The Curved Jaw Coupling – Versatility of Design

When choosing a flexible coupling, the type of connection needed is very important in making the right coupling choice.  Some applications require a shaft to shaft connection, while others require a shaft to flange or flange to flange type connection.  Usually, different types of couplings have to be used for each different type of connection.  

The curved jaw coupling (sometime referred to as a SPIDEX®) provides for all of these different connections, based on the standard design, and is particularly popular in European equipment applications (versus the straight jaw which is the standard in North America).   

The standard curved jaw coupling handles shaft to shaft connections.  The CJLFH (curved jaw large flange to hub) coupling provides a shaft to flange connection.  The CJDLF (curved jaw double large flange) coupling provides a flange to flange connection.  The curved jaw coupling is also available in a variety of spacer designs to compensate for small or large between shaft end (BSE) measurements.  The ability to choose from several different styles of couplings offers customers flexibility in accommodating the problem of space limitation for a flexible coupling.

There are a variety of different hub and spider material choices for the standard curved jaw coupling.  Hubs can be manufactured from the standard sintered iron material, bar stock steel, and aluminum, and elastomeric spiders are available in several different urethane durometers (80A, 92A, 98A, and 64D).  

Furthermore, pairing two curved jaw coupling hubs with a stiff tight tolerance elastomeric spider can create as a very cost effective backlash-free coupling (see Lovejoy's GS Type), which is a highly desirable (and often required) attribute for many motion control applications.

This variety of curved jaw coupling components provides an excellent opportunity to customize a coupling solution for each customer application. This allows customers to address many different applications with the same coupling, producing more common parts and reducing inventory.

Author Credit: This article was written by Charlie Mudra (National Accounts Manager, Lovejoy, Inc.).