Torque Limiters (Safety Couplings)
ENEMAC safety couplings, also known as torque limiters, are mechanical components that actively protect drives from overload. They prevent malfunctions—such as blockages or foreign objects—from causing damage to gearboxes, motors, or downstream drive components. At the same time, they ensure backlash-free torque transmission, compensate for misalignment, and, depending on the coupling type, can also dampen vibrations.
Today's automated production lines must operate continuously with maximum process stability. Every unplanned downtime causes costs – especially in industries with high plant availability and cycle-critical processes. Safety couplings separate the drive and output sides within milliseconds when a predefined torque is exceeded. To do this, a spring presses balls into calottes in a form-fitting manner. If the set limit torque is exceeded, the balls overcome the spring force and the connection is released. Power transmission stops immediately and rotating masses run freely. Once the fault has been rectified, the elements automatically re-engage – with ENEMAC, this is achieved with precise 360° synchronous engagement. The purely mechanical mode of operation ensures maximum operational reliability, even in the event of power failures or control errors and effectively protects drives and gearboxes from consequential damage.
ENEMAC safety couplings for direct or indirect drives reliably secure torques from 0.3 Nm to 23,000 Nm and can be used at temperatures ranging from a minimum of -30 °C to a maximum of 200 °C. The shaft connection is made by means of clamping hubs, keyways, or conical bushings.
Safety couplings protect drives in filling and packaging systems in the food and beverage industry, in general mechanical and plant engineering, in special machine construction, in test benches, and in the process industry.
for indirect drives
ENEMAC safety couplings for indirect drives (motor and output elements are not on a common axis) transmit torque via belts, gears, or chains, depending on requirements and size. They protect drives, e.g., in packaging and filling systems and other machine components, from damage in the event of sudden overload by reliably and purely mechanically separating the drive and output shafts from each other within a few milliseconds.
ENEMAC torque limiters are characterized by backlash-free, precise torque transmission from 0.3 Nm to 23,000 Nm, maximum power density, compact dimensions, continuously adjustable release torques, automatic re-engagement through 360° synchronous locking, and a large selection of types and sizes.
In addition to the standard series, this extends in particular to the area of corrosion-protected safety couplings. Using special hardening processes, the main components of the torque limiters are nitrocarburized or gas nitrided and then oxidized. The disc springs used are coated and the special ball bearings are made of stainless steel. This makes these coupling types suitable for many outdoor applications and wherever moisture could be a problem. Examples include weather-exposed systems such as shipbuilding, fishing equipment, pumps, or filling systems in the beverage industry and brewing technology.
If the highest demands are placed on the material properties of the drive elements, ENEMAC stainless steel couplings are used, which are manufactured from A2 and A4 steels to meet the highest quality standards.
for direct drives
ENEMAC safety couplings for direct drives (motor and output shaft are on the same axis) transfer the motor torque directly to the output element. At the same time, they protect complex and expensive systems from overload in the event of a malfunction, thus preventing costly repairs and downtime.
They feature continuously adjustable release torques, automatic re-engagement, and 360° synchronous locking, and are available in a wide range of types and sizes. They are primarily used in mechanical and plant engineering, as well as in test benches.
ENEMAC safety couplings for direct drives consist of a safety component with a release mechanism and a compensating element, metal bellows coupling, or elastomer coupling, which compensates for misalignment between the drive and output shafts. The available torque range extends from 0.3 Nm to 23,000 Nm. Safety couplings with metal bellows compensate for axial, radial, and angular misalignment, while safety couplings with elastomer attachments have an electrically insulating and vibration-damping effect.
For more demanding environments, ENEMAC also offers many safety couplings in a corrosion-protected version. The main components of the torque limiters are nitrocarburized or gas nitrided using special hardening processes and then oxidized. The disc springs used are coated and the special ball bearings are made of stainless steel. This makes these coupling types suitable for many outdoor applications and wherever moisture could be a problem.