Bolts and Power Screws Machine Design 2

are needed or where vibration is present.

Bolts
major diameter
mean / pitch diameter

crest minor diameter

A bolt is a metal rod with a head on one end,
often hexagonal and a screw thread at the other to take a root
nut. (A stud is a rod threaded on both ends.) The purpose
of a bolt is to clamp two or more parts together if the pitch
parts require easy dismantling. The clamping load stret-
ches or elongates the bolt, the load is obtained by twisting
the nut until the bolt has elongated almost to the elastic thread
limit. If the nut does not loosen, this bolt tension remains angle, 2
as a preload or the clamping force.
diameter for
flanks stress area
Types of Bolts
machine bolt stud bolt Forms of Threads
eye bolt U bolt
stove bolt cap screw
set screw V-thread
h = 0.866 P

Bolt Nomenclature Sellers screw thread

h = 0.6403 P
Hexagonal Head Bolt
Whitworth thread
head, usu. hexagonal
30 h = 0.6403 P

grip radius Sellers square thread

length h = 0.4375 P
shank or unit
runout
thread 29° Acme thread
length threaded section h = 0.5 P

Buttress thread
h = 0.75 P
fine thread
nut
60° V-thread

washer
The square, the Acme and the buttress threads
Stud bolt cylinder head are used for power screws, being more efficient than the
60-degree Sellers thread. The square thread has the
cylinder block highest efficiency but is comparatively costly to make, and
coarse thread adjustment for wear is difficult. The Acme thread is not so
costly, and adjustment for wear can be accomplished by
using nuts split lengthwise; hence it is used for power
drives where there must be little or no backlash, such as
Designation of Bolts feed screws and lead screws of machine tools. Its
efficiency is less than that of the square thread. When the
Unified threads are specified by stating the power transmission is in one direction only, the buttress
nominal major diameter, the number of threads per inch, thread is used, the flat driving side retaining the high
and the thread series. efficiency of the square thread, and the sloping side
1/8" – 40 UNC permitting adjustment by means of a split nut.

Metric threads are specified by writing the

nominal major diameter in mm and pitch in mm, in that
order
M12 x 1.75
Types of Threads
UNC (Unified National Coarse) is for general use
UNF (Unified National Fine) is frequently used in
automotive and aircraft work and where fine adjustment is
required.
UNEF (Unified National Extra Fine) is used in
aeronautical equipment and where very fine adjustment is
required.
The fine thread is used where greater strength is
required at the root of the threads, but the coarse thread
is desirable where the material around a tapped hole is the
weaker. The fine thread is desirable for fastenings requir-
ing fine adjustments or where vibration is present. The
extra fine thread is suitable for tough, strong materials
and is used in thin light sections where fine adjustments
Definition of Terms
crest – top surface of connecting the two sides (flanks) of
the thread
depth of thread – the distance between the root and the
crest of a thread measured perpendicular to the
axis of the bolt
grip – of a bolt connection is the total thickness of the
clamped material including the washers if there are
any
lead – the distance the nut moves parallel to the screw
axis when the nut is given one turn. For a single
threaded screw, the lead is the same as the pitch.
left-hand thread – a screw thread that requires counter-
clockwise rotation to tighten.
major diameter – the outside or largest diameter of a
screw thread. Also called the nominal diameter.
minor diameter – the smallest diameter of a screw
thread and is commonly called the root diameter.
multiple-threaded product – one having two or more
threads cut beside each other. A double-
threaded screw has a lead equal to twice the

