100+ Years experience design & manufacturing of Flexible Drive

Flexible Drive & Tool

Fairport’s Valveflex offers remote operation of manual valves; a safe and efficient solution for modern industrial processes

Flexible Drive & Tool

Fairport’s Valveflex offers remote operation of manual valves; a safe and efficient solution for modern industrial processes

FAIRPORT PRODUCTS

The Standard Power Transmission Solution

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Safe Remote Operation of Manual Valves

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What are
Flexible Drive Shafts?

Flexible Drives (Flexible Rotary Shafts) can replace universal joints, gears, pulleys or chain drives and more.

They are used to transmit rotary power and movement from a fixed motor or gearbox to remote, isolated or misaligned devices and can work where tight tolerances are needed.

Flexible shafts replace rigid shafts, eliminating alignment problems and efficiency losses. They also allow greater freedom of design and are lighter in weight than universal joints, gears, pulleys or chain drives with lower installation costs.

Eliminate alignment problems

Flexible Shafts have no need for the tight tolerances that solid shafts require

Provide Greater design freedom

Limitless possibilities in positioning motor and driven components

Have Higher Efficiency

Flexible Shafts are 85%-95% efficient. Gears, U-Joints Belts and Pulleys give much lower performance due to greater frictional losses

Allow Large offsets

Flexible couplings allow only 5 degrees of offset and U-Joints 30 degrees, but with a 40-50% decline in efficiency. Flexible Shafts permit a full 180 degree off-set while maintaining their high efficiency

Are Light weight and powerful

Flexible Shafts have a 3 to 1 weight advantage over other design solutions while transmitting greater power loads

Have Lower Installation Cost

Flexible Shafts install in minutes without special tools or skills. Solid Shafts, Gears, Pulleys, and Universal Joints require precise alignment and skilled mechanics for their installations.

Reduce parts cost

Bearings and housings for Solid Shafts and Gears require precise machining operations. Flexible Shafts eliminate the need for such demanding tolerances and their excessive costs.

Are Easy To Install

Need no special installation tools.

If you have a specific design problem and would like Flexible Drive and Tool to assist in providing you with bespoke designs, please complete the Enquiry Form

Flexible Drive and tool are able to manufacture and supply a variety of flexible drive materials and also design and manufacture a wide range of end connections to suit your application.

A Short History

With over 100+ years of experience in the design and manufacture of Flexible Drives, Flexible Drive and Tool has provided solutions for a vast number of tools and applications. In addition to providing Flexible Drives for its own production of Concrete Vibrating Pokers it has developed Flexible drives for applications such as Portable Power Tools such as Grinders, Pumps, Post Boring, Screed Vibrators, Descaling Equipment, Animal Shearing, Tyre Dressing, Meat Slicing and many more. The Company story began in the late 1920s in London selling imported descaling units. The business grew rapidly and new premises were needed in South Kensington in the 1940s. Manufacture of Flexible Drive products started at this time and was combined with a collect and repair service for flexible shafts in the London area. A compulsory purchase order in the 1950s meant that the business needed to move away from its central London premises and eventually it relocated to the Hever Road site in Edenbridge in 1957.

Our History

Sectors We Serve

Agriculture

Construction

Automotive

Industrial Cleaning

frequently asked questions

Flexible drives, also known as flexible drive shafts or flex shafts, are versatile components used in various mechanical systems. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about them:

What is a flexible drive shaft?

A flexible drive shaft is a mechanical component designed to transmit torque between two points that are not perfectly aligned. One of the key advantages of flexible drive shafts is their ability to transmit power at varying angles and distances and are particularly useful where a direct rigid connection is not possible.

A flexible drive shaft usually consists of a tightly wound coil of high strength steel, that allows torque and power to be transmitted whilst bending.The shaft is connected between the power source and the item being powered and can efficiently transmit the required power and torque despite not being in a straight line. Shafts are usually protected by an outer casing for protection, support and to keep it safe from dirt, moisture, and wear.

 Flexible drive shafts are used in various applications, including:

  • Agricultural: Power Take-Offs, Strimmers, Sheep Shearing, Pig Shaving, Horse Clipping, Equine Dentistry, Seed Spreading, Silo Cleaning, Agricultural Machinery
  • Construction: Concrete Poker Vibrators, Submersible Pumps, Descaling Products
  • Industrial: Providing a drive solution in areas with limited space and access or where a direct link between the power source and tool is not possible.
  • Marine: Remote Valve Control, Instrumentation and Control Systems, Deck de-scaling.
  • Food Preparation: Meat Retrieval, Meat Slicing
  • Industrial Cleaning: Drains, Heat Exchangers, Process Lines in Flour and Sugar Mills.
  • Eliminate alignment problems: Flexible Shafts do not require tight manufacturing tolerances that other solutions require.
  • Greater free domin design: Positioning of the drive motor and driven components becomes easier with the ability to “work around” other components in the system. This means that the flexible shaft can be introduced later into the design process.
  • Greater Efficiency: Flexible Shafts can offer greater efficiencies than alternative solutions such as Belts, Pulleys and Gears as there are lower frictional losses.
  • Lightweight: Flexible Shafts offer a weight advantage over other solutions such as rigid shafts and actuators.
  • Easier Installation: No need for special tools or skills. Solid Shafts, Gears, Pulleys, and Universal Joints require precise alignment and skilled mechanics for their installations.
  • Reduce Parts Cost: Flexible Shafts eliminate the need for excessive costs such as the bearings, gears and housings associated with Solid Shafts. They can be a real alternative to other expensive actuators.
  • Lower Maintenance Costs: Other solutions such as actuators require regular maintenance which will add ongoing cost to the installation. Flexible shafts require only minimum maintenance such as visual inspection and lubrication of the mechanism.

The Fairport ValveFlex system allows operation ofmanual valves at a safe distance, which makes it a valuable solution in various industrial, commercial and marine applications. Here are some key benefits:

  • Safe operation of hard-to-reach valves.
  • Avoidsthe need climbing up, under and around pipework.
  • Avoids the need to work in confined spaces where access is difficult and there is danger from toxic or explosive atmospheres.
  • No need for scaffolding, saving time and money during installation.
  • Avoids expensive actuators in harsh conditions
  • It is Simple and Safe
  • Offers a Value-for-Money solution