Saturday, December 7, 2013
What Is the Main Reason for Coupling Alignment
Coupling alignment refers to the process of bringing the coaxial shafts of a vehicle into alignment. Different types of couplings can tolerate very different degrees of misalignment. If misalignment is a common worry for you, it may be best to prepare for the worst and use the most flexible couplings whenever possible. Misalignment can result in several undesirable consequences.
Main Reasons
The main purpose of performing a coupling alignment procedure is to align the surfaces of the coupling. This is done by bringing the center lines of the shafts into alignment. It is the alignment of the center lines of the shafts that are responsible for maintaining the maximum service life of the bearing, couplings and the vehicle as a whole.
Consequences of Misalignment
There are several unfortunate consequences of coupling misalignment. The first is increased load on the bearings and fittings. Over time, this puts unnecessary strain on the bearings and fittings, which contributes to general wear and shortens the vehicles overall life. The second unfortunate consequence is the flexing of the shafts, which again causes unnecessary wear. Finally, coupling misalignment results in vibrations being transmitted throughout the body of the vehicle. This causes wear not just on the couplings and surrounding parts, but on every aspect of the vehicle, shortening its overall life.
Deciding on a Method
There are several different methods of performing coupling alignment. When choosing a method, there are many different factors that must be taken into account. These include the speed at which the vehicle generally operates, the tools available to the person performing the alignment, the intended uses of the vehicle, the alignment tolerances and specifications, the length of time available to perform the alignment procedure and the condition of the vehicle at the time of the alignment procedure.
Methods
Depending on the aforementioned factors, mechanics will choose one of four coupling alignment procures. The first is a rough alignment using a straight edge and feeler gauge. The second is called "rim and face dialing." The third is called cross dialing, which uses either a graph method or reverse reading dialing method. Finally, the fourth is laser alignment.
