Coupling
![An improvised flexible coupling made of car tire pieces connects the drive shafts of an engine and a water pump. This one is used to cancel out misalignment and vibrations.](/Images/godic/202502/04/TireClutch3214.JPG")
![A beam coupling](/Images/godic/202502/04/Beam_Coupling_-_Helical_Standard3214.jpg")
![A gear coupling](/Images/godic/202502/04/Gear_coupling3214.png")
![Animated Oldham coupler](/Images/godic/202502/04/Oldham_coupler_animated_small3214.gif")
![](/Images/godic/202502/04/Rotating_coupling3214.gif")
A coupling is a device used to connect two shafts together at their ends for the purpose of transmitting power. Couplings do not normally allow disconnection of shafts during operation, however there are torque limiting couplings which can slip or disconnect when some torque limit is exceeded.