1 Patrick D. Sta. Maria / August 15, 2017

 Bolts and Power Screws Machine Design 2

pitch, a triple-threaded screw has a lead equal

to three times the pitch.
pitch – the distance between adjacent thread forms
measured parallel to the thread axis. It is also the
reciprocal of the number of threads per inch in the
English system.
pitch diameter – the mean of the major and minor
Power Screws
diameters. It is an imaginary diameter that passes
through the thread at the point where the width of
the groove and the threads are equal, also known The screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a
as the mean diameter cylinder in such a way that the height of the plane is
pre-tension/bolt pre-load – the clamping force of the parallel to the axis of the cylinder. If the screw is formed
bolt. It is produced by twisting the nut, thus on the internal surface of a hollow cylinder, it is called a
stretching the bolt. nut. When force is applied to raise a weight or overcome
proof load – the maximum load (force) a bolt can with- resistance by means of a screw and nut, either the screw
stand without acquiring a permanent set. or the nut may be fixed, the other being moveable. The
proof strength – the quotient of the proof load and the force is generally applied at the end of a wrench or lever
tensile stress area arm, or at the circumference of a wheel.
All threads are made according to the right hand rule
unless otherwise noted. Power screws are screws that are used to move
right-hand thread – a screw thread that requires clock- weights and machine parts. They provide a means of
wise rotation to tighten. obtaining a large mechanical advantage in such applica-
root – bottom surface connecting the two sides of the tions as screw jacks, clamps and presses. Depending on
thread the application, power screw uses either the square
size – the nominal major diameter of the screw thread, when higher efficiency is required or buttress
stress area – the area of an imaginary circle whose thread, when adjustment of the nut to prevent backlash is
diameter is the mean of the pitch and minor necessary.
diameters. This area is used for the purpose of
computing the tensile strength. Helix angle, x
stud bolt – a bolt having thread on both ends
The helix angle is related to the lead and the
Note – Many tensile tests of threaded rods have mean diameter by the equation
shown that an unthreaded rod having a diameter equal to
the mean of the pitch diameter and minor diameter will L L
tan x= Eq. 1
have the same tensile strength as the threaded rod. The π Dm
area of this unthreaded rod is called the tensile stress  Dm
area of the threaded rod.
Dm – mean diameter of the screw
Tabulated data on threads for nominal size, Dm = D – h
threads per inch, minor diameter and stress area. Dm = d + h
L – lead, m
Table 6-1 p. 130 Doughtie and Vallance x – helix angle, degrees
Table AT14 Faires
Lead is the distance the screw advances in one
turn.
Bolt Formula
Dm L = pitch for single-threaded screw
Mean Diameter L = 2P for double-threaded screw
1
Dm= 2 ( D +d ) d Linear velocity is the distance the screw moves
D in its axis as it is rotated
Diameter of the Stress Area
Linear velocity = (rotational speed)(lead)
1
Ds= 2 ( Dm+d ) Ds W
DO
d – inside diameter, m thread
D – outside diameter, m d
Dm – mean diameter, m
Ds – diameter for stress area Dm x
Pitch
Bolt Deformation Dm
FL SL 
δ= δ=
AE E
δ – deformation/elongation, m
A – stress area, m2 DC collar
E – modulus of elasticity
30 Mpsi, 206.84 GPa for steel
28 Mpsi, 193.05 GPa for wrought iron
F – clamping force, N Force Required to Raise the Load
L – length of bolt, m
N
R 2  N2  f 2
R
x
FR = R sin (φ + x) 
W = R cos (φ + x)
x FR
dividing FR by W
FR / W = tan (φ + x) f
W
FR = W tan (φ + x)

Breaking down the tangent part

2 Patrick D. Sta. Maria / August 15, 2017

 Bolts and Power Screws Machine Design 2

tan ϕ+ tan x
tan (ϕ+ x )= using tan x = L / πDm

[ ]
1−tan ϕ tan x
cos φ L
where tan φ = f / N = μ μ+
WD m π Dm
μ+tan x T F=
tan ( ϕ+ x )= 2 μ L
1−μ tan x cos φ−
W ( μ+tan x ) π Dm
F R= Eq. 2
1−μ tan x

Force Required to Lower the Load

T F =W
2 [
Dm πμ Dm +cos φ L
π D m cos φ−μ L ]
N R N R Torque required in lowering the load

