Flexible couplings allow for adjustable joints between inflexible pipes or shafts, maintaining torque or fluid flow while allowing for misalignment. Examples include universal joints and stainless steel mesh sleeves for pipe fittings. They are useful in automobile exhaust systems and front wheel drive vehicles.
A flexible coupling is a mechanical device that allows an adjustable joint to be formed between otherwise inflexible pipes or shafts. Flexible couplings allow for the transfer of rotational motion between shafts and a continuous gas- or fluid-tight seal between pipes, while still allowing for some degree of axial misalignment. Solid shaft couplings typically consist of universal or U-type metal hinges or machined metal half-shells with flexible rubber inserts. These include joints such as constant velocity joints (CV) and universal joints. Pipe fittings are usually molded rubber or stainless steel mesh sleeves that secure to two pipes with standard jubilee-type hose clamps.
Flexible couplings allow shafts or rigid pipes to be joined with some degree of deflection or axial misalignment while maintaining uninterrupted transfer of torque or fluid flow. This feature is especially useful when shaft outlets change direction or piping does not align accurately. Examples include the change in drive shaft direction in rear wheel drive automobiles and the slight pipe misalignment common in automobile exhaust systems. The flexible coupling allows the drive shaft of a rear wheel drive vehicle to travel down to the differential while maintaining full rotational speed and torque transfer. A stainless steel sleeve also allows two misaligned ends of an exhaust system to be joined together without carbon monoxide leakage or exhaust noise escaping.
Shaft couplings are generally rigid steel assemblies that allow for changes in the direction of actuation due to rolling or flexible elements in their design. Examples of flexible rotating joint designs include the universal joint on vehicle drive shafts and double U-joints used on machine drives. Other solid rotating flex joints include CV joints used to transfer drive torque from drive shafts to the front wheels on front wheel drive vehicles. Combined rigid/flexible couplings consist of a pair of rigid steel elements that join two shafts via a flexible insert. These include couplings such as the jaw coupling with its rubber insert and disc couplers which use a spring-like arrangement between two hard drives.
Joining pipes with a flexible joint allows for the uninterrupted flow of fluids or gases where pipes are misaligned. These simple couplings are nothing more than rubber sleeves designed to fit snugly over the ends of both hoses and be locked securely in place with hose clamps. These fittings can feature straight profiles where similar pipe diameters are joined or stepped profiles to accommodate joints between dissimilar pipe diameters. Pipes that carry hot gases such as exhaust systems use heat resistant joints made up of overlapping layers of stainless steel mesh and are secured to the pipes with U or hose clamps and exhaust sealant. As with all types of flexible couplings, these couplings allow for continuity of the original purpose of the system while giving flexibility to accommodate misalignment.
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