Video Tutorial on Ball-Detent Safety Couplings

Learn about the inner workings of mechanical torque limiters Torque overload is mechanical. Take a closer look at the how and why of preloaded ball-detent safety couplings, and how they help to prevent torque overload, even faster than electronic solutions.

This video will cover

what's inside the R+W ball detent safety couplings
unique spring characteristics used to achieve fast response times
demonstration of full disengagement torque limiters
options for mounting and disengagement behaviors

For equipment requiring accurate and repeatable overload protection with minimal downtime, ball-detent couplings can be a viable option. As a component of the driveline itself they serve to isolate the driving inertia from the remainder of the driveline, protecting from instantaneous shock loading in a way which is not possible through condition monitoring or limiting input power to the drive.

While it’s important to monitor the amperage being supplied to the drive, limiting current does not always protect against torque overloads which typically result from an abrupt stoppage of a rotary mass. A rotor spinning at 3,000 rpm can easily possess sufficient inertia to damage a gearbox when forced stops are too abrupt. The 3-5 milliseconds response time of mechanical units goes a long way toward preventing damage to your equipment.