A Type Standard Flexible Jaw Coupling
The A Type Standard Flexible Jaw Coupling is a compact, maintenance-free elastomeric coupling for general-purpose power transmission. With torque ratings from 7.5 to 18,650 N·m, bore diameters up to Ø200 mm, and operating temperatures from −35 to +800 °C, it suits pumps, fans, conveyors, and industrial drives across a wide range of applications.
A Type Standard Flexible Jaw Coupling
The industry benchmark for compact, maintenance-free power transmission — engineered for reliability from 7.5 to 18,650 N·m across pumps, fans, compressors, and conveyors.
What Is an A Type Flexible Jaw Coupling?
The A Type Standard Flexible jaw coupling is the foundational model in the GBC star-type elastomeric coupling range. It consists of two precision-machined metal hubs — manufactured in cast aluminium for smaller sizes and cast iron or ductile iron for larger sizes — and an interchangeable polyurethane spider element that fits between the interlocking jaws of each hub.
Unlike gear couplings or chain couplings, the A Type requires no lubrication and imposes minimal radial load on connected shaft bearings. Its compact footprint and low rotational inertia make it an ideal drop-in solution for OEM machine builders and plant engineers looking to reduce both installation time and ongoing maintenance costs.
Operating temperature range spans −35 °C to +800 °C, and the elastomer's involute claw geometry distributes load evenly across the spider lobes, preventing premature wear even under cyclic or shock loading conditions.
Key Design Features
Compact & Low-Inertia
Tight envelope dimensions and minimal rotational inertia (as low as 0.00005 kg·m² on the TS14A) make the A Type ideal for high-speed servo and spindle drive applications where dynamic response is critical.
Vibration Damping & Shock Absorption
The polyurethane spider absorbs torsional shock and attenuates vibration transmission between driver and driven machinery, protecting gearboxes, encoders, and pump seals from premature failure.
Zero-Maintenance Operation
No grease, no seals, no scheduled service intervals. The elastomer spider is the only wear item, and its condition can be assessed visually without dismantling connected equipment.
Axial Plug-In Assembly
Hubs are fitted to shafts independently and brought together axially. Spider replacement requires no movement of connected machinery — a significant advantage in confined plant layouts.
Selectable Spider Hardness
Standard spiders are 92 ShA polyurethane. Upgrading to 98 ShA increases nominal torque capacity by approximately 70% with no change to the metal hubs — allowing a single hub inventory to cover a wider torque range.
Custom Bore & Keyway
Bore diameter and hub sleeve configuration can be manufactured to customer specification, accommodating metric and imperial shaft standards used across Australian, European, and North American equipment.
A Type Series — Technical Specifications
| Model | Nom. Torque (N·m) | Max Speed (rpm) | Bore d₁,d₂ (mm) | L (mm) | L₀ (mm) | D (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TS14A | 7.5 | 19000 | 6–16 | 11 | 35 | 30 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS19A | 10 | 14000 | 6–19 | 25 | 66 | 40 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS24A | 35 | 10600 | 8–24 | 30 | 78 | 55 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS28A | 95 | 8500 | 8–28 | 35 | 90 | 65 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS38A | 190 | 9500 | 10–38 | 45 | 114 | 80 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS42A | 265 | 8000 | 10–42 | 50 | 126 | 95 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS48A | 310 | 7100 | 10–48 | 56 | 140 | 105 | Cast Aluminium |
| TS55A | 410 | 6300 | 15–55 | 65 | 160 | 120 | Cast Iron |
| TS65A | 625 | 5600 | 15–65 | 75 | 185 | 135 | Cast Iron |
| TS75A | 1280 | 4750 | 20–75 | 85 | 210 | 160 | Cast Iron |
| TS90A | 2400 | 3750 | 30–90 | 100 | 245 | 200 | Cast Iron |
| TS100A | 3300 | 3350 | 30–115 | 110 | 270 | 225 | Cast Iron |
| TS110A | 4800 | 3000 | 40–125 | 120 | 295 | 255 | Ductile Iron |
| TS125A | 6650 | 2650 | 40–145 | 140 | 340 | 290 | Ductile Iron |
| TS140A | 8600 | 2360 | 40–160 | 155 | 375 | 320 | Ductile Iron |
| TS160A | 12800 | 2000 | 60–180 | 175 | 425 | 370 | Ductile Iron |
| TS180A | 18650 | 1800 | 85–200 | 195 | 475 | 420 | Ductile Iron |
Typical Applications
The A Type's combination of compact dimensions, low inertia, and broad torque range makes it the preferred coupling choice across multiple sectors. Browse our full couplings range for complementary products used alongside jaw couplings in drive train assemblies.
