys are used as temporary fastenings and are
subjected crushing
and shearing stresses.
 INTRODUCTION

A keyway is a slot or recess in a shaft and

hub of the pulley to accommodate a key.
 INTRODUCTION
Types of Keys
The following are the types of keys :
1. Sunk keys
2. Saddle keys
3. Tangent keys
4. Round keys
5. Splines

a) Sunk Keys
The sunk keys are provided half in the keyway of the shaft and half in
the keyway of the hub or boss of the pulley. The sunk keys are of the
following types :
 INTRODUCTION
1. Rectangular sunk key . The usual proportions of this key are :
Width of key, w = d / 4 ; and thickness of key, t = 2w / 3 = d / 6
Where;
d = Diameter of the shaft or diameter of the hole in the hub.
The key has taper 1 in 100 on the top side only.
 INTRODUCTION
2. Square sunk key. The only difference between a rectangular sunk
key and a square sunk key is that its width and thickness are
equal, i.e.
w=t=d/4

3. Parallel sunk key. The parallel sunk keys may be of rectangular or

square section uniform in width and thickness throughout. It may be
noted that a parallel key is a taperless and is used where the pulley,
gear or other mating piece is required to slide along the shaft.
 INTRODUCTION
4. Gib-head key. It is a rectangular sunk key with a head at one end known
as gib head. It is usually provided to facilitate the removal of key.
The usual proportions of the gib head key are :
Width, w = d / 4 ; and thickness at large end, t = 2w / 3 = d / 6
 INTRODUCTION
5. Feather key. A key attached to one member of a pair and which permits
relative axial movement is known as feather key. It is a special type of parallel
key which transmits a turning moment and also permits axial movement. It is
fastened either to the shaft or hub, the key being a sliding fit in the key way of the
moving piece.
The feather key may be screwed to the shaft or it may have double gib
heads.
 INTRODUCTION
6. Woodruff key. The woodruff key is an easily adjustable key. It is a piece
from a cylindrical disc having segmental cross-section. A woodruff key is
capable of tilting in a recess milled out in the shaft by a cutter having the
same curvature as the disc from which the key is made. This key is largely
used in machine tool and automobile construction.
 INTRODUCTION
Saddle keys
The saddle keys are of the following two types :
1. Flat saddle key, and 2. Hollow saddle key.
A flat saddle key is a taper key which fits in a keyway in the hub and is flat
on the shaft. It is likely to slip round the shaft under load. Therefore it is
used for comparatively light loads.
 INTRODUCTION
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 keys hold
on by friction, therefore these are suitable for light loads. It is usually used as a
temporary fastening in fixing and setting eccentrics, cams etc.
Tangent Keys
The tangent keys are fitted in pair at right angles. Each key is to withstand torsion in
one direction only. These are used in large heavy duty shafts.
 INTRODUCTION
Round Keys
The round keys, are circular in section and fit into holes drilled partly in the shaft and
partly in the hub. They have the advantage that their keyways may be drilled and
reamed after the mating parts have been assembled. Round keys are usually
considered to be most appropriate for low power drives.
 INTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
SHAFT COUPLING
 SHAFT COUPLING INTRODUCTION

Shafts are usually available up to 7 metres length

due to inconvenience in transport. In order to have a
greater length, it becomes necessary to join two or
more pieces of the shaft by means of a coupling.
 SHAFT COUPLING

 A mechanical device for uniting or connecting

parts of a mechanical system.
 Used to connect two shafts together at their ends
to transmit torque from one to the other.
 USES OF COUPLINGS
1. To provide for the connection of shafts of units that are
manufactured separately such as a motor and generator and to
provide for disconnection for repairs or alternations.
2. To provide for misalignment of the shafts or to introduce
mechanical flexibility.
3. To reduce the transmission of shock loads from one shaft to
another.
4. To introduce protection against overloads.
5. It should have no projecting parts.
 TYPES OF COUPLING
A. RIGID COUPLING
 A permanent coupling that by virtue of its construction has
essentially no degree of angularity, axial or rotational flexibility
and it must be used with collinear shafts.
 It has no flexibility and resilience.

 It is necessary for the shafts that are to be connected to be in

good alignment, both laterally and angularity, in order to avoid
excessive loads on the coupling, on the shafts, or on shaft
bearings.
 RIGID COUPLING

a. NO relative motion between the shafts.