2
R N f 2 2
x
f
x
T F =W [
Dm μ−cos φ tan x
2 cos φ+μ tan x ] Eq. 5

[ ]
 x
FL Dm πμ D m −cos φ L
T F =W
2 π Dm cos φ+ μ L
W
where : Dm = D – h
FL = R sin (φ – x) or : Dm = d + h
W = R cos (φ – x)
FL = W tan (φ – x) Φ – half of thread angle
tan ϕ−tan x μ – coefficient of thread friction
tan (ϕ−x )=
1+tan ϕ tan x d – root diameter of the screw, m
W ( μ−tan x ) D – outer diameter, m
F L= Eq. 3 Dm – mean diameter, m
1+μ tan x L – lead, m
x – helix angle of the screw W – axial force carried by the screw, N
φ – angle of the resultant force of the friction TF – torque required to overcome friction on the
and the normal force screw thread
μ – coefficient of thread friction
FL – force required to lower the load, N The computed torque required to lower the load
FR – force to raise the load, N may either be positive or negative. If the torque is posi-
W – axial force carried by the screw, N tive, work must be done to lower the load. If the torque is
negative, specifically, the quantity (μ – cos ϕ tan x), the
To calculate the torque required to raise or lower axial load alone will cause rotation. In this case, the screw
a load, the above equations for the force are multiplied by is said to be overhauling.
the mean radius (0.5 Dm) of the screw.
Thread Angles and Height
A self-locking power screw is obtained whenever Type angle, Φ cos Φ h
the coefficient of thread friction is equal to or greater than acme 14.5° 0.9681 0.5 P
the tangent of the helix angle. square 0° 1.0000 7/16 P
v-thread 30° 0.8660 0.866 P
μ ≥ tan x

Assuming that the force diagram above for

Collar Friction
lowering the axial load is drawn to scale, the screw is self-
locking if R is found to the right of the line of action of W. In computing the total torque in power screw
If R is found to the left of W, the load will lower itself application, collar friction must be taken into considera-
without the application of any force. Power screws used to tion. When the screw is loaded axially, a thrust or collar
lower the load must be self locking. bearing must be employed between the rotating and
stationary members in order to carry the axial component.
When R is found to be on the left of the line of
action of W (as shown below), the equation for FL is TC = 1/2 W μCDC – Eq. 6
becomes DC = 1/2 (D + d) – Eq. 7
W ( tan x−μ)
F L= μC – coefficient of friction on collar
1+μ tan x
which is positive if μ is less than tan x. This is the case d – inside diameter of collar
where the load will lower itself because the value of μ – D – outside diameter of collar
tan x is negative contrary to the requirement of a self- DC – mean diameter of collar
locking screw as stated above. W – axial force carried by the screw
TC – torque required to overcome collar friction
R
N R
N
x  Total Torque

FL x  In power screw applications where both thread
and collar friction are involved, the external torque is
f
x found by adding the collar torque to the appropriate
equation for thread torque depending on the type of screw
W thread.
T = TF + TC

Thread Torques
Sample Thread Equations
When a torque is applied to the nut by means of a
lever, a gear or any other turning mechanism, the screw American Standard Thread (V thread)
will move forward L units for one revolution of the nut. cos (30°) = 0.8660
raising the load
Torque required in raising the load

T F =W [
D m μ+ cos φ tan x
] Eq. 4
a. T =W
F [
Dm μ+ 0. 8660 tan x
2 0 . 8660−μ tan x
+W
2]
μ C DC

2 cos φ−μ tan x

3 Patrick D. Sta. Maria / August 15, 2017
 Bolts and Power Screws Machine Design 2

lowering the load

b. T F =W
[
D m μ−0 .8660 tan x
2 0 . 8660+μ tan x
+W
μ C DC
2 ] Problems
1. A V-thread with a pitch of 3 mm has an outer diam-
ACME Thread cos (14.5°) = 0.9681 eter of 18 mm. It is used as a power screw in con-
raising the load junction with a collar having an outside diameter of

[ ]
D m μ+0. 9681 tan x μ C DC 40 mm and an inside diameter of 20 mm. Find the
c. T F =W +W torque required to raise a load of 400 kg if the
2 0 . 9681−μ tan x 2 coefficient of friction is 0.3 for both the thread and
lowering the load the collar.

d. T F =W
[
Dm μ−0 . 9681 tan x
2 0 . 9681+μ tan x
+W
μC D C
2 ] W = (400 kg)(9.81 N/kg)
– dimensions of the screw
W = 3924 N

h = 0.866 P = (0.866)(3 mm) h = 2.60 mm

trapezoidal Metric Thread cos (15°) = 0.9659 L=P L = 3 mm
raising the load d = D – 2h = 18 – (2)(2.60) d = 12.80 mm

[ ]
D m μ+ 0. 9659 tan x μ C DC Dm = (0.5)(18 + 12.80) Dm = 15.4 mm
e. T F =W +W cos ϕ = cos 30° for V-thread cos ϕ = 0.866
2 0 . 9659−μ tan x 2
lowering the load tan x = L = 3 mm tan x = 0.062

