This International Standard specifies the requirements for couplings for the transmission of power between the rotating shafts of two machines for general purpose applications in the petroleum and natural gas industries. Such applications typically require couplings to transmit power at speeds not exceeding 4 000 r/min, between machines in which the first lateral critical speed is above the running speed range (stiff-shaft machines). It may, by agreement, be used for applications outside these limits.

This International Standard is applicable to couplings designed to accommodate parallel (or lateral) offset, angular misalignment and axial displacement of the shafts without imposing excessive mechanical loading on the coupled machines. Couplings covered include gear (and other mechanical contact types), metallic flexible-element and various elastomeric types. Special types such as clutch, hydraulic, eddy-current, rigid, radial spline and universal joint types, are not covered.

This International Standard covers design, materials of construction, inspection and testing of couplings and methods of attachment of the coupling to the shafts (including tapered sleeve and other proprietary devices). This International Standard does not define criteria for the selection of coupling types for specific applications.

It is recommended that, when users fit new couplings to existing equipment which are different from those originally fitted, they consult the manufacturers of the driving or driven equipment.