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Overload Protection and Precise Torque Limitation for Extruder Drives

DESCH Planox® safety clutches are engineered to provide reliable overload protection for demanding industrial drive systems. Designed to limit torque and protect critical machine components from damage, they help maintain operational safety, reduce unplanned downtime, and support continuous, efficient operation.

Backed by proven DESCH engineering, they are ideally suited for the following industries and applications:

Road milling machines

Crushers

Shredders

Belt conveyors

On deck equipment

Ship main propulsion

Combine harvesters

Municipal vehicles

Piston pumps

Hoists

Compressors

Extruders

And other applications

Planox® clutch type PPF – RA with flexible OX-coupling

The Planox® clutch PPF – RA is a pneumatically engageable dry friction clutch. The frictionally engaged disc pack is pretensioned by air pressure. When the pressure drops, it is released by pressure springs and thus completely separated. The air is supplied through the gear shaft.

  • Rapid disengagement in the event of overload
  • Radially removable friction element for fast maintenance
  • Flexible OX coupling for vibration damping
  • Compensation of shaft misalignment
Torque390 Nm to 145,000 Nm
Planox PPF-RA_800x800-label as Planox clutch type PPF-RA with flexible OX coupling

Planox® clutch type PPRF with flexible OX-coupling

The Planox® PPRF combines a pneumatically engageable Planox® friction clutch with a flexible OX coupling. Unlike the PPF-RA configuration, compressed air is supplied radially from outside into the clutch cylinder. This configuration is particularly suitable for applications with long shafts, where an internal air passage through the shaft is undesirable or impractical.

  • Pneumatically actuated
  • Radial compressed-air supply
  • Suitable for long-shaft applications
  • Rapid disengagement in the event of overload
Torque295 Nm to 11,570 Nm
Planox_PPRF_400x400-label as Planox clutch type PPRF with flexible OX coupling

Choosing The Right Clutch For The Job

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right DESCH product for your specific application.

Conditions

From environmental exposure to system constraints, the right solution must align with how your equipment runs.

Key factors to assess include:

  • Continuous and peak torque
  • Operating speed
  • Start-up and acceleration loads

Torque & Overload Protection

The primary function of a Planox® safety clutch is to protect the drivetrain when torque exceeds the defined operating limit.

When evaluating, consider:

  • Required operating torque
  • Maximum permissible torque
  • Required disengagement accuracy

Air Supply & Installation

Planox® safety clutches are available with different air-supply arrangements to accommodate the mechanical layout of the drive system.

Our configurations include:

  • Flexible OX coupling configurations
  • Solutions for long-shaft installations
  • Integration with extruder process control

Maintain For Longevity

While DESCH products are engineered for long-term performance, appropriate maintenance helps protect reliability, extend service life, and prevent avoidable downtime.

  • Select the clutch according to the required torque, speed, duty cycle, and machine configuration.
  • Install and commission the clutch according to the applicable DESCH technical documentation.
  • Regularly monitor operating pressure, torque behaviour, and clutch engagement.
  • Inspect friction components for wear and replace components when required.

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