b. Precise alignment of the shafts.
 KINDS OF RIGID COUPLING
1. Flanged coupling – a rigid coupling that consist of
two halves of flanges and is connected to each
other by bolts.
2. Collar coupling – a rigid coupling that consist of
cylindrical collar pressed over the ends of the two
collinear shafts being connected, approximately
one-half of the collar contacting each other.
 TYPES OF COUPLING
B. FLEXIBLE COUPLING
 Flexible coupling is a coupling that allows angularity for the
misalignment of the shafts. It also permits some axial and radial
misalignment.
 Transmit torque smoothly.
FLEXIBLE COUPLING
 KINDS OF FLEXIBLE COUPLING
1. Chain coupling – a flexible coupling consist of essentially
of two chain sprockets connected with short continuous
length of roller or silent chains.
2. Oldham coupling – flexible coupling that can be
employed for connecting two parallel shafts with axial
eccentricities from zero to reasonable amount.
3. Flexible disk coupling – is an all metal coupling with the
intermediate flexible elements being thin steel disks.
 KINDS OF FLEXIBLE COUPLING
4. Universal joint – is a flexible coupling use to connect
shafts whose axes intersect, that is , whose angular
misalignment is permanent.
5. Hydraulic coupling – a coupling that employs a fluid to
provide angular flexibility between the input and output
of shafts.
DESIGN CALCULATIONS
 DESIGN CALCULATIONS
1. Total transmitted force or load on bolt (F)
2. Shearing on each bolt (Fb)
3. Shearing stress on bolts (Ssb)
4. Compressing or bearing stress on bolts or flange (Scb)
5. Shearing stress on flange with the hub (Ssh)
6. Shearing stress on key (Sskey)
7. Compressive or bearing stress on either key, hub, or shaft (Sckey)
 DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Total transmitted force or load on bolt (F)

𝟐𝑻
𝑭=
𝑫𝒃
Shearing on each bolt (Fb)

𝟐𝑻
𝑭𝒃 =
𝒏𝒃 𝑫𝒃
 DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Shearing stress on bolts (Ssb)

𝟖𝑻
𝑺𝒔𝒃 =
𝝅𝒏𝒃 𝒅𝟐 𝑫𝒃

Compressing or bearing stress on bolts or flange (Scb)

𝟐𝑻
𝑺𝒄𝒃 =
𝒏𝒃 𝒅𝒘𝑫𝒃
 DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Shearing stress on flange with the hub (Ssh)
𝟐𝑻
𝑺𝒔𝒉 =
𝝅𝒘(𝑫𝒉 )𝟐
Shearing stress on key (Sskey)
𝟐𝑻
𝑺𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒚 =
𝑳𝒃𝑫
Compressive or bearing stress on either key, hub, or shaft (Sckey)
𝟒𝑻
𝑺𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚 =
𝑳𝒕𝑫
 DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Where;
D=shaft diameter Db=bolt circle diameter
w=flange web thickness t=thickness of key
L=length of key Dh=hub diameter
d=bolt diameter b=width of the key
Lh=hub length Do=outside diameter of coupling
F=shearing or compressive T=transmitted torque
force on bolts
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
A flange coupling connects two 2 inches diameter shafts. The flanges
are fitted with 6 bolts of SAE 1040 steel on a 7 inches bolt circle. The
shaft runs at 300 rpm and transmits 45 hp. Assume a factor of safety of
5, ultimate tension of 70,000 psi, and ultimate shear of 55,000 psi.
1. What is the torque transmitted?
(Ans: 9,453.8 in-lbs)
2. Determine the total force transmitted.
(Ans: 2701 lbs)
3. Determine the force per bolt.
(Ans: 450 lbs)
4. Find the diameter of bolts required.
(Ans: 1Τ4 in)
5. How thick should the flange be?
(Ans: 0.14 in)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
A flange coupling is to connect two 57 mm shafts. The hubs of the
coupling are each 111 mm in diameter and 92 mm thick and the flange
webs are 19 mm thick. Six 16 mm bolts in a 165 mm diameter circle
connect the flanges. The keyway is 6 mm shorter than the hub’s
thickness and key is 14 mm × 14 mm. Coupling is in shear is one-half
the yield point in tension or compression which is 448 MPa. It transmits
power of 45 kW at an angular speed of 160 rpm.
6. Determine the length of key.
(Ans: 86 mm)
7. What is the torque transmitted?
(Ans: 2.69 kN-m)
8. Determine the force on shaft.
(Ans: 94.25 kN)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
9. Find the shearing stress of key.
(Ans: 78.28 MPa)
10. What is the factor of safety based on shearing stress of key?
(Ans: 2.86)
11. Find the bearing stress of key.
(Ans: 156.55 MPa)
12. What is the factor of safety based on bearing stress of key?
(Ans: 2.86)
13. Determine the total force on coupling.
(Ans: 32.55 kN)
14. Determine the force per bolt.
(Ans: 5.43 kN)
15. Find the shearing stress in bolts.
(Ans: 26.99 MPa)
16. What is the factor of safety based on shear in bolts?
(Ans: 8.3)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
Two short shafts having identical diameters of 38.1 mm and rotating at 400 rpm
are connected by a flange coupling having 4 bolts with a 100 mm bolt circle. The
design shearing stress of the bolt is 12 MPa and design compressive stress of
the flange is 15 MPa.
17. What is the power transmitted by the short shaft?
(Ans: 35.53 hp)
18. Find the torque transmitted by the shaft.
(Ans: 632.77 N-m)
19. Determine the total force in Newton.
(Ans: 12,655 N)
20. What diameter of bolt should be used?
(Ans: 19 mm)
21. How thick should the flange be in mm?
(Ans: 11 mm)