Chapter 8 - Shafts And Attachments Flashcards
Why is the fit of shafts and their attachments important to machines?
- the fit with which parts are joined is crucial to smooth running and long life of the machinery
What at the purposes of keys?
- keys and keyseats (keyways) are used to locate parts precisely
- provides a positive means of transmitting torque between two mating components
- key is removable to facilitate assembling and disassembling the shaft and components
- designed to precisely align components with mating components
- may be utilized as a safety device. If excessive torque is applied, the key shears
What dictates the choice of a key?
- shaft size
- hub diameter
- style of mounting
- torque load exerted
- material type
- permanent or semi-permanent installation
- intended use
- engineering specifications
Describe the following:
- parallel keys
- the top and bottom are parallel and the sides are parallel
- usually requires hand-fitting to the keyseat
- typical key-stock material is a low- to medium-carbon steel
Describe the following:
- square and rectangular keys
- the most common forms of parallel keys, having square or rectangular cross sections
- rectangular keys are sometimes referred to as “flat keys”
- square keys are most often recommended for shaft diameters up to 6-1/2”
- rectangular keys are used in shafts of larger diameters (+6-1/2”)
- parallel keys are retained in keyseats, sometimes secured by set screws
Describe the following:
- offset keys
- also called a “stepped key”
- adjusts for a shaft keyseat of a different width than that of the hub keyseat
- may also be used to align machine parts
- facilitate rapid disassembly and reassembly of the machine
Describe the following:
- saddle keys
- shaped to fit the curved surface of the shaft
- fitted into the keyseat cut in the hub - no keyseat is required on the shaft
- several set screws are normally placed on top of the key to force it upon the shaft
- depends upon the friction between shaft and key to provide the drive when the shaft rotates - suitable only for light drive fits
Describe the following:
- boxed (blind) keys
- square or rectangular key that has both its ends rounded
- “buried” and “Pratt and Whitney” keys are both types of boxed keys
- key fits into a keyseat machined into the shaft with closed-profile ends
- key length is equal to the length of the keyseat, and less than the width of the hub
Describe the following:
- sunk keys
- similar in shape to square boxed keys
- sunk keys are set deeper into the shaft than plain keys
- adapted for applications where the mating machine components restrict accessibility at both ends of the key
- come in sizes from: No.1 (1/2” X 1/16”) to No.34 (3” X 5/8”)
Describe the following:
- feather keys
- permit end movement of the two parts either in operation or during assembly
- come in two types: Fixed and Sliding
- Fixed feather
- tight fit in keyseat - sometimes secured by screws
- allows hub a certain amount of axial sliding motion on the shaft
- prevents the rotation of one part without the other
- sunk keys can serve as fixed feather keys
- Sliding feather
- prevent the rotation of one part on the other
- permit greater axial (end) movement between the parts
- key slides with the part along the shaft in a keyway cut the length of the shaft
- key is secured in the outer hub or part by means of a keyseat and shoulders at each end of the key
- key can also be secured by a pin on the feather key - the pin fits into a hole drilled perpendicular into the center of the keyseat
Describe the following:
- gib-headed keys
- square or rectangular key with an enlarged head on one end
- gib allows for quick extraction and is used where parts are removed at frequent intervals
- Safety - restrict the use of gib-headed keys protruding from shafts. This avoids the problem of material tangling during rotation
Describe the following:
- tapered keys
- tapered gib-headed keys
- Tapered Key
- given a 1/8” per foot taper (metric 1:100)
- a matching taper is applied to the keyseat in the hub
- length of key should be the same as the hub
- can locate a component on a shaft and prevent axial movement
- no set screw is required
- allows for quick installation and disassembly
- Tapered Gib-headed key
- tapered key made with a gib-head
- same body dimensions as standard tapered keys
Describe the following:
- woodruff keys
- semicircular key (full radius), also available with a flat bottom or flattened ends for keys > 1-1/2”
- circular shape permits the key to align itself to suit either a parallel or a tapered shaft
