Ruland beam couplings

Features & Benefits:

• Zero backlash for accuracy of motion
• Accommodate all types of misalignment
• Balanced for higher speeds and reduced vibration
• Special designs & materials available on request
• All products are RoHS2 and REACH compliant
• Available for immediate despatch

Ruland beam couplings are available with four or six beams in inch, metric, and inch to metric bore combinations ranging from 3/32” (2mm) to 3/4” (20mm).

Keyways can help prevent some couplings from slipping on the shaft in high torque situations. We can add a keyway, provided it's a straight bore coupling. We cannot do step bore beam couplings with keyways. The mechanical advantage of using a keyway is to prevent slippage on the shaft in high torque applications. Beam couplings are generally not recommended for use in high torque applications, which is why we don't offer them as standard products with keyways. We would generally guide users towards one of our other types of servo couplings that better fits their application.

The Ruland catalogue shows the only coupling that can handle an axial load is a rigid coupling. Any of the flexible couplings, including a beam, will quickly fail. This is a common mistake made with beam couplings, as they look like a spring but do not function like one. Even though Ruland has axial misalignment ratings for all of their flexible couplings, it is only meant to allow for thermal expansion of the shafts. This is a specialised application that requires a different type of coupling.
A Rexnord flexible coupling may better suit applications with greater than normal axial misalignment.