Highest flexible coupling in the world? (May not be, but it's close.)

At Lovejoy, we take great pride in knowing we are serving customers around the world... "from the deepest mines in the world to the tallest buildings". That's a great saying, but how exactly does Lovejoy back up that statement.

While it's not easy to quickly usher visitors of our world headquarters in Downers Grove, IL (a suburb of Chicago) into a deep underground mine, we can easily take visitors into downtown Chicago where there are some of the world's tallest buildings (and where Lovejoy was originally founded in 1900). Among the many skyscrapers, is Chicago's tallest: The Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. 

On the Willis Tower's 103rd floor (1353 feet or 412 meters in the air) and featuring spectacular views has long stood the tourist focused SkyDeck. In 2009, the SkyDeck completed a renovation that included 4 glass boxes overhanging the city. These 4 boxes, dubbed "The Ledge", were designed for maximum impact and carried the load of the boxes from above visitors' heads, allowing them to feel like they were steeping out onto thin air.

One of the author's first visits to "The Ledge"

While the rails above are often missed and under appreciated by visitors, a second consideration is also often missed... and that is window washing. Because the Willis Tower's window washing system requires windows to be flush with the building, the designers of "The Ledge" had to ensure that the hung boxes could be retracted. 

Anyone who bothers to look up while visiting "The Ledge" will quickly realize that the designers addressed this concern by putting the boxes on rails...which allows the boxes to be repeatedly retracted when the exhibit is closed. (Users may also look down to discover a large mat that is also covering a space used to retract the box.)

Following the exposed rails away from each box will quickly reveal the four power transmission systems designated for the task... and smack in the middle of each is a beautiful Chicagoland (yes' that's what we call the greater Chicago suburb area) beautiful orange banded Lovejoy jaw coupling.

One of the "The Ledge" Lovejoy Jaw Couplings

While we realize there are taller buildings in the world, and we have not taken the time to inspect and certify whose coupling is a top these structures... for us, a Chicagoland company, the Willis Tower is as tall as it gets... and we have been proudly there serving for years.

If you are ever so lucky to be in Chicago and be afforded the opportunity to visit "The Ledge", we highly recommend you look up and take in the full engineering depth and breadth required to provide visitors such a thrill.

Where are couplings used? Check out your backyard!

Uncle's Log Splitter - outside Pittsburgh, PA

To follow on the heels of Bob Buesing's wonderful article and tutorial on log splitter couplings, several weeks ago I was at my uncle's house near Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving. He knew I worked for Lovejoy, and knew that Lovejoy was a leader in industrial flexible couplings of all types and sizes, but he really didn't fully understand what a coupling was or where it was used. 

As luck would happen, my uncle lives on a farm. Given winter is approaching, he had a well-used hydraulic log splitter sitting in his backyard and he had been using it all morning. Well aware that hydraulic log splitters commonly use Lovejoy jaw couplings, I walked out to his log splitter to find a Lovejoy L075 jaw coupling that had been manufactured in Lovejoy's Downers Grove, Illinois facility (where I work!).

The Unsung Hero - Lovejoy's L075 Jaw Coupling

With a Lovejoy flexible coupling application standing in front of us, it was very easy for me to visually demonstrate the need and many benefits that high quality (Lovejoy brand) couplings provide (inclusive of basic concepts to include misalignment handling, vibration dampening, and torque transmission). Should you be looking for a similar primer on couplings, please read Flexible Coupling Basics - A Quick Primer. Should you be looking for a deeper dive into Lovejoy jaw couplings, please read Jaw Coupling Overview - Features & Benefits, Design Basics, and Element Options. 

Now knowing that a coupling from Lovejoy had been working hard for years to keep his family warm for the winter, my uncle left our conversation with a great and deep appreciation for the value high quality (and, in his case "maintenance-free") couplings provide in ensuring reliable and long lasting mechanical power transmission.

While I'm confident that my uncle's Lovejoy jaw coupling will continue to serve him well for years to come, when I left Thanksgiving at his house, I assured him that Lovejoy has hundreds of the coupling he is using in stock... and that it would be my honor to Quick Ship him a replacement should it ever be required! Should you need a coupling fast, please consider using Lovejoy's Quick Ship program through an authorized Lovejoy distributor.