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Stromag Vector® Coupling for Tugboat Winch
One of the World’s largest diesel engine distributors, located in Canada, required a
reliable coupling for use on a commercial tugboat’s hydraulic towing winch system.
The coupling connects the winch’s hydraulic pump to the front of one of the tug’s twin
1500 HP diesel propulsion engines that transmit 450 HP to the pump. The winch
system utilizes heavy-duty synthetic nylon rope, up to 3 in. diameter, to tow massive
cargo vessels through harbor channels as they move in and out of port.
The coupling needed to accommodate a large amount of radial and axial
misalignment due to the sway of the resilient mounted engine as the tug moves
through the current and waves.
After a careful review of the challenging application requirements, Stromag engineers
recommended the use of a Stromag Vector® 20 coupling, which has a maximum
torque rating of 14,603 ft.lbs. (19,800 Nm) and an extremely high misalignment
capacity.
The highly flexible Vector coupling utilizes Stromag’s GE elastic element concept
with high tensile strength fabric embedded into the rubber. This design has years of
proven performance in diverse applications worldwide. The coupling provides zero
backlash, flywheel-to-shaft and shaft-to-shaft connections. The radial arrangement
of the coupling’s flexible element within a compact design allows for installation and
removal without the need to move the drive units.
Highlights
- Compact flexible
coupling design
- Special rubber-fabric
element enhances
service life
- Low reactive forces
- Zero backlash
- Easy to install
- Accommodates large
shaft displacements in
all directions