[
Dm μ−0 . 9659 tan x μC D C
]
π Dm (π)(15.4 mm) x = 3.548°
f. T F =W +W – torque for friction
2 cos
square thread 0 . 9659+μ
(0°) = 1tan x 2 Tf = WDm μ + cos ϕ tan x
raising the load 2 cos ϕ – μ tan x

[ ]
Dm μ+(1 )(tan x ) μ D Tf = (3924 N)(15.4 mm) 0.3 + (0.866)(0.062)
g. T =W
F +W C C 2 0.866 – (0.3)(0.062)
2 1−μ tan x 2 Tf = 12.611 N-m
lowering the load – collar friction

[ ]
D μ−(1)( tan x ) μ D Dc = (0.5)(40 + 20) Dc = 30 mm
h. T F =W m +W C C Tc = 0.5 W μCDC
2 1+μ tan x 2 Tc = (0.5)(3924 N)(0.3)(30 mm) Tc = 17.658 N-m
– total friction
Power of a Power Screw T = 12.611 N-m + 17.658 N-m T = 30.269 N-m
– screw efficiency
Input to the screw Pi = 2π Tf e = WL = (3924 N)(3 mm)
Output of the screw Po = WV 2π T (2)(π)(30.269 N-m) e = 6.1897 %
W – force carried, N e = 0.5W Dm tan x / T
V – vertical velocity of the weight, m/s e = (0.5)(3924 N)(15.4 mm)(0.062)
30.27 N-m e = 6.1887 %
– using tan x = 0.062 and cos ϕ = 0.866
Efficiency of the Screw Thread e= (tan x)(cos ϕ – μ tan x)
cos ϕ tan x + μ + μC DC (cos ϕ – μ tan x)
Efficiency is the ratio of the useful work to the Dm
input work. e= (0.062)[0.866 – (0.3)(0.062)]
work output
efficiency= (0.866)(0.062) + 0.3
work input + [(0.3)(30)/15.40](0.866 – (0.3)(0.062)]
The efficiency of a screw thread is the ratio of the e =6.1889
torque required to raise the load without friction to the
torque required when friction is considered. For a screw,
the general formula is
WL WV 2. A triple-threaded square power screw with a root
e= or e= – Eq. 8 & 9 diameter of 50 mm and a pitch of 12 mm is used in
2 πT 2 π Tf
conjunction with a collar with an outer diameter of
For a screw with a given type of thread, the 100 mm and an inner diameter of 60 mm. Find the
formula is derived as follows. From force needed to raise a 15-kN load if the operating
WL
and L force is applied at a radius of 0.8 m. The coefficient
TT = tan x=
2π π Dm of friction is 0.2 for both the thread and the collar.
the torque required to lift a load on a screw with 100%
efficiency is – dimensions of the screw
TT = (1/2) WDm tan x h = 7/16 P = (7/16)(12 mm) h = 5.25 mm
L = 3P = (3)(12 mm) L = 36 mm
Considering friction, both in the screw thread and D = d + 2h = 50 + (2)(5.25) D = 60.50 mm
collar, the torque is given by Dm = d + h = 50 + 5.25 Dm = 55.25 mm

[ ]
D m cosφ tan x + μ DC cos ϕ = cos 0° square thread cos ϕ = 1
T =W +Wμ C tan x = L = 36 mm tan x = 0.2074
2 cosφ−μ tan x 2 π Dm (π)(55.25 mm) x = 11.717°
Efficiency, therefore, is the ratio T/TF: – torque for thread friction
Dm
W tan x Tf = WDm μ + cos ϕ tan x
T 2 2 cos ϕ – μ tan x
=
TF D m cos φ tan x+ μ μ C DC Tf = (15 kN)(55.25 mm) 0.2 + (1)(0.2074)
W +W
2 cos φ−μ tan x 2 2 1 – (0.2)(0.2074)
tan x Tf = 176.122 N-m
e= – another solution
cos φ tan x + μ μ C D C – Eq. 10
+ Tf = WDm πμ Dm + cos ϕ L
cos φ−μ tan x Dm 2 πDm cos ϕ – μ L
Tf = (414.375 N-m) (0.2 π)(55.25 mm) + (1)(36 mm)
(π)(55.25 mm)(1) – (0.2)(36 mm)
Tf = 176.125 N-m

