Manufacturer News: Baldor-Dodge Raptor Couplings

After years on the design table, the Baldor-Dodge Raptor Coupling has arrived on the scene to eliminate facility owner and maintenance team concerns about coupling maintenance and reliability. Have you seen anything like this on the market?

So, why does anyone need one of these new couplings? Let’s go through a few reasons to see if they make sense.

Performance

The folks testing the new coupling put it into some rigorous conditions. Under simulated misalignment conditions, tests showed that the Raptor lasted six times longer than the closest competitor. Six times. That’s significant. These results were based on accelerated life testing at 1.5x catalog torque, while subject to 4° angular misalignment and 3/16” parallel misalignment.  The Raptor has also been certified by a third party with an independent lab test. 

The Raptor passed DIN 740 (reverse cyclic loading) coupling test standard TEN TIMES for a single coupling.

Longer Equipment Life

The Raptor has a natural rubber flexible element that offers benefits over the traditional urethane designs.

• Static conductive for grounding redundancy, allowing current to safely pass through the natural rubber, preventing arcing during operation
• Resistance to hydrolysis for improved performance in humid environments
• Superior thermal conductivity and ability to dissipate heat and hysteresis buildup
• More flexibility with about 50% lower torsional and bending stiffness.

This coupling is designed to be a drop-in interchange that meets or exceeds torque, bore and speed ratings for commonly used couplings like Rexnord Omega and TB Wood’s Dura-Flex.   Since the Raptor components can be used in existing applications without modifications, users of these styles can immediately make the switch.

Easy Installation

One thing that contractors and maintenance staff are always wishing for is easier installation and reduced maintenance costs. The Raptor’s horizontally split element doesn’t require locking shafts during installation. This means a faster installation requiring fewer tools and eliminating shaft damage.

Competitive Cost

With all these features and benefits, one might expect that the Raptor has a price tag that matches; however, installing the Raptor will cost about the same as its urethane competitors.

The Baldor-Dodge Raptor Coupling is now available on the marketplace and ready to install. Are you ready to try something new that promises to be high-performing, extends your equipment life, is easy to install and won’t cost you any more?   Sounds like a pretty easy decision to me.