KEYS

Key is a machine member employed at the

interface of a pair of mating male and female
circular cross-sectioned members to prevent
relative angular motion between these mating.

Keyway is a female mating member that forms a

groove in the shaft to which the key fits.
 Keys
are used to keep pulleys, coupling,
washers and gears from moving on shafts.
 Halfthe key fits into the keyway (a slot on
the shaft), and the other fits into a slot
that is on the pulley or gear.
 Keys and keyways vary in size according to
the diameter of the shaft on which they are
fitted.
Types of Key

1. Square key is a machine key of square, usually uniform

but sometimes tapered, cross-section.
2. Flat key is used where the weakening of the shaft by
the keyway is serious.
3. Round key is used for fastening cranks hand wheels and
other parts that do not transmit heavy torques.
4. Barth key is a square key with bottom two corners
beveled.
5. Woodruff key is widely used in the automotive and
machine tool industries.
Types of Key

6. Gib-Head Taper key is a special gib-head to facilitate easy driving and

removal of the head.
7. Saddle key is used without a keyway in the shaft usually flat.
8. Feather key is one that allows the hub to move along the shaft but
prevents rotation on the shaft.
9. Kennedy key is a square key fitted into a keyway of square section and
driven from opposite ends of the hub. Sunk key is provided half in the
keyway of the shaft and half in the keyway of the hub of the pulley.
10. Pin key is a cylindrical pin placed in cylindrical groove in the shaft and
hub.
11. Tangent key is fitted in pair at right angles. It is to withstand the torsion
in one direction only
Maintenance of keys:
 Maintain adequate and
proper lubrication between the
key and the keyway.
 Timely check the alignment
and fixture of the key, to
reduce shearing edge contact.
Formula:
  
1. Shearing Stress Of Key

Where:
= the shearing stress
w = the width of the key
L = the length of the key
F = the force
D = the shaft diameter
T = the torque
Formula:
  
2. Compressive Stress Of Key

Where:
= the compressive stress
h = the height of the key
L = the length of the key
F = the force
D = the shaft diameter
T = the torque
Formula:
3.
  
Width for Square And Flat Key:
When They Are Made Of The Same Material

Where:  5. Minimum Length Of Key

w = the width of the key
D = the shaft diameter
4. Length For Key:
When They Are Made Of The Same Material
Where:
L = the length of key
D = the shaft diameter

Where:
L = the length of key
D = the shaft diameter
Sample problem
1. A key is to be designed for a 50cm shaft, which will transmit
power of 100KW at 800rpm. If the allowable shear stress for
the key is 640 kg/cm2, the allowable compressive stress is
896kg/cm2, the width of key is 5.46 cm and height is 3.45cm.
a) Determine the torque in KN.m.
b) Determine the force in KN.
c) What is the length of key based on the allowable shearing
stress?
d) What is the length of key based on the allowable compressive
stress?
e) What axial force to remove the hub from the shaft if the
coefficient of friction is 0.45?
Sample problem
2. A 4in diameter shafting of SAE 1040 grade cold rolled
having a yield point of 60000psi and with a 3/4 x 3/4 x 5
inches key. Compute for the minimum yield point in the
key in order to transmit the torque of the shaft , the
factor of safety to used is 3 and SyS = 0.5 Sy.
a) Determine the acting Shearing Stress.
b) Determine the transmitted torque
c) What is the shearing stress acting on the key?
d) Determine the minimum yield point in the key.
Sample problem

3. A keyed sprocket deliver a torque of

778.8N.m through the shaft of 54mm outside
diameter. The key thickness is 1.5875cm and
the width is 1.11cm. Compute the length of
the same key. The permissible stress value of
60Mpa for shear and 90Mpa for tension.