Application Analysis of a Torque Limiting Device

Many mobile industrial grinding machines utilize high inertia mechanisms to process the material they are grinding. The drive train of this type of equipment is typically expensive and requires some protection from torsional shock loads in order to eliminate costly equipment failures and down time. The torsional protection is typically provided by a device called a torque limiter. There are a variety of types of torque limiters available and the correct selection of the proper torque limiting device will be critical to achieve satisfactory life and performance of the drive train. There are many factors to consider in selecting the right device for the application, including but not limited to: horsepower to be transmitted, maximum torque to be transmitted, operating environment, frequency of torsional spikes, cost and size. Each type of torque limiter has its own advantages and disadvantages. This paper discusses the selection and application of a torque limiter currently used in an industrial tub grinder.