The Punk® Gim-Ball Family
The Punk® Gim-Ball Family utilises axles in each variant, to achieve higher misalignments and speeds than the Punk® Prime, with a modest reduction in torque density.
Comparable to a universal joint but with significantly lower Distance Between Shaft Ends (DBSE), the variants can accommodate large shaft misalignments over a range of shaft sizes. All can be concentrically supported and sealed, and all standard shaft interfaces can be accommodated.
Ideal Applications
- Lower torque density
- Higher misalignments
- Higher speeds
Torque Path
- Torque is carried by the axles bearing against the axle bores
- Tangential contact loads minimise both bearing pressures and bursting forces
- Surface velocities are low as the bearing surface is close to the rotation axis. This provides excellent high-speed and high-misalignment characteristics
Radial Load Path
- Radial load is carried by contact between the spherical nested surfaces
- Small clearances on the axles protect them from radial load
- The load capability is similar to the equivalent spherical bearing
Axial Load Path
- Axial load is carried by contact between the nested spherical surfaces
- The load capability will be similar to the equivalent spherical bearing
The Punk® Gim-Ball complements the capabilities of the Punk® Prime by catering for high misalignment angles (up to 15°) and higher speeds with a modest reduction in torque capacity. It also provides an axial load capability that exceeds that of the Punk® Prime.
The Punk® Gim-Ball benefits from a high degree of damage tolerance, lowering the risk of unscheduled maintenance. The Gim-Ball will even continue to operate with one axle completely failed.
The PUNK® GIM-BALL EXTENDED
The Punk® Gim-Ball Extended is a direct replacement for the universal joint, with significantly lower Distance Between Shaft Ends (DBSE).
It features an integral hub extension on the outer ring, which can house a range of shaft interface types and sizes. For many applications the input and output interfaces would be the same (e.g. keys), to couple shafts of similar dimensions.
- Misalignment to approximately 15°
- Our seal-cap design provides a robust and effective seal against both ingress and egress up to 5° misalignment. Alternative sealing solutions can achieve 15°misalignment
- All standard shaft interfaces can be accommodated; including key, spline, flange, tapered lock and clamp types
- Can be concentrically supported, producing a multi-functional coupling and support bearing
The PUNK® GIM-BALL DOUBLE SERIES
he Punk® Gim-Ball Double Series is our equivalent of the double Cardan shaft. Two Punk® Gim-Balls are housed in a sleeve, creating a coupling that caters for both angular and parallel misalignments.
The shaft interfaces are internalised giving much shorter Distance Between Shaft Ends (DBSE) than achievable with an equivalent Cardan shaft, thereby reducing the footprint of your machinery.
- The outer rings can be integral with, or mechanically fastened to, the sleeve
- Alternative designs connect the inner rings together with a small diameter solid shaft
- The sleeves and shafts can be continuous or flanged
- The sleeves and shafts can be floating or fixed (axially)
- Large angular and parallel misalignment capability
- Our seal-cap design provides a robust and effective seal against both ingress and egress up to 5° misalignment. Alternative sealing solutions can achieve 15°misalignment
- All standard shaft interfaces can be accommodated; including key, spline, flange, tapered lock and clamp types
- Can be concentrically supported, producing a multi-functional coupling and support bearing