MagnaGuard Delay Couplings - Fluid Shaft Coupling

The MagnaGuard Delay Coupling offers what flexible shaft couplings cannot, the MagnaDrive MGD allows for a cushioned start and stop. Flexible shaft coupling are unable to do this because they do not transfer torque through an air gap like the MGD does. A fluid drive coupling can allow a smooth start as well but it has some problems that need to be taken into consideration. Fluid couplings are complicated and have a lot of parts that could cause the coupling to fail. Fluid shaft and drive couplings also require oil that can spill out in the case of a coupling failure. This oil is also a hazardous material that has to be disposed of properly.

MagnaDrive magnetic couplings are not plagued by these problems and these revolutionary magnetic shaft couplings are a green technology. They produce no hazardous waste like fluid drive couplings or hydraulic couplings do and MagnaDrive couplings help save money and increase equipment life.

The MGD uses the same "disconnected" technology as the FGC and has all of the same benefits, but it has some distinct key advantages. The air gap increases from 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch during start up which reduces the torque transferred by about 50% for a smooth cushioned start. This reduction in initial torque required to start the load increases the life of the entire system. This is ideal for applications that are subject to higher starting inertia/torque.

A: Magnetic couplings save money because they save your equipment in a way that no fluid coupling or flexible coupling can. Only MagnaDrive couplings are transferring torque with no physical connection between the motor and the load. Even though fluid drive couplings and flexible couplings can provide some protection there is still a physical connection so vibration and misalignment issues are still being transmitted through the coupling. In addition, the smooth start that the MGD provides reduces the high peak of energy usage required at start up and this translates into savings.

A: MagnaDrive engineers have come up with an ingenious and invaluable solution for couplings that require a soft start. The air gap increases from 1/8" to 3/16" during start up. This change in the gap reduces the magnetic field in the coupling which results in a 50%
drop in torque transferred.

A: No. The MGD magnetic coupling utilizes permanent magnets and copper which means there is no need for any electrical input. The interaction of these two materials creates a truly "flexible coupling" because there is no physical connection. Even the smooth start works based on a magnetic principle. This is revolutionary and is years ahead of fluid couplings, hydraulic couplings, and flexible couplings.

A: Only if they are sized or installed incorrectly, which we will not do. If the coupling is sized incorrectly then we may be generating too much heat and we could cook our magnets which would demagnetize them. The other way is if we have a load seizure. The magnet rotor on the load shaft will stop but the copper rotor on the motor shaft will continue to spin and transfer torque which will overheat the magnets. This is a very simple and inexpensive fix. We will just install a speed sensor on the load shaft that will tell the motor to shut down. In the case of frequent load seizures, we recommend the MagnaGuard Torque Limiting Coupling which will de-couple itself and eliminates the need for a speed sensor on the load shaft. The magnets have a half-life of 2200 years so rest assured that you can rely on MagnaDrive couplings and Adjustable Speed Drives for your critcial process. Fluid couplings and flexible couplings will wear our and require maintenance or replacement.

A: Very little. Actually the associated motor gives off more EMI than the magnetic coupling because the magnetic field is contained inside of the coupling. We describe this as a shoe lace effect, the magnetic field goes from the magnet rotor to the copper rotor and back. The United States Navy has installed these magnetic couplings on their battleships and have absolutely no issues with Electromagnetic Interference.