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Types of Keys and Their Applications: What Is A Key?

This document discusses different types of machine keys and their applications. It describes sunk keys like rectangular, square, parallel, gib headed and feather sunk keys. It also covers saddle keys, tangent/Kennedy keys, round/circular keys, and splines. Sunk keys are used on shafts up to 500mm diameter and can transmit greater torque. Gib headed sunk keys are tapered and notched to hold pulleys and gears tightly. Woodruff keys are used to lock gears and pulleys to shafts. Spline keys are used where larger torque needs to be transmitted than the shaft size, such as in automobile transmissions.

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114 Bhujbal Pranali Kisan
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740 views6 pages

Types of Keys and Their Applications: What Is A Key?

This document discusses different types of machine keys and their applications. It describes sunk keys like rectangular, square, parallel, gib headed and feather sunk keys. It also covers saddle keys, tangent/Kennedy keys, round/circular keys, and splines. Sunk keys are used on shafts up to 500mm diameter and can transmit greater torque. Gib headed sunk keys are tapered and notched to hold pulleys and gears tightly. Woodruff keys are used to lock gears and pulleys to shafts. Spline keys are used where larger torque needs to be transmitted than the shaft size, such as in automobile transmissions.

Uploaded by

114 Bhujbal Pranali Kisan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Pranali Kisan Bhujbal

Roll no:3311
Batch: C1

Types of keys and their applications

What is a Key?

As we said above Key is a part of a machine or equipment where it is used to connect the rotating
machine element(Hub/Pulley) to the shaft and enables the torque transmission.

Based on the shape and key accommodation, following are the different types of keys in machine
design.

1. Sunk Keys
2. Saddle Keys
3. Tangent Keys
4. Round Keys
5. Splines
1. Sunk Keys
There are different varieties in the sunk key itself.

• Rectangular Sunk key


• Square Sunk Key
• Parallel Sunk Key
• Gib Headed Sunk Key
• Feather Sunk Key

Rectangular keys
These are used on shafts up to about 500 mm or 20″ in diameter. The extra key width allows it to
transmit greater torque without increasing the depth. An increase in depth means a weaker shaft
due to a reduction in effective shaft cross-sectional area.

Square keys
They can be used for larger shafts when deeper key depth is desirable compared to rectangular
keys. An increase in depth means a weaker shaft due to the reduction in effective shaft cross-
sectional area.
Parallel sunk keys
Parallel keys are commonly used in mechanical and automotive engineering because of their
inefficiency, availability, and ease of installation.
They are mostly used to transmit only unidirectional torques subjected to lighter initial loads, or
in applications that require periodic clearance or sliding of the hub, as the drive component may
become free due to multi-axial torches, While the major loosens and gets trapped inside. Machine,
the reason for failure.

Gib head sunk keys


Gib keys, or gib head keys, are tapered and notched machine keys that are used on power
transmission keyed shafts to hold pulleys and gears tightly on the shaft. The head of the key serves
as a concussion point for hammering without damage to the shaft of the key.

Feather keys
They serve for fixing a machine part on a shaft, if the respective part need not be moved on the
shaft. The keys are placed into accurately fitting shaft keyways and only transmit the rotary power
between shaft and hub.
Woodruff keys
Woodruff Keys are used for locking gears and pulleys to shafts. On the shaft, they fit into a
keyseat, which is a circular pocket that retains the key. An exposed portion of the key fits into a
rectangular groove, often called the keyway, in the gear or pulley. Because the keyseat is circular,
the key will self-adjust to angled spines

2. Saddle keys
Saddle keys can be subdivided into Flat saddle and Hollow saddle keys and are only suitable for
light loads to avoid slipping along the shaft.
flat saddle key
It is used for comparatively light loads.

Hallow saddle Key


Hallow saddle keys hold on by friction ,therefore these are used for light loads.

3.Tangent Keys/ Kennedy keys


These are used in heavy-duty shafts.
4. Round / Circular Keys
They have the advantage that after assembling the mating parts their key-drills can be performed
again. Round keys are generally considered best suited for low power drives.

5.Splines Keys
These are used in the special applications like where we have to transmit the torque larger in
portion than the shaft size. you can see these spline shafts in an automobile transmission, sliding
gear transmissions.

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