Industrial machines are expensive, not just to buy but also to install and maintain. So, what if you were to watch the expensive machinery suddenly crash and be reduced to nothing? This is a risk that always looms in many industries, but the good thing is that there are a number of things that you can do, such as the use of automation and torque limiters. Keep reading as we look at how torque limiters work and generate a list of equipment that requires their application.

How Do Torque Limiters Work?

These are mechanical devices created to help protect machinery from harm that results from torque overload. They work through uncoupling or slipping designs that help to completely or partially separate the driven shaft from the driving shaft. Torque limiters may be designed as a hub for sheave/ sprocket or simply shaft coupling, and are commonly referred to as overload clutches.

Equipment that Require the Use of Torque Limiters

Overload clutches are available in different categories and sizes, and can be used on a wide range of equipment. So, if you have devices and machinery that use rotary motion, the chances are that they need torque limiters. Here are some of the machines:

• Industrial Pumps

Industrial pumps are used to either push water or production materials from one point to another. Most of them are run by electric motors and work within a specific range of torque and speed. If their torque limits are exceeded, there is a risk of some parts getting damaged, requiring expensive repairs. This is why you need to use torque limiters. To reduce the risk of damage when using industrial pumps, make sure to select the one that matches your facility's needs and couple it with the right motor. 

• Conveyor Belt System

Conveyor belt are used to move either raw materials or finished products from one point to another. They make it easy to rapidly move materials, which could otherwise have required a lot of time and human labor. For example, soft drink processing firms use conveyor systems to move bottles for packaging. If the torque is exceeded, there is a risk of the entire conveyor system, from the belts to the chains and rollers, getting damaged. So, protect them with torque limiters. 

• Milling Machines

Milling machines use rotary cutters to cut or remove materials by advancing cutters towards the workpieces. Exceeding the torque limits is likely to damage not just the machining tool but also your workpiece. Like pumps or conveyor systems, you should protect them with ball dent torque limiters or paw & spring torque limiters. 

• Single Man Lifts

Forklifts are the most preferred material handling machines, especially when dealing with heavy materials set on pallets. However, manlifts are required to lift technicians to reach elevated points for specific actions, such as repairs. When fitted with parts that use motors and shafts, make sure they are protected with appropriate torque limiters.

Other industrial equipment that requires the use of torque limiters for optimal performance and safety include bunchers, compactors, speed reducers, and loaders. If the motor you have delivers a lot of torque levels, make sure to also pair the equipment with speed reducers. Remember that just like other industrial tools in your facility, torque reducers require good maintenance for optimal performance.