MIET 2136 Key, Spline, Pin and Set Screw Problems

Q1. Standard key design

a). According to SAA HB6, what are the standard cross sectional dimensions of a
parallel metric key suitable for a 75 mm diameter shaft?
b). A gear is mounted on a shaft of 75 mm diameter. The gear is acted on by a
tangential force of 12,367 Newton at a radius of 60.6 mm. Determine the
minimum length of standard parallel key that can carry the load with a factor of
safety of 2.6 against yielding in shear and 2.0 against yielding in compression.
The steel from which the key is made is of designation A151 1020 cold draw (Syt
= 352 MPa) and the steel from which the gear and shaft are made has an ultimate
tensile strength of 500 MPa and a yield strength 65% of this.
[Ans. a). 20 mm * 12 mm, b) 20.5 mm is the minimum length of key required for
strength. However it is impractically short. Normal practice for parallel keys is that
they extend over all, or a substantial part of the hub and the hub is usually greater
than one shaft diameter in length]
Q2. Standard spline design
A spur gear has to deliver 110 horse power (82.06 kW) to its shaft at a rotational
speed of 1700 rpm. The bore of the spur gear is 62 mm and the hub length is 85
mm. Determine if this hub length is adequate to allow use of a standard Medium
series straight sided spline in a situation where easy axial movement of the gear
(whilst transmitting torque) is required. Refer to page 29 of HB6 for dimensions
of straight sided splines. The splines will be cut into the hub of the gear and will
have a minor diameter equal to the originalbore of the gear.
[Ans. 49 mm length is just adequate. 85 mm is quite ok]
Q3. Standard pin design
A gear receives 110 horse power (82.06 kW) from a shaft at a rotational speed of
1700 rpm. The bore of the gear hub is 62 mm, the outside diameter of the hub is
150 mm. The gear and shaft are pinned together by a solid cylindrical pin
passing right through the center of the shaft. The pin is to be made of
A151 1020CD steel with the following properties: Ultimate tensile strength
Sut = 420 MPa, Ultimate shear strength = Sut, Tensile Yield strength
Syt = 352 MPa and yield strength in shear = Syt (as per theory of failure of
Tresca).
a). Determine the diameter of the pin such that it will shear off if an overload
causes the instantaneous power to reach 220 h.p. (in other words, the factor of
safety against ultimate shear failure is 2 when transmitting the steady power of
110 h.p.)
b). What is the factor of safety against yielding in shear when transmitting
110 h.p. with the diameter of pin found in a)?

[Ans. a) 7.75 mm b) 1.12][Note: if the hub was thin in the radial direction, one
would also have to check for crushing of the pin or hub. In question 3 however, the
hub thickness in the radial direction is 44 mm which is much greater than the pin
diameter so the bearing area is much greater than the area sustaining shear, so
shear will be the concern, not crushing.]
Q4. Standard screw design
A pulley is to be fitted to a 16 mm diameter shaft which resolves at 200 rpm. The
power to be transmitted is small, namely 80 W. Rather than going to the expense
of cutting keyways, it is hoped that a hardened set screw, screwed through the
hub and pressing onto the shaft will be sufficient to transmit the power. Check
the adequacy of a set screw whose diameter has been determined using the
formula:
Set screw diameter = shaft diameter + 3 (all dimensions in mm)
[Ans. just ok, can safely transmit about 90 W]