- design minimizes any tendency of the key to tip when load is applied
- permits parts to mounted or dismounted freely - used extensively for light-duty applications (small electric motors ,hand wheels, and small gears to tapered end shafts)
- ANSI code designations for purchasing:
- last two digits give the nominal diameter (1/8”)
- the digit(s) before the last two give the width of the key (1/32”)
- Rule of thumb
- width of key is 1/4 the nominal diameter of shaft
- key diameter size is the same as that of the shaft
- keys can be made from round bar stock of the required diameter and reference to dimensions
Define keyseats
- grooves cut into bore and shaft
- all keyseats cut into the outside of shafts or cylinders have their sides in line with the axis of the shaft
- parallel keyseats have their bases flat and parallel to the shaft’s axis
- woodruff keyseats have a radius at the base
Describe parallel keyseats both open and boxed
- open keyseats
- cut at the end of the shaft
- used where the exact position of the part is unknown or may vary slightly
- used where a key is to be installed after the hub is to be located or where the key is to be removed before disassembly (ex. gib-headed keys)
- keyseat in the shaft and hub is designed so that exactly one half of the height of the key is bearing on the side of the shaft keyseat and the other half on the hub keyseat
- shape of the end of the keyseat determined by the type of milling cutter used to cut the groove
- – endmills - cut a profile keyseat
- – horizontal - cut a sled runner or runout keyseat
- boxed keyseats
- cut anywhere along the shaft
- used when the exact location of the part is known
- length of the keyseat is generally shorter than the hub width
- used with: square, rectangular, fixed feather or Pratt and Whitney keys
Describe how the depth of a keyseat is measured
- measured diametrically from the bottom of the keyseat to the opposite side of the shaft
- measurement taken from 180* degrees from keyseat to required keyseat depth
Describe the cutters used to cut woodruff keys
- for keys up to 1-1/2” diameter
- shank-type woodruff keyseat cutters are used
- for keys larger than 1-1/2” diameter
- arbor-mount keyseat cutters are used
When is keyseat location important?
- where the strength or timing of the attachment is important, keyseat location is also important
How deep are keyseats cut in a hub?
- parallel keyseats
- - cut deep enough to accommodate half the height of the key plus clearance
Which keyseat is tapered for a tapered key?
- tapered keyseats
According to the rule of thumb, what width key would be used for a 1” shaft?
- rule of thumb
- the key width is nominally one quarter of the shaft diameter
= 1/4” key width
What equipment is used to make keyseats in the field?
- portable keyseat cutter (115V or 230V)
- need correct endmill for profile
- do not overtighten the clamp. doing so may distort base and cause misalignment
- make sure unit is grounded
- broach + arbor press (1/16” removed per pass)
- 8-10* degree rake
- always lubricate the back of the broach and use cutting fluid on the teeth
- push the broach with firm steady pressure
- make sure at least 2 broach teeth are engaged at all times
- stop and check for alignment during each pass
- “one-pass” keyway broaches cut 1/8” in one pass
Describe how keys are installed
- parallel keys
- fitted and assembled into the shaft’s keyseat before the hub is assembled
- light-coating of anti-seize or oil, or small chamfer allos for easier assembly
- tapered keys
- fit into components after assembly
- where several components are on the same shaft, match-mark every key and component to keep sequence
Define class of fit with regard to keys and keyseats
- Class 1 - clearance fit
- free fit for key to slide in keyseat
- Class 2 - tight fit
- slight interference with keyseat
- hub should have tight slide fit on the key
- Class 3 - interference fit
- for permanent assemblies
- should be no relative movement between shaft and hub
Describe fitting procedure for both square (or rectangular) and a tapered key
- Square or rectangular key fitting
1 - accurately measure the keyseat width and depth in the shaft and hub to establish the basic standard key size required
2 - measure the hub length to determine the key length
3 - cut the key from key stock that is slightly longer than necessary to allow for finishing to length
4 - assess the class of fit required
5 - if necessary, file the key, measuring the width occasionally to control parallelism (better to file along length of key)
