Koppellbegrenzers

Koppellbegrenzers, a German term often translated as "coupling limiters" or "torque limiters," are safety devices designed to protect machinery from damage caused by overloads or jamming. They function by intentionally creating a weak point in a power transmission system, typically a drivetrain, that will intentionally fail or slip when a predetermined torque limit is exceeded. This prevents the transmission of excessive force to more critical and expensive components such as gearboxes, motors, or shafts.

There are several common types of koppellbegrenzers. Shear pins, for instance, are simple devices where a pin is designed to break when the torque exceeds a certain level. Once the shear pin breaks, the connection between the driving and driven components is interrupted. Another type is the slip clutch, which allows the connected components to rotate at different speeds when a certain torque is reached, effectively limiting the transmitted torque without causing a catastrophic failure. Friction clutches and magnetic particle clutches are examples of slip clutch mechanisms. Some more advanced designs incorporate features that automatically reset after an overload, while others require manual intervention to replace a broken component or reset the clutch.

The primary benefit of using koppellbegrenzers is the prevention of costly damage and downtime. By absorbing or interrupting excessive torque, they safeguard expensive machinery from catastrophic failure. They are commonly found in a wide range of industrial applications, including conveyor systems, agricultural machinery, printing presses, and robotic arms, wherever the risk of overload or jamming exists. The selection of an appropriate koppellbegrenzer depends on factors such as the required torque limit, operating speed, environmental conditions, and the need for automatic resetting.