Couplings are made to handle diesel vibrations

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 4, 2005

The LV-Torsional coupling is designed and built to offer an inexpensive, economical alternative for the agricultural market and off-highway construction equipment industry.

What's the obvious difference between a diesel engine and electric motor? It isn't the power source as much as the vibration.

California farmers in particular discovered this difference when market conditions forced a switch to diesel engine instead of electric motors, to run the pumps that irrigate fields and orchards.

The farmers rapidly discovered how constant vibrations can damage connected equipment.

A coupling helped dampen the vibrations, but the only style that fit their pumps were designed for marine applications - built for a different industry and priced out of reach for an ordinary agricultural operation.

But price is an issue no more following the introdyction of the LV-Torsional coupling from Lovejoy of Downers Grove, Illinois, designed and built to offer an inexpensive, economical alternative for the agricultural market and off-highway construction equipment industry.

Two different styles are available: the LV-Torsional coupling for U-joint drive systems and LV-C for direct-drive systems.

Agricultural usage would attach this style coupling to diesel engines driving deep well and centrifugal pumps, whereas the construction industry uses this type of coupling on engines that run diesel powered portable compressors.

The Lovejoy Torsional coupling type-LV line power range is from 150 to 625hp at 1800rev/min, with five sizes available.

The LV-C type coupling horsepower ranges from 50 to 425 at 1800 rev/min and is available in six sizes.

Most of the coupling manufacturing and assembly is handled domestically in the USA to ensure quality control.

This style coupling also takes advantage of the strength, durability and economical manufacturing qualities of sintered technology.

Lovejoy owns and operates the most technologically advanced powdered metal processing press in the country.

Jim Mahan, Director of Engineering for Lovejoy, helped create these new couplings.

He notes: "We were able to utilise our new sintered technology to achieve a balance of performance and price".

"We planned the available sizes and horsepower range to cover any potential use or pumping application in these industries".

This style coupling lends automatic torsional tuning to the smaller diesel engine systems.

By providing relief from vibration, the coupling helps extend the life of the machinery connected to the engine and pump, to save on expensive parts and labor due to breakdowns.

"The agricultural market doesn't have a lot of extra money to spend on additional equipment", says Mahan.

"And the construction industry is highly competitive".

"Both require economical parts with a long lifespan".

A typical application where this coupling is already proving its worth is in the almond groves in California.

Almond growers use pumps to flood the ground at night, allowing water to seep into the ground.

Grape orchards and other fruit and vegetable growers use similar irrigation methods and therefore a lot of diesel driven pumps.

In the construction industry, the most common application for the Lovejoy LV-type torsional coupling would be portable compressors on-site that power jack hammers or other equipment.

Interested parties can see the new LV and LV-C torsional couplings at the Lovejoy corner booth S-14016 at Conexpo-Con/G 2005, from 15th to 19th March in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The company will also show the parts at Hannover Messe, between 11th and 15th April in Germany.