A perfect combination

KBK presents its second "Hero" coupling combination: With the THH, the drive technology specialists combine a rigid shaft coupling with a safety coupling. The THH offers very short release times of a maximum of 5 ms and is easy to install thanks to its half-shell design. The new shaft coupling provides designers with compact mechanical overload protection for applications that previously required complex in-house designs.

The new rigid THH shaft coupling is available with overload protection ranges from 3 Nm to 500 Nm and bore diameters from 6 mm to 70 mm. For the THH, KBK combines its rigid KBST-G shaft coupling with an overload coupling from the KBK/LK series. "Both series are very popular with our customers," says KBK Managing Director Sven Karpstein.

Many machine and plant manufacturers would have liked to see an expansion of the product range to include a rigid shaft coupling in conjunction with an overload coupling, because mechanical overload protection in this form has not yet existed. For example, manufacturers of mixers and stirrers have had to equip the rigid shaft couplings in their applications with self-made overload protection. Conventional mechanical torque limiters are not suitable for these applications because mixers and stirrers do not have a second bearing. The THH, on the other hand, does not require a second bearing, but can be installed freely floating.

"The THH is the first rigid shaft coupling with mechanical overload protection on the market," says Karpstein. Thanks to the integrated degressive disc spring, the coupling separates the drive and output train from each other within just 2 ms to 5 ms in the event of an overload. This effectively prevents consequential damage to the shaft and drive. Until now, users had to use an overload coupling in addition to a rigid shaft coupling in order to achieve effective protection. With the THH, you now get a complete solution that takes up little installation space due to its compact dimensions.

The THH is suitable for all applications where an immediate interruption of the torque flow is required in the event of an overload. In addition to mixers and stirrers, the areas of application for the new rigid shaft coupling include classic machine tools, storage and handling systems, medical devices or personal protection equipment.