A Woodruff key or half-moon key, is a semicircular shaped, removable key that fits into a matching keyway cut into a shaft, leaving a protruding tab. The tab mates with a matching slot on a device mounted flush upon the shaft e.g. a pulley, thus preventing the device from freely rotating about the shaft. It is widely used in machine tools and in the automotive industry. This type of key was developed by W.N Woodruff of Connecticut, who was presented in 1888 with the John Scott Medal by the Franklin Institute for the invention.[1]
References
- ^ Garfield, Eugene (2007). The John Scott Award Recipients from 1826 - present. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
