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		Feather Key Joints - Course: Techniques of fitting and assembling component parts to produce simple units. Trainees' handbook of lessons (Institut für Berufliche Entwicklung, 19 p.)
			(introduction...)
			Introduction
			Hints on Labour Safety
			1. Purpose of Feather Key Joints
			2. Kinds of Feather Keys and Profile Shafts
			3. Kinds of Feather Key Joints
			4. Stress on the Feather Key Joints
			5. Tools, Devices and Auxiliary Means
			6. Technological Processes for Manufacturing Feather Key Joints and Profile Shaft Joints
			7. Detachment of Feather Key Joints

3. Kinds of Feather Key Joints

Feather key joints are distinguished by the function of the feather key within the joint.

Fitting key joints

They serve for fixing a machine part on a shaft, if the respective part need not be moved on the shaft. The keys are placed into accurately fitting shaft keyways and only transmit the rotary power between shaft and hub.

Figure 7 Fitting key joint

1 fitting key, 2 shaft, 3 hub, 4 keyway of the fitting key in the shaft

Sliding key joints

They serve for fastening machine on parts on a shaft allowing the parts to slide on the shaft in an axial direction, e.g. transmissions. The keys are fixed by countersunk fillister-head screws, so that a displacement of the key in the keyway is prevented.

Figure 8 Sliding key joint

1 sliding key, 2 shaft, 3 hub, 4 keyway of the sliding key in the shaft

Profile shaft joints

- When connecting hubs with circular arc profile shafts or spline shafts the principles of feather key or sliding key joints apply.
- When connecting hubs with serrated shafts, the principle of fitting key joints applies.