The fluid coupling or hydraulic coupling is a power transmission element installed between a motor and a driven machine, without mechanical contact between them. Using a hydraulic fluid, which can be oil or waterthe available power is transmitted to the machine resulting in the required movement.
The Hydraulic coupling allows the motor start up without load and can reach up to 97% of the rated power available in the motor. Isolates and eliminates torsional vibrations between motor and driven machine, as there is no mechanical contact between drive and driven machine and protects the structural and mechanical elements from possible stalls or overloads conditions. When the overload occurs, the internal temperature increases and the fusible plugs burst and release the fluid from the working chamber to the outside, interrupting the power transmission.
It can also control the machine start up, generating a smooth torque ramp with calibrated nozzle screws, according to the coupling model, thus causing less stress on the machine overall structures.
The constant filling Hydraulic Coupling is normally mounted on the shaft of the driven machine or gearbox and driven by the outer wheel (pump wheel).
It is connected to the motor shaft through a connecting coupling (elastomeric elements or metal disc blades) to compensate small mounting misalignments.
It is recommended for soft starts and protecting the drive system from torsional vibrations and overloads, suitable for single or multiple drives in the appropriate power ranges.
With state-of-the-art technology and the implementation of technical improvements in the fields of mechanics and operation, Power Master Hydraulic Couplings (or also known as Hydrocouplings) can be used with electric motors or diesel engines, and have the following main functions:
– Starting and accelerating the motor under minimum or no load conditions.
- Adjustable starting ramp.
– Start up torque limitation.
– Overload protection for motors and machines with almost instant dec in motors start up current.
– Allows the use of low-cost noncomplex electric motors commonly available on the market.
– Avoids oversizing the motor.
– Effective damping of shocks and torsional vibrations.
– Load equalization for multi-motor drives with uniform load distribution.
– Smooth and controlled acceleration of high inertia machines.
– Protection against stalling (mechanical blockage) of the machine.
Power Master has an installed park of more than 200 equipments in Brazil and abroad, with sizes and models ranging from hydraulic diameters from 274mm to 1150mm.
The prefix W (Water) before the PM mark indicates that the working fluid of the Hydraulic Coupling can be either WATER or OIL, therefore it is a flexible Hydrocoupling in terms of working fluid and that it has environmental advantages (there is no contamination of the environment), safety improvement due to lower operating temperature and lower operational cost.
The dimensions, power capacity and connecting couplings remain unchanged, and the user only needs to change the oil/water volumes for each type of fluid to be used and the fusible plug rupture temperature (100°C).
Power Master Hydroflex Couplings stand out from others due to their external BLUE color carried out through special surface treatment (anodizing) to prevent “oxidation” (formation of Al2O3) aluminum oxide crystals) caused by exposure to water. In addition to the protective function, this treatment brings visual benefits to the operator, as it facilitates the identification of the water coupling in the installation.
