Torsion Control Products (TCP) developed a customer-specific coupling for a tractor manufacturer. Thanks to their special torsion characteristics, the spring clutches used are particularly suitable for modern diesel engines that achieve low emissions, have a high power density and deliver high torques at low speeds.
In the application described here, thanks to a sophisticated design, shaft bearing and coupling could be combined in just one assembly.
When designing a new tractor, an important design change was to stop mounting the gearbox directly on the engine. Rather, it should be positioned at a distance from it for better weight distribution. The separate installation of engine and transmission required a PTO shaft, which bridges the distance and transmits the torque. Therefore, the customer needed a clutch, the clutch not only tunes the drive system in terms of torsional vibrations, but also supports the PTO shaft.
The result is a custom coupling configuration that combines shaft bearing and coupling in one assembly. It requires no additional deposition of the propeller shaft and builds short, so that the diffraction angle of the propeller shaft could be reduced.
The manufacturer's spring-loaded couplings damp torsional vibration, decouple vibration systems, provide protection against load surges and overload, reduce noise and ensure increased bearing, transmission and system life. The all-steel construction of the couplings ensures a long service life and saves space. Over the entire service life, the performance characteristics of the clutch remain constant. Ambient temperatures have virtually no effect on the performance or longevity of the couplings.
With the aid of the "Smart Damping" system, the spring clutches are adjustable and can be optimally matched to the respective drive system. The series covers a torque range from 27 to 27.000 Nm.