feather key

noun

, Machinery.

a rectangular key connecting the keyways of a shaft and a hub of a gear, pulley, etc., fastened in one keyway and free to slide in the other so that the hub can drive or be driven by the shaft at various positions along it.

In one form of feather key the part within the piece carried by the shaft is dovetailed as shown at (f).

The feather key may also be secured to the piece carried by the shaft by means of one or more screws as shown at (h).

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