How does a spring washer work?
How does a spring washer work?
(OP)
Is it the tension of the washer that nips the threads that stops the nut from unscrewing itself, or is it the sharp edge of the spring washer that digs into the underside of the nut and base surface that holds it?
Is it then wrong to use a flat washer under the springwasher? It would then stop the sharp edges from digging into the bottom surface, only into the top of the flat washer?
Is it then wrong to use a flat washer under the springwasher? It would then stop the sharp edges from digging into the bottom surface, only into the top of the flat washer?





RE: How does a spring washer work?
Look at this site this is how tthere supposed to work
http://www.wclco.com/pdf/lockwash/lw05-08.pdf
Then look at this site becuase it is now believed that they don't work
http://www.boltscience.com/pages/vibloose.htm
desertfox
RE: How does a spring washer work?
FAQ404-1257: Is a lock washer an effective torque retention device?
RE: How does a spring washer work?
I'm gobsmacked!
How come more people are not aware of this?
And the theory of the edges diging into the bearing surface seems to be completey rubbish.
Thats why I like this site, I get real facts rather that listen to Urban Myths.
Anyone familiar with these locking washers:
http://www.nordlock.com/default.asp?url=2.16.37
I know Hydril recommend them on their Sub Sea BOPs, so I assume they have done some research about it. They use Stainless Steel bolts that are exposed to big temperature differences (Blazing sunshine vs 4 degrees Celsius on the sea bed a few hours later)
RE: How does a spring washer work?
Yes Nordlock are very good to my knowlegde I have used them for joints on steel rolling plant frames, you must use them in pairs though, there serrated and you place one on the top of the other for them to come undone one washer would have too rise up and climb the over the other.
desertfox
RE: How does a spring washer work?
RE: How does a spring washer work?
RE: How does a spring washer work?
If I use a split type lockwasher on my trailer hitch ball, and the ball does not loosen in service, then it MUST have been the lockwasher. Or maybe the rabbit's foot on my keychain. Or, Maybe that I tightened the 1 inch nut to over 250 lb-ft, and it is now exerting over 15,000 lbs over clamp load, so it would take over 3000 lbs of push or pull to make the ball's flange slide on the tongue. That's hard to do with a loaded trailer weight of about 1000 lbs. I'd have to accelerate or brake at over 3 gs.
Look at real high performance bolted joints. Dodge Hemi flywheel to crank, con rod and main bearing bolts. Not a lock washer in sight.
RE: How does a spring washer work?
http://
A more complete quote from 4th ed of same book: "An introduction to the design and behavior of bolted joints" By John H. Bickford is listed below:
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RE: How does a spring washer work?
RE: How does a spring washer work?
Adding a spring as a joint member softens the joint as a whole, and causes the bolt:joint stiffness ratio to increase. Generally a bad thing.