1. Drilling and blasting equipment

1. Rotary Drill/Down-the-Hole Drill

Equipment function: Drilling holes in open-pit mines in preparation for blasting.

Common coupling types:

Gear coupling: transmits high torque, compensates for vibration deviation during drilling, and is suitable for low-speed and heavy-load conditions.

Elastic pin coupling: cushions the impact load of the drill bit and reduces wear on the drive shaft.

Metal diaphragm coupling(Disc coupling): no lubrication required, good fatigue resistance, suitable for high speed, and can compensate for comprehensive deviation .

2. Loading and transport equipment 

1. Electric shovel (open pit mine)  

Equipment Function: Electric shovels (also known as mechanical face shovels) are core equipment in open-pit mining, used for excavating and loading ore and other materials. They are the primary mining equipment in open-pit mines with a capacity of tens of millions of tons. Their primary function is to efficiently excavate and lift materials . Their operating characteristics are characterized by high impact loads, drastic load fluctuations, and harsh working environments. Therefore, the reliability, load-bearing capacity, and impact resistance of the couplings in their transmission systems are extremely high.

Common coupling types:

Drum gear coupling: used for main transmission mechanisms such as lifting, pushing, rotating, and traveling , it can compensate for large angle deviations, bear heavy load impacts, and has a long service life.

Heavy-duty metal diaphragm coupling(Heavy-duty disc coupling): used for the high-speed end of the motor and reducer , maintenance-free , no lubrication required, suitable for harsh dust environments , high torque rigidity , zero backlash , high transmission accuracy, compensation for comprehensive deviation , good fatigue resistance , suitable for high-speed occasions, well-designed heavy-duty diaphragm coupling can also withstand considerable impact loads.

2. Excavator

Equipment Function: Mining excavators play a vital role in mining, primarily used for operations such as stripping, loading, and transporting minerals to improve efficiency and meet the green mining needs of modern mines. They utilize a powerful hydraulic system to perform complex movements such as digging, lifting, and rotation, making them essential equipment for both open-pit and underground mines.

Common coupling types:

High-torsion nylon disc coupling: strong cushioning and shock absorption capacity, compensation of radial-angular assembly errors, high mechanical strength, high thermal stability, high insulation and high temperature resistance, no maintenance and lubrication required, easy installation, and blind installation possible.

Anti-torque Silicone/ Rubber High Elastic Coupling RJM series: high elasticity, strong ability to absorb vibration and impact, oil and high temperature resistance, simple structure, easy disassembly and assembly.

3.Mining dump trucks

Equipment Function: Mining dump trucks serve as key transportation equipment in open-pit and underground mining operations. They are used to load and transport heavy objects such as rocks and ores, traveling back and forth between mining and unloading points to complete stripping, excavation, and transportation tasks, thereby reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

Mining dump trucks are mainly divided into two categories: mechanical transmission and electric transmission, and the use of their couplings is also different.

① Common couplings for mechanical transmission mining trucks

The power path for a mechanically driven mining truck is: engine → torque converter → gearbox → drive shaft → drive axle. In this system, the coupling's core task is to connect these components and compensate for relative motion between the frame and chassis.

Common coupling types:

Anti-torque Silicone/ Rubber High Elastic Coupling RJM series: plays the core role of connecting the engine and gearbox and transmitting power. It has high elasticity, strong ability to absorb vibration and impact, oil resistance, high temperature resistance, simple structure and easy disassembly and assembly.

Universal joint coupling: mainly used for transmission shaft , connecting the output end of the gearbox and the input end of the drive axle , adapting to the shaft offset caused by chassis deformation, and ensuring the continuity of power transmission.

② Common couplings for electric- driven mining trucks

Electric -driven mining trucks have become the absolute mainstream, with the power path being: diesel engine → AC generator → rectifier → inverter → AC motor → drive axle. Couplings are primarily used at both ends of high-speed rotating motors.

Common coupling types:

Diaphragm couplings connect the generator and engine, and the traction motor and the high-speed end of the wheel reducer. They are maintenance-free and require no lubrication, making them ideal for use in harsh dusty environments. They offer high torque rigidity , high transmission accuracy , compensation for combined deviations , and excellent fatigue resistance , making them suitable for high-speed applications. They are a top choice for modern electric -drive mining trucks.

Drum gear couplings: These can be used to connect traction motors to wheel reducers, particularly in applications involving high torque and severe impact. They can transmit very high torque, offer excellent impact resistance , and possess strong compensation capabilities . They require lubrication and high sealing requirements.

Universal joint: In electric -drive mining trucks, if space requirements permit, a universal joint is still used to connect the motor output shaft and the reducer input shaft.

