Coupling

In an industrial power transmission system, a coupling is a mechanical device used to connect two rotating shafts, such as a motor shaft and a gearbox input shaft, to transmit torque. In relation to industrial brakes, the coupling (or the shaft immediately adjacent to it) is a strategic installation point. A brake disc or drum is often mounted directly onto one of the coupling hubs. This configuration allows the brake to be positioned on either the high-speed (motor side) or low-speed (load side) of a gearbox. Placing the brake at the coupling on the high-torque, low-speed side ensures it acts directly on the load, providing fail-safe holding and precise stopping while being isolated from any potential drivetrain failure upstream (e.g., within the gearbox). Specialized “brake couplings” are also available, which integrate the coupling and the brake hub into a single, compact component to simplify design and assembly.