Mono Flexishaft
The Mono Flexishaft is perhaps the most significant contribution to the history of progressing cavity pumps technology.
While the basic pumping mechanism is simple, the eccentric motion of the rotor in the stator needs to be accommodated in some way to enable it to be linked to a drive shaft with a circular motion. The Flexishaft achieves this, eliminating the need for a double universal joint or gear joints – both of which have inherent disadvantages, such as complicated arrangement, of often small, multiple components, manufactured to close tolerances, which require lubrication.
The Flexishaft therefore eliminates all the moving parts associated with these alternative joint designs. As there are no moving parts, there is no wear and lubrication is unnecessary, so there is no risk of product contamination. The reliability of the Flexishaft design extends the working life of the pump as well as the intervals between routine maintenance. Mono’s confidence in the Flexishaft is such that each one carries a 10 year warranty.
In operation, the Flexishaft is engineered to absorb a combination of steady state and alternating stresses. The latter results from the flexing of the shaft which, during one revolution, undergoes two cycles of alternating stress. The length of the Flexishaft ensures that this stress is well below the elastic limits of the material from which it s constructed. The Flexishaft is made from a high tensile material covered with an abrasion and corrosion resistant coating.
The benefits of the Flexishaft are particularly relevant to the process industries, where continuous and batch production demands equipment which offers the highest levels of reliability. The success of this device has been proven in Mono pumps on many different applications, including arduous applications in water and waste treatment, paper, mining and chemical industries. The hygienic advantages of the Flexishaft over other designs also make it ideal for many food and pharmaceutical applications.
The Special Flexishaft, a unique shortened version of the Flexishaft drive system, is ideal for applications where space and weight savings are crucial considerations. The Special Flexishaft can offer significant savings in capital and civil costs thus keeping overall operating costs to a minimum.
To reduce the time and costs of installation, the Special Flexishaft can be easily retrofitted to existing applications with minimal engineering work, and incorporated into new pump houses without the need for altering pump foundations.