3. Hoisting equipment (mine hoist)

1. Drum-reducer-motor transmission system

Equipment function: vertical lifting of personnel and ores.

Common coupling types:

Pin coupling with brake wheel: with brake disc, transmits high torque during emergency braking.

Metal diaphragm coupling(Disc coupling): high-precision alignment requirements, maintenance-free, suitable for high-speed hoists.

Grid coupling with brake wheel : excellent torsional buffering performance, good displacement compensation capability, with brake disc, transmits high torque during emergency braking.

4. Crushing and screening equipment

1. Jaw Crusher/Cone Crusher

Equipment function: primary crushing of large ores.

Common coupling types:

Elastic pin coupling: absorbs the impact vibration during ore crushing and protects the motor bearings.

Tire coupling: Highly elastic rubber element, compensates for installation deviation and has excellent shock absorption performance.

Snake spring coupling: It has an excellent shock absorption capacity of more than 30% and its superior buffering performance, which can effectively protect the driving device and the driven device and extend the service life of the equipment.

2. Ball mill/semi-autogenous mill

Equipment function: fine grinding of ore.

Common coupling types:

Drum gear coupling (wide tooth design): large torque transmission, allowing angular offset caused by thermal deformation of the cylinder.

Elastic Pin Coupling: Equipment operating in harsh conditions requires a coupling that is corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, and vibration-resistant. Reducers with elastic sleeve pin couplings can effectively handle impact loads and installation deviations.

5. Auxiliary equipment

1. Ventilation fan/drain pump

Equipment function: mine ventilation and water discharge.

Common coupling types:

SGF coupling: compensates for the parallel deviation between the motor and the pump, with a simple structure and moisture resistance.

Grid coupling: damps vibration and prevents bearing damage caused by impeller imbalance.

2. Belt conveyor

Equipment function: continuous transportation of ore.

① Common couplings at the low speed end (between the reducer and the drive drum) : 

This position has extremely large torque and low speed, and usually needs to transmit huge loads, requiring the coupling to have good deviation compensation capability and reliability.

Common coupling types:

Permanent magnetic coupling: stepless speed regulation to control start and stop, avoiding belt tearing.

Elastic pin coupling: used in light load section, low cost maintenance.

Hydraulic coupling(Fluid coupling): soft start, overload protection, multi-machine drive power balance, compensation deviation.

Drum gear coupling: has extremely high load-bearing capacity and can transmit very large torques, making it very suitable for heavy belt conveyors.

② Common couplings at the high-speed end (between the motor and the reducer):

The speed in this position is high and the torque is relatively small, but the transmission is required to be smooth, the vibration is small, and it can compensate for the installation error between the motor and the reducer.

Common coupling types:

Flexible jaw coupling(Rotex coupling): buffering and vibration reduction, compensation for deviation, electrical insulation, maintenance-free, easy to replace, economical and affordable.

Diaphragm coupling(Metal membrane coupling): high torque rigidity, high transmission accuracy, compensation for comprehensive deviation, no need for lubrication, good durability, suitable for high-speed occasions, zero backlash.

In actual belt conveyor design, "motor + plum blossom coupling /diaphragm coupling + reducer + hydraulic coupling/gear coupling + drive roller" is a very classic and mature drive configuration combination.

6. Core considerations for coupling selection 

1. Torque and speed: For heavy-load equipment (such as ball mills), choose drum gear type, and for high-speed equipment (such as fans), use diaphragm type.

2. Compensation ability:

- Large angular deviation → drum gear coupling;

- Parallel offset → SGF coupling.

3. Environmental adaptability:

- Moisture/corrosion → stainless steel diaphragm coupling;

- Dusty atmosphere → sealed gear coupling or diaphragm coupling.

4. Maintenance requirements:

- Elastic components (rubber, polyurethane) need to be replaced regularly;

- All-metal couplings (diaphragm, gear type) have a long service life and are suitable for scenarios where maintenance is difficult.

Summarize :  

Mining coupling selection should closely reflect the equipment's operating conditions. For heavy-load applications (crushers, ball mills), drum gear or tire types are preferred; for precision transmission (elevators), diaphragm types are preferred; for harsh environments (conveyors, pumps), sealed or corrosion-resistant designs should be considered. Professional selection should incorporate torque calculations, misalignment measurements, and environmental assessments, referencing standards such as API 671/ISO 10441 where necessary.

As a professional coupling manufacturer, Shanghai Reijay has provided customized and batch supply couplings to many well-known OEMs at home and abroad. If you need couplings or selection solutions, please contact us.