6 - draw file the key to finished size
7 - after completing each filing operation, slightly chamfer the edges of the key. Heavy chamfering reduces the area of the side, with consequent heavier loading per unit area - Tapered key fitting
1 - assemble the hub and check the taper by measuring at each end of the keyway
2 - cut a piece of stock generously longer than required
3 - fit the key to the bottom and sides of the keyseat
4 - file the key to match the taper of the hub
– a - mark the taper of the hub on the side of the key
– b - file a step on each end of the key blank to a little over the marks of the taper
– c - file the excess metal on the top of the key blank until a flat surface is formed between the two points
5 - remove sharp corners with a file so that the key will not bind during fitting
6 - clean the key, then smear the tapered surface lightly with prussian blue, and drive the key firmly into the keyseat
7 - remove the key, and file the high spots which will be indicated by the bright spots or lines on the key
8 - repeat steps 6 + 7 until the key bears evenly on top and bottom
9 - after the taper of the key is fit, trim the key to the required length
10 - smear the key with light oil and drive it tightly into position. If it is a gib head key, the point should be level with the end of the hib and the gib head at least 6mm (1/4”) from the front of the hub - Always lightly coat a key with oil or anti-seize agent before driving it into the keyseat, otherwise it is liable to seize and damage both key and keyseat
List the methods of securing keys to their keyseats
- some are secured by the keyseat
- pinned to hub or secured with fasteners
- using adhesives (heat can reduce strength of bond <93*C)
- set screws
How are set screws selected?
- categorized by style of heads (forms) and points
- selected based on function, safety, etc.
List the types of set screws and state their uses
- square-head
- screws protrude from component (entanglement safety issue)
- flush-seating
- hex-head screws threaded entire length
- internal driving socket
- most common form used in industry
- cup-point
- used to lock pulleys, sheaves, collars, gears and parts onto soft shafts and sometimes keyed shafts
- screw cuts into the metal of keys or shafts - giving axial and torsional holding power without an increasing installation torque
- screws cut into shafts produce burrs which affect disassembly causing parts to “bind” up
- “knurled cup point” selected where vibration is concerned
- flat-point
- used to secure components: stops, screws, collars, cams, and gears to hardened shafts and keyed assemblies
- can be disassembled without damage to shaft by screw
- cone-point
- same application as cup-point screws
- applied directly to shaft
- location is scribed and shaft is then spot-drilled to engage the conical point of the screw
- oval-point
- used to lock parts that are adjusted frequently relative to each other
- half-dog-point
- frequently used to engage directly in slots milled longitudinally in shafts
- point also acts as a stop to limit travel
- allow lengthwise movement, but prevent rotation
- full-dog-point
- same application as half-dog-point
What determines the holding power of set screws?
- point type
- thread finish
- thread lubrication (ensures maximum holding power)
- diameter
- size
- location
- number of set screws
Where are set screws located in the hub?
- often over the key
- placed at the hubs longitudinal centre and located over the keyseat
- if more than one set screw is needed, place the set screws 90* degrees to each other
How are set screws locked in place?
- socket locking screws
- need not be completely removed for resetting the set screw to a new position. Simply back up until the set screw socket can be reached through the locking screw hole
When should set screws be replaced?
- always replace set screws when equipment is given a major overhaul or when there is any sign of wear to the head or threads
- stainless steel set screws should be replaced every time that they are serviced. Work-hardening can cause the head to fail and reduce the thrust exerted, reducing holding power
How are gib-headed keys removed?
- driving a fox wedge between the gib and the face of the hub
- you may need to lubricate the face of the hub and use more than one wedge to facilitate a straight pull on the key gib
- take care to support the fox wedges so that they don’t fly loose and injure someone or damage other equipment
- if the tapered key cannot be driven out, the hub can be pushed out along the shaft to release the grip of the key