Chapter 11 - Keys, Couplings and Seals

11.1 Chapter Objectives:

•How attach power transmission components to shaft to prevent rotation

and axial motion?
Torque resistance: keys, splines, pins, weld, press fit, etc..
Axial positioning: retaining rings, locking collars, shoulders
machined into shaft, etc….
•What is the purpose of rigid and flexible couplings in a power transmission
system?
•Specify seals for shafts and other types of machine elements.

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

11.2 Keys

Most common for shafts up to 6.5” is the square and rectangular keys:

Advantages:
1. Cost effective means of locking the
2. Can replace damaged component
3. Ease of installation
4. Can use key as “fuse” – fails in shear at some predetermined
torque to avoid damaging drive train.

Figure 11.1

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

Square and rectangular keys:

Step 1 –
Determine
key size
based on
shaft
diameter

Step 2 –
Calculate
required
length, L,
based on
torque (11.4)

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Step 3 – Specify appropriate shaft and bore dimensions for keyseat:

See Figure 11.2

For 5/16” key

SHAFT BORE

Note, should also specify fillet radii and key

chamfers – see Table 11-2

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 http://www.driv-lok.com

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Other types of keys:

a. Tapered key – can install after

hub (gear) is installed over
shaft.
b. Gib head key – ease of
extraction
c. Pin keys – low stress
concentration
d. Woodruff key – light loading
offers ease of assembly

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

11.4 Design of Keys – stress analysis to determine required
length:

Torque being
transmitted
No load

T = F/(D/2) or F = T/(D/2) this is the force

the key must react!!!

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Bearing stress

Shear stress

Required Length based on

Required Length based on
Bearing Stress:
Shear Stress:

2T 4T
L where  d  0.5Sy / N L where  d  Sy / N
 d DW  d DH

Typical parameters for keys:

N = 3, material 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi)
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
Example: Specify the complete key geometry and material for an application
requiring a gear (AISI OQT 1000) with a 4” hub to be mounted to a 3.6” diameter
shaft (AISI 1040 CD). The torque delivered through the system is 21,000 lb-in.
Assume the key material is 1020 CD (Sy = 21,000 psi) and N = 3.

Solution (note since key is weakest material, focus analysis on key!):

See handout

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

11.4 Splines

Advantages:
•Can carry higher torque for given diameter (vs keys) or
•Lower stress on attachment (gear)
•Better fit, less vibration (spline integral to shaft so no vibrating key)
•May allow axial motion while reacting torque

Disadvantage:
•Cost
•Impractical to use as fuse

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Splines

“Axial keys” machined

into a shaft
Transmit torque from
shaft to another
machine element
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
 Advantages
• Uniform transfer of torque
• Lower loading on elements
• No relative motion between “key” and shaft
• Axial motion can be accommodated (can
cause fretting and corrosion)
• Mating element can be indexed with a
spline
• Generally hardened to resist wear

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Spline Types
• Straight
– SAE
– 4, 6, 10 or 16 splines
• Involute
– Pressure angles of 30, 37.5, or 45 deg.
– Tend to center shafts for better
concentricity

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 SAE Spline Sizes
A: Permanent Fit
B: Slide without Load
C: Slide under Load

Pg 504
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
 Two types of splines:

Straight Sided Involute:

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Use this for spline
design – SAE
formulas based on
1,000 psi bearing
stress allowable!!

Use this to get

diameter. Then
table 11.4 to get W,
h, d

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Torque Capacity
• Torque capacity is based on 1000 psi
bearing stress on the sides of the
splines
T = 1000*N*R*h
N = number of splines
R = mean radius of the splines
h = depth of the splines

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Torque Capacity Cont’d
1D d D d
R  
2 2  4
1
h  (D  d)
2

Substituting R and h into torque

equation:  D  d  D  d   D 2  d2 
T  1000 N    
  1000 N 
4  2  8 
  

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Torque Capacity Cont’d
• Further refinement can be done by
substituting appropriate values for N
and d.
• For 16 spline version, with C fit,
N = 16 and d = .810D
 D 2  (.810D)2 
T  1000 (16)  

 8 
T  688D 2 Torque in IN-LBS/INCH of spline

D  T / 688 Required D for given Torque

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines

Pg 505
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
 Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

Example: A chain sprocket delivers 4076 in-
lbs of torque to a shaft having a 2.50 inch
diameter. The sprocket has a 3.25 inch hub
length. Specify a suitable spline having a B
fit.
T = kD2L
T = torque capacity in in-lbs
kD2 = torque capacity per inch
(from Table 11-5)
L = length of spline in inches
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
 Example Continued
T 4076 in  lbs
k 2  2
 200.7  201
D L (2.50" ) (3.25" )

• From Table 11-5,

use 6 splines

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Torque Capacity for Straight
Splines

2.5

4076/3.25

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

Example: Specify straight spline for the previous problem (i.e. Torque = 21,000 lb-in
and shaft is 3.6 in diameter.

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Taper & Screw

Expensive – machining
Good concentricity
Moderate torque capacity
Can use a key too

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Shaft
The shafts may be designed on the
basis of –

• Strength

• Stiffness

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

Cases of designing of shafts, on
the basis of Strength
(a) Shafts subjected to Twisting Moment
only.
(b) Shafts subjected to Bending Moment
only.
(c) Shafts subjected to Combined
Twisting and Bending Moment only.

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Couplings
• Used to connect two shafts together at
their ends to transmit torque from one to
the other.
• Two kinds of couplings:
– RIGID
– FLEXIBLE

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

Rigid Couplings
8T
d
Dbc N(  d )

NO relative motion between the shafts.

Precise alignment of the shafts
Bolts in carry torque
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals
in shear. N = # of bolts.
RJM 3/16/04
 Flexible Couplings
• Transmit torque smoothly
• Permit some axial, radial and angular
misalignment

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Flexible Couplings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Flexible Couplings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Lord Corp. Products

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Flexible Coupling

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Universal Joints
Large shaft misalignments permissible
Key factors in selection are Torque, Angular Speed
and the Operating Angle

Output not uniform wrt input Output IS uniform wrt input

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04
 Axial Constraint Methods

Spacers

Retaining ring

Retaining ring Shoulders

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Retaining Rings

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04

 Locknuts

Chapter 11 Keys, Couplings and Seals RJM 3/16/04