4 Ways Custom Rubber Couplings Optimize Power Transmission

Soucy Baron
Industrial
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Efficient power transmission is a critical factor for high-performance industrial applications. Equipment ranging from drive shafts to compressors rely on optimized power transmission, with couplings playing a critical role.

The ability to customize couplings allows OEMs to improve power transmission and overcome challenges in applications with strict technical, performance, and fit & finish requirements. Power transmission challenges that engineered  rubber components can solve include the following:

  • Stress from misalignment
  • Torque overload
  • Damage from vibration
  • Excessive noise
  • Premature wear due to temperature extremes or corrosion

Rubber couplings improve performance in a wide range of power transmission applications such as

  • Industrial pumps, compressors, and conveyors
  • Food and beverage processing and packaging equipment
  • HVAC fans, blowers, and chillers

In this post we’ll look at 4 ways that custom coupling solutions improve power transmission performance.

In certain applications such as CNC machines, the connection between shafts must be rigid to provide the necessary precision. However, in other applications such as pumps and compressors, flexible couplings tolerate a certain amount of misalignment between shafts for improved durability.

By compounding a rubber formulation that meets the stiffness requirements for each application, custom rubber couplings are designed to accommodate misalignment and minimize mechanical stress. The unique properties of rubber include the flexibility needed to adjust for angular, parallel and axial misalignment to protect other components against overload.

Examples of industrial equipment where coupling flexibility is critical include the following:

  • Rollers and conveyor systems in paper mills
  • Drive systems in steel mills
  • Centrifugal blowers in ventilation systems

Polymer chemists that specialize in rubber compounding offer expertise in developing rubber formulations so that each size coupling has an optimized formula. Using a custom formula approach to meet stiffness requirements produces superior results compared to changing the molding time to vary stiffness.

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Premature wear, reduced operator comfort, and even failure of industrial equipment components are common issues resulting from noise, vibration, and shock.

Rubber excels at minimizing wear by damping or absorbing forces that could damage other components. Rubber component developers identify how custom formulations and designs will solve NVH problems. The versatility of rubber allows it to be tailored for desired behaviors:

Vibration dampening: Industrial equipment components, such as bearings in rotating equipment, shafts in motors and generators, and gearboxes and gear trains, are often exposed to excessive vibration due to unbalanced loads, high speeds, and misalignment. Rubber couplings effectively address these issues by isolating components and damping vibrations, which reduces wear and extends equipment life.

Noise reduction: Custom rubber couplings are specifically formulated to prevent the transmission of noise, including high-frequency sounds. In heavy machinery applications, they can decrease sound levels by 10-15 decibels, significantly reducing operational noise.

Shock absorption: Shock and impact are frequent stressors for industrial equipment during operations like starting and stopping. Rubber couplings effectively absorb these forces, minimizing stress on components. In positive displacement pumps, they protect against cavitation damage and reduce gear wear, while also safeguarding conveyor belt bearings and rollers from sudden load changes.

For use in stressful environments, elastomeric couplings are engineered to exhibit desired behaviors such as the following:

Avoiding slippage and deformation from high torque. Specific rubber formulations and designs provide both flexibility and high torque capacity to withstand mechanical demands for reliable performance.

Enduring harsh environmental conditions. Rubber formulations with the ability to withstand specific stressors offer superior durability in applications with challenges such as

  • Temperature extremes
  • Corrosive chemicals
  • Abrasion

In addition to prolonging the service life of the couplings themselves, custom couplings also protect other system components for reduced wear, reducing the frequency of maintenance and replacements, lowering overall operational costs.

The versatility of rubber allows it to be custom-designed and tailored to provide specific characteristics needed in various power transmission applications, with increased stiffness for high precision and higher loads, and more flexibility for vibration isolation and misalignment compensation.

With custom formulation and design, rubber couplings are optimized to offer specific characteristics such as: 

  • Flexibility
  • Stiffness
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Vibration damping
  • Shock cushioning
  • Unique marking for brand enhancement

At Soucy Baron, we don’t just create rubber components; we engineer customized solutions that enhance the efficiency and longevity of industrial machinery. With over 50 years of experience and a library of more than 900 rubber formulations, we bring unmatched technical expertise to every project. Our in-house team collaborates with OEMs to deliver custom couplings that solve complex power transmission challenges, from vibration damping to shock absorption and beyond.

Ready to enhance your equipment's performance? Contact us today to explore how our custom rubber couplings can elevate your operations.

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Partnering with Soucy Baron means more than just high-quality products — it means gaining a trusted advisor committed to optimizing your machinery's performance in the most demanding environments. Whether it's extending component durability or ensuring reliability under extreme conditions, we provide solutions that exceed expectations.

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