Keys

• A key is the piece inserted in an axial direction between a shaft

and hub of the mounted machine element such as pulley or gear
etc.,
• to prevent relative rotation….
may allow sliding movement along the shaft if required.
• Keys are temporary fastening and are always made of mild
steel because they are subjected to shearing and compressive
stresses caused by the torque they transmit.
• a keyway is the groove cut in the shaft or hub to accommodate
a key. Key ways can be milled horizontally or vertically .
Keyways milled
 Classification of keys
• Saddle keys
» Hollow saddle key
» Flat saddle key
• Sunk keys
» Taper sunk keys
» Parallel sunk keys
» Feather keys
– Woodruff key (adjustable key)
• Round keys
» Parallel pin
» Taper pin
 –this key has curved underside so that it can be

Hollow saddle key placed on the curved surface of the shaft. The
keyway is cut in the mating piece (hub) only.

Saddle key are taper keys and are sunk into the hub only
Taper prevents axial movement along the shaft

Saddle key is suitable for light duty,

since they rely on a friction drive
alone and are liable to slip on the
shaft under load
 Flat saddle key
Flat surface on
the shaft

Let D = diameter of the shaft

Width of the key, W = D/4
Nominal thickness at large end
, T = W/3 = D/12
Length of the key , L = D to
1.5D
holding force is comparative large Taper on the top surface =
1:100
than the hollow saddle key
 Sunk keys
• Sunk keys are sunk in the shaft and the hub. These keys
are suitable for heavy duty since they rely on positive
drive.
– Taper sunk keys:
• This is the standard form of the key and may be either of
rectangular or square cross-section. The key is sunk in the
shaft to a depth of half its nominal thickness when measured
at the side.
» Rectangular cross-section
let D = diameter of the shaft
width of the key W = D/4
nominal thickness T = (2/3)W =
(1/6)D
» Square cross-section:
T=W
Sunk taper key
 Parallel sunk key

It is uniform in width and

thickness throughout.

It is thus taper less and is used

where the pulley or other
mating piece is required to slide
along the shaft.

It may be rectangular or square

cross-section and their ends
may be squared or rounded.
 Feather keys
It is a key attached to one member of a pair
It is a particular kind of parallel key that permits axial moment
A feather key is secured either to the shaft or to the hub, the key
being a sliding fit in the keyway of the machine element on
which it moves.

Double Headed Peg Key

Key
 Woodruff keys
It is an adjustable sunk key in the form
of a semi-circular disc of uniform
thickness.

The key fits into a semi-circular

keyway in the shaft and the top of
the key fits into a plain rectangular
key way in the hub of the wheel.

Since the key and the key seat bear the

same radius , it has the advantage of
adjusting itself to any taper of the
slot of the hub or boss of wheel

Used in feed gear box of lathe, other

machine tools and in automobiles
Round key or Pin Key:
 Spline shaft and hub
• A spline shaft is used when the hub is
required to slide along the shaft. These
shafts are used mostly for sliding gear
application as in automotive gear box
and propeller shaft of aircraft.
• A spline shaft in which are cut
equiangular longitudinal groove, the
metal between these groove forming
splines or feathers of uniform depth.
• By this means the power transmitted is
equally divided amongst the number of
keys giving great strength and security
against total failure than by using a
single key.
 Serrated shafts
• A spine shaft - disadvantage of
reduced strength
• A serrated shaft gives maximum
strength for a given weight of
material.
• number of corresponding
grooves are cut in the shaft and
mating piece, the two being
tightly pressed, one over the
other
• the bottom of the serrations and
the crests of the teeth are flat.
• these are used in aircraft
assemblies
Joints::: Knuckle joint
Two or more rods subjected to
tensile and compressive forces are
fastened together

Their axes are not in

alignments but meet in a point

The joint allows a

small angular moment
of one rod relative to
another

It can be easily
connected and
disconnected

Applications: Elevator chains, valve rods, etc

Knuckle joint
Knuckle joint
 Cotter joint
Cotter joints with
socket and spigot
ends
for circular bars

Slots are wider than the cotter.

Cotter pulls the rod and socket tightly together
Clearance: must be provided for adjustment.(2 to 3 mm)
Proportions
cotter thickness = (1/3)diameter Taper:
of rod 1 in 30
cotter width = rod diameter
 Cotter joint

How do they differ from keyed joints ??

 Sleeve and cotter joint
For circular rods

The enlarged ends of the rods butt against each other with a common sleeve over them
•The rod ends are enlarged to take care of the weakening effect caused by slots
Gib and cotter joint for rectangular rods
One bar end is made in the form of a strap

A Gib is used along with the cotter.

Gib is like a cotter but with two gib

heads at its ends .

The thickness of the gib and

cotter are same
Gib and cotter joint or rectangular rods