Drive Shafts and Couplings

Over time, rubber bushings deteriorate and metal Drive Shafts can become warped with the exposure to moisture and the heavy weight of the Drive Shaft. DRB offers Composite Drive Shafts as a replacement for your cooling tower. Every Drive Shafts is specifically manufactured and engineered for the specific application to achieve optimum performance. Our Composite Drive Shafts will accommodate spans ranging from two feet in small towers to over twenty feet in large field-erected towers.

They are light weight and corrosion resistant unlike steel Drive Shafts. This allows for long spans which eliminate the requirement for high maintenance. The Composite Drive Shafts also have a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. Our Drive Shafts use 316 stainless steel for flange hubs, bushings, and hardware. Fewer parts at each flex disc connection makes for easier installation. Each Drive Shaft is tested prior to shipment to 4 times continuous operating torque and are dynamically balanced to AGMA 9000-C90, Class 9 specifications.

Couplings, like Drive Shafts, can become warped and cause misalignment. DRB carries composite Couplings that reduce vibration and extend bearing life with an up to 80% reduction in overhung bearing loads and almost twice the critical speed of metals. The composite material weighs less than a quarter of a comparable steel spacer. Most assemblies weigh less than 100 lbs, but the composite material has lower density and higher specific stiffness than steel, meaning easier installation, reduced maintenance requirements, and increased reliability.

Inspection Tips

Use an approved method, like an optical device or dial indicator, to check the alignment of your Drive Shafts and Couplings. Look for signs of corrosion or other damage on the tube, especially near welding.