Pumping Systems
Water treatment plants, irrigation pump stations, and industrial process pumps benefit from the coupling's vibration damping and misalignment tolerance, reducing seal wear and extending MTBF.
Fan & Blower Drives
HVAC air handling units, industrial exhaust fans, and pneumatic conveying blowers operate at steady torque loads that sit well within the A Type's continuous duty rating.
Conveyor & Material Handling
Belt conveyors, screw conveyors, and bucket elevators in mining, grain handling, and food processing frequently use the larger A Type models (TS90A–TS180A) on gearbox output shafts.
Compressors & Agitators
Reciprocating and screw compressors generate cyclic torque pulses; the elastomer spider absorbs these pulses before they reach motor windings and reduces acoustic noise in plant environments.
Customer Reviews & Case Studies
Australia — Water Treatment
A municipal water authority in Queensland replaced legacy gear couplings on 14 centrifugal pump sets with TS65A units. Maintenance call-outs related to coupling failure dropped by 78% over 18 months, and the spider replacement procedure was completed by one technician in under 20 minutes per unit without draining the pipework.
★★★★★
"Exactly what we needed — zero grease, easy spider swap, rock-solid reliability."
Germany — Packaging Machinery OEM
A mid-size packaging machine manufacturer standardised on TS24A and TS28A couplings for servo-driven film-feed axes. The low inertia of the aluminium hubs improved position-loop bandwidth by a measurable margin, reducing settling time on high-speed indexing movements.
★★★★★
"Low inertia and consistent torque transmission gave us the servo response we needed."
Brazil — Agricultural Processing
A soybean processing facility in Mato Grosso specified TS90A couplings on grain elevator drives operating in a dusty, high-humidity environment. After two full harvest seasons, the ductile iron hubs showed no corrosion and the polyurethane spiders remained within tolerance — service life exceeded the site's 24-month replacement budget cycle.
★★★★☆
"Held up through two tough seasons. Will reorder the same spec."
South Korea — HVAC & Building Services
A building services contractor in Seoul used TS42A and TS48A couplings on VFD-controlled chilled water pump sets in three commercial tower projects. The couplings accommodated minor shaft misalignment from thermal expansion without generating excessive bearing loads, and noise transmission into occupied floors was significantly reduced compared to previous rigid-hub designs.
★★★★★
"Quieter plant rooms and happier building tenants — that's the result."
Frequently Asked Questions
Need a coupling with steel hubs for heavy-load drive units such as hoists and rolling mills? Compare the B Type Large Bore Flexible Jaw Coupling, which shares the same spider interface but uses steel hub sleeves for significantly higher bore capacity.
Ready to Source A Type Jaw Couplings for Your Project?
GBC supplies A Type flexible jaw couplings in standard and custom configurations to OEMs, engineering contractors, and industrial distributors across Australia and internationally. Submit your enquiry with shaft sizes, torque requirements, and quantity — our technical team responds within one business day.
The A Type Standard Flexible Jaw Coupling is a compact, maintenance-free elastomeric coupling for general-purpose power transmission. With torque ratings from 7.5 to 18,650 N·m, bore diameters up to Ø200 mm, and operating temperatures from −35 to +800 °C, it suits pumps, fans, conveyors, and industrial drives across a wide range of applications.
