Durable RCT coupling takes the heat and improves reliability

Fire service safety equipment must meet three simple criteria: it must be suitable for transportation, require little maintenance and operate reliably within extremely arduous conditions.

The most recent challenge for Reich came from a manufacturer of floodwater pump engines, with the specific objective of developing a coupling for a mobile floodwater pump used by the Fire Service. Reich were approached after several other coupling manufacturers had offered their solutions, which were subsequently assessed and ultimately deemed “not ideal” in terms of reliability.

When in use, a floodwater pump’s engine can run continuously for up to 15 hours on a full tank of fuel. Consequently, materials heat up due to the high duty cycle of the equipment, and the coupling solution would be required to operate reliably, even at the elevated temperatures that can be achieved during extended operation.

The solution developed by Reich was based upon their already successful RCT coupling with the company’s ST rubber compound, which is resistant to high temperatures. Also, thanks to the absorption properties of the elastomer used, the Reich coupling not only enhanced the smooth running of the floodwater pump engine, but significantly boosted reliability.