What is the purpose of Woodruff key?

A woodruff key is a half‑moon shaped machine key that prevents gears, hubs, or other components from moving independently of a rotating shaft or spindle. They also act as a fail‑safe that protects expensive parts by shearing under excessive loads.

What is the shape of Woodruff key?

semicircular shaped
Woodruff keys are semicircular shaped, such that, when installed, leave a protruding tab. The keyway in the shaft is a semi-circular pocket, the mating part, a longitudinal slot. They are used to improve the concentricity of the shaft and the mating part, which is critical for high speed operation.

How tight should a Woodruff key be?

It is important for key to be somewhat snug and stable in the key seat. If key is not snug/stable then key can easily slide out of key seat due to the curved profile on the bottom.

When would you use a Woodruff key?

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.

What is Kennedy Key?

The Kennedy key consists of two square keys. The hub is bored off the centre and the two keys force the hub and the shaft to a concentric position. Kennedy key is used for heavy duty applications.

What is feather key?

Definition of feather key in machinery. : a sunk key without taper that is permanently fixed in one of the connected pieces and that is a sliding fit in a keyway in the other so as to permit relative longitudinal motion. — called also spline.

How do you measure a Woodruff key?

Imperial woodruff keys are measured by their width and diameter, whereas metric woodruff keys are measured by their width and height.

What is Woodruff key explain its application diagram?

Woodruff key are used for pulleys to shafts and locking gears, they fit into key seat on the shaft which retain the key and are circular pocket and the key fit portion which is exposed fits in a rectangular groove which is known as keyway in the pulley or the gear.

What is saddle key?

Definition of saddle key : a key for securing a member to a machine shaft that fits into a keyway in the secured member and is concave to grip the shaft by friction — compare flat key, sunk key.

What is a woodruff key?

Woodruff key is a flat semi-circular or half-moon-shaped disk with a uniform thickness, which directly fits into the semi-circular recess of the shaft. The semi-circular recess or pocket is known as the woodruff keyway. Semi-circular pocket in the shaft directly cut by plunge cutter with woodruff key cutter.

What is the size of the ANSI woodruff key size table?

ANSI Standard Woodruff Key Size Table Chart ANSI B17.2-1967 (R1998) – Engineers Edge Key Identifier Nominal Size W X B Length F + .000 -.010 Height Height C D D D D Max. Min. Max. Min. Min. 202 1/16 × 1⁄4 0.248 0.109 0.104 202.5 1/16 × 5⁄16 0.311 0.140 0.135

What is the difference between Full Radius and flat bottom Woodruff keys?

Full radius woodruff keys require precision of the seat groove as contact can occur between the woodruff key and the bottom of the seat causing interference and the key to protrude from the groove higher than desired. Flat bottom woodruff keys have the same profile as standard woodruff keys, however, the bottom of the key has been shaved flat.

Why do Woodruff keys slip out of the groove?

During installation, woodruff keys will sometimes slip out of their groove as the mating component is pressed on. This can make woodruff keys difficult to install. To keep a woodruff key in place while installing a mating component, ensure that it is situated tightly in the key seat.