Seven solutions for 360-degree offset compensation

Helical couplings Seven solutions for 360-degree offset compensation

2025-04-01 From Mirco von Stein, Freelance Technical Journalist, Darmstadt | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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Ringspann GmbH

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Ringspann now offers helical couplings in seven variants for play-free and angle-synchronous connection of input and output shafts.

Ringspann manufactures this helical coupling as a one-piece solution from stainless steel or aluminum. Helically running grooves—the helices—give the shaft connection flexible areas with precisely calculable elasticity.(Image: Ringspann) — Ringspann manufactures this helical coupling as a one-piece solution from stainless steel or aluminum. Helically running grooves—the helices—give the shaft connection flexible areas with precisely calculable elasticity.
(Image: Ringspann)

Characteristic of the design of helical couplings is a cylindrical base body in which one or more helical grooves run. Their spiral shape gives this connecting element one or more areas with a precisely calculable degree of elasticity. Typical for Ringspann's helical couplings is also that they are machine elements that—apart from their set screws—are realized as a one-piece solution. This simplifies their assembly and allows the integration of multiple properties. "Our helical couplings have no additional moving parts, are wear-free, and boast high dynamic stability. Even with large angular, lateral, radial, and axial offsets between the shafts, they ensure vibration-free, low-stress, and smooth running that significantly relieves all bearings in the constructive periphery," explains account manager Gerd Heumann.

Variants and materials

Within a few weeks and immediately after their market launch, the company expanded its selection of helical couplings to seven variants. They are all now available for direct order in the company's webshop. Basically, there are versions made of stainless steel and aluminum for attachment with set screws or clamping hubs. They differ in the number of circumferential grooves—the helices—and their grouping. This results in a selection of single-helix, double-helix, and spring-web variants in various sizes with different bore diameters.

Gallery

Gerd Heumann, Account Manager at Ringspann: "Our helical couplings are wear-free and allow the realization of vibration-free, smooth-running shaft connections with low bearing loads even with large angular, parallel, radial and axial misalignments."(Image: Ringspann)

Helical coupling or precision spring? Ringspann also develops and manufactures customized shaft connections.(Image: Ringspann)

The helical couplings are available in the company's online store in seven standard types with one helix, two helices, and in a spring-link variant.(Image: Ringspann)

Beyond these standard solutions, the company also develops and manufactures user-specific helical couplings. This offer is currently utilized primarily by designers in medical and food technology. "Among other things, we have already realized miniature couplings for micro-apparatus construction or helical couplings with integrated pinions for direct connection to adjustment units and positioning systems in the field of special solutions," reports Heumann.

Torques and speeds

Depending on the design, the helical couplings cover different application areas. For example, the single-helix couplings made of aluminum are suitable for transmitting torques up to 3.6 ft-lb, while the steel counterpart transmits torques of up to 6.6 ft-lb. Their main area of use is the connection of shafts rotating at up to 10,000 RPM.

Higher torque capacities of up to 8.9 ft-lb (aluminum) and 17.3 ft-lb (steel) are offered by the double-helix couplings. They are primarily used for slow-running shafts with speeds of up to 3,600 rpm, which are characteristic of drive systems in general machinery and apparatus engineering. The spring-web version, on the other hand, is only available in aluminum; it is suitable for speeds of up to 10,000 rpm and torques of up to .1.5 ft-lb

In the case of special solutions, it is usually the specific requirements of the users that determine the exact design and configuration of the helical couplings. "This applies to both the choice of connections and the specification of materials. We offer a lot of freedom here; the only basic requirement is that the material can be machined with reasonable effort," says Heumann.

Offsets and misalignments

With a sufficiently long helix, the helical coupling can even compensate for a three-dimensional angular misalignment where the drive shafts do not share a common plane.(Image: Ringspann) — With a sufficiently long helix, the helical coupling can even compensate for a three-dimensional angular misalignment where the drive shafts do not share a common plane.
(Image: Ringspann)

Axial angular offsets or displacements are by no means rare in the drive systems of machinery and plant engineering. The helical coupling can compensate for them by minimizing its inner webs and maximizing its outer webs. As long as there is sufficient distance between the turns of the helical groove, axial displacements of up to 20 degrees or more can be compensated in this way.

Even higher demands are placed on such a coupling by the stresses caused by radial displacements. Heumann explains, "If the shaft connection is not able to compensate for radial displacement, the resulting transverse forces can cause significant damage to the bearings. The functional principle of our helical couplings counteracts this. Our standard solutions already allow deviations of up to ± 0.031 in, and for custom special solutions, the compensation capacity can be even higher." If the helix is sufficiently long, a helical coupling from this manufacturer can compensate for a three-dimensional angular displacement where the drive shafts do not share a common plane.

Typical applications for the company's helical couplings include the mounting of encoders, tachogenerators or spindle drives, as well as the connection of input and output shafts of servo and stepper motors in equipment manufacturing, positioning technology, automation, and general mechanical and plant engineering.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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Shaft couplings for many cases

The helical couplings complement the extensive shaft coupling range of the German company. For industrial drive technology, there are also flange and compensation couplings, cone clamping couplings and gear couplings, steel band couplings and pin couplings, as well as jaw couplings and disc couplings.

"Our current portfolio covers almost all technically relevant designs and offers numerous solutions for compensating axial, radial, and angular misalignments for nominal torques from 1.5 ft-lb to 957,200 ft-lb," shares Account Manager Gerd Heumann. (dm)