4 Patrick D. Sta. Maria / August 15, 2017

 Bolts and Power Screws Machine Design 2

radius of collar to be 45 mm and a coefficient of

– collar friction thread friction of 0.15, determine the weight to be
Dc = (0.5)(100 + 60) Dc = 80 mm raised and the efficiency of the screw. Use a double-
Tc = 0.5 W μCDC threaded rod.
Tc = (0.5)(15 kN)(0.2)(80 mm) Tc = 120 N-m
– total friction
T = 176.122 N-m + 120 N-m T = 296.122 N-m 6. A square-threaded screw has an efficiency of 65%
– force required when raising a load. The coefficient of thread friction
F = T = 296.122 N-m is 0.15 while collar friction is negligible. The pitch dia-
r 0.8 m F = 370.153 N meter of the screw is 70 mm. When lowering a load,
– screw efficiency a uniform velocity is maintained by a brake mounted
e = WL = (15 kN)(36 mm) on a screw. If the load is 90 kN, what torque must be
2π T (2)(π)(296.122 N-m) e = 29.02 % exerted by the brake?
e = 0.5W Dm tan x / T
e = (0.5)(15 kN)(55.25 mm)(0.2074)
296.122 N-m e = 29.02 % 7. Find the power and the rpm required in lifting 18 kN
(~1.83 MT) vertically at a rate of 50 mm/s using a
60-mm (OD) ACME threaded power screw. The screw
3. A single square-threaded power screw is to raise a is to be double-threaded with a pitch of 15 mm. The
load of 100 kN. The screw has a major diameter of friction radius of the collar is to be 50 mm and the
36 mm and a pitch of 6 mm. The coefficient of thread coefficient of friction are 0.10 for the threads and
and collar friction are 0.13 and 0.10 respectively. If 0.15 for the collar.
the collar frictional diameter is 90 mm and the screw
rotates once every second, find the efficiency of the
screw and the power to operate it.

4. A sluice gate weighing 50,000 kg is to be raised and

lowered using two acme-threaded power screws (h =
0.5p, ϕ = 14.5°). The screws are to be double-
threaded with a pitch of 24 mm and an outside dia-
meter of 80 mm. A collar with a mean diameter of
120 mm is used to carry the load on each screw.
Friction on the thread and collar are 0.14 and 0.05
respectively. What is the required torque on each
screw to raise the gate? If the gates are to be raised
and lowered at the rate of 0.01 m/s, at what rate
should the screws be rotated? What is the efficiency
of the screws?

– dimensions of the screw

h = 0.5 P = (0.5)(24 mm) h = 12 mm
L = 2P = (2)(24 mm) L = 48 mm
Dm = D – h = 80 – 12 Dm = 68 mm
cos ϕ = cos 14.5° acme thread cos ϕ = 0.9681
tan x = L = 48 mm tan x = 0.2247
π Dm (π)(68 mm) x = 12.663°
– force on each screw
W = (25,000 kg)(9.81 N/kg) W = 245.25 kN
– torque for thread friction
Tf = WDm μ + cos ϕ tan x
2 cos ϕ – μ tan x
Tf = (245.25 kN)(68 mm) 0.14 + (0.9681)(0.2247)
2 0.9681 – (0.14)(0.2247)
Tf = 3182.946 N-m
– total friction
Tc = 0.5 W μCDC
Tc = (0.5)(245.25 kN)(0.05)(120 mm)
Tc = 735.75 N-m
T = 3182.946 + 735.75 T = 3918.696 N-m
– rpm required to raise the gate
N = (10 mm/s)(60 s/min)
48 mm/rev N = 12.5 rpm
– efficiency of the screw
e = WL = (245.25 kN)(48 mm)
2π T (2π)(3918.696 N-m) e = 47.811 %
e = 0.5W Dm tan x / T
e = (0.5)(245.25 kN)(68 mm)(0.2247)
3918.696 N-m e = 47.813 %
– using power required by the screw
Pin = (2π)(3918.696 N-m)(12.5/60 r/s)
Pin = 5129.561 W
– and the power output of the screw
Pout = (245.26 kN)(0.01 m/s) Pout = 2452.5 W
e = 2452.5/5129.561 e = 47.811 %

5. A square thread screw of 50 mm outside diameter is

used to raise a load. The nut makes one turn per cm
of axial travel. A force of 50 kg is applied at the end
of a 1-m wrench used on a nut. Assuming a mean

5 Patrick D. Sta. Maria / August 15, 2017