API STD 671:2007 (R2010)

This International Standard specifies the requirements for couplings for the transmission of power between the rotating shafts of two machines in special-purpose applications in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Such applications are typically in large and/or high speed machines, in services that can be required to operate continuously for extended periods, are often unspared and are critical to the continued operation of the installation. By agreement, it can be used for other applications or services. Couplings covered by this International Standard are designed to accommodate parallel (or lateral) offset, angular misalignment and axial displacement of the shafts without imposing unacceptable mechanical loading on the coupled machines. It is applicable to gear, metallic flexible element, quill shaft and torsionally resilient type couplings. Torsional damping and resilient type couplings are detailed in Annex A; gear-type couplings are detailed in Annex B and quill shaft style couplings are detailed in Annex C. This International Standard covers the design, materials of construction, manufacturing quality, inspection and testing of special-purpose couplings. This International Standard does not define criteria for the selection of coupling types for specific applications. This International Standard is not applicable to other types of couplings, such as clutch, hydraulic, eddy-current, rigid, radial spline, chain and bellows types.