ABSTRACT
Between 1700 and 1800, very little is recorded in the way of further developments in flexible couplings. The Industrial Revolution and especially, later, the automobile revolution precipitated the creation of many flexible couplings. In 1886, F. Roots theorized that if he thinned down the flange section of a rigid coupling it would flex and prevent the equipment and shaft from failing, an idea that was the forerunner of today's diaphragm coupling (see Figure 1.2A). The Davis compression coupling (Figure 1.2B) was developed to eliminate keys by compressing hubs onto the shaft. It was thought to be safer than other coupling devices because no protruding screws were required. What is believed to be the first chain coupling (Figure 1.2C) was described in the May 1914 issue of Scientific American.
