Power Screw

• Use for power transmission rather than fastening

• High mechanical advantage : Relatively small force to be amplified for
application
• Convert rotational motion to linear sliding motion and vice versa
• Examples: Linear Actuator, Vices, C-Clamps, Jack Screws, Hoisting
Screws
Derivation of the Torque Required to Lift the Load for a Power Screw
Assumptions : Square Thread With thread angle in the axial plane zero
degree
Assumptions:
Square thread with zero degree thread angle
Acme thread with infinite small thread angle
Buttress thread with very small thread angle, typically (5-7)0 which
can be neglected
Turning the nut by the external force results each portion of the
thread to climb an inclined plane
A full turn results in a triangle as shown in the figure below
Derivation of the Torque Required to Lift the Load for a Power Screw
Assumptions : Square Thread With thread angle in the axial plane zero
degree
• W: Weight, λ: Lead angle, L : Lead and d𝑚 mean diameter of the thread
• Q : Tangential force acting on the nut, f : friction coefficient in the nut thread, n:
normal reaction

• The tangential Force acting on the nut is given by:

𝑊 𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆+𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
• 𝑄=
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆−𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
𝑑
• 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑇 = 𝑄 𝑚
2

𝑊𝑑𝑚 𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆

𝑇=
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 − 𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
 Derivation of Torque transmitted including the thread angle

Resolve all the force component in the

horizontal components and the vertical
components
For Equilibrium,
Sum of horizontal component of the force equal to
zero
Sum of the vertical components of the force equals to
zero
 Derivation of Torque transmitted including the thread angle

If 𝑞 is the small component of force acting on the screw with lifting weight to be 𝑤
Than,
𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
𝑞=𝑤
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 − 𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
For lifting Total Weight 𝑊,
𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
𝑄= 𝑊
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 − 𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
The total torque 𝑇 is given by,
𝑄𝑑𝑚 𝑑𝑚 𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
𝑇= =𝑊
2 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 − 𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆
Usually bearing surfaces are used between the stationary and rotating members.
If the collar is used and the running friction coefficient is given by 𝑓𝑐 , than additional torque is required to
𝑊𝑓 𝑑
overcome the collar friction which is given by, 2𝑐 𝑐
Where, 𝑑𝑐 is the mean diameter of the collar.
The total torque required is given by:
𝑑𝑚 𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆 𝑊𝑓𝑐 𝑑𝑐
𝑇=𝑊 +
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆 − 𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆 2
Torque Require to Lower the Load

𝑑𝑚 𝑓𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆 𝑊𝑓𝑐 𝑑𝑐

•𝑇= 𝑊 +
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆+𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜆 2
Alternate form of representing the Equation: Divide the numerator and
denominator of the above equation by cos𝜆
𝑑𝑚 𝑓−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜆 𝑊𝑓𝑐 𝑑𝑐
𝑇=𝑊 + (a)
2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 +𝑓𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜆 2
𝐿
Use 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜆 = in Equation (a)
𝜋𝑑𝑚
𝑑𝑚 𝑓𝜋𝑑𝑚 −𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑊𝑓𝑐 𝑑𝑐
•𝑇=𝑊 +
2 𝜋𝑑𝑚 +𝑓𝐿 2
Thread Angle Relation in the Normal Plane

𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆
 Overhauling and Self Locking Screw

• Self Locking Screw: Positive Torque to Lower the Load, the threads of the screws
are precisely angled so that, once the screw is placed, they will not slip or moves
unless some additional force is applied
for a self locking screw : Coefficient of friction is greater than the tangent
of the lead angle.
𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛
𝑓≥
𝜋𝑑𝑚

• Overhauling Screw: Low enough friction to hold , the load itself will begin to turn
the screw and descend down, unless a restraining torque is applied.
 Efficiency of the Power Screw
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊×𝐿
• Efficiency 𝑒 = =
𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 2𝑝𝑖×𝑇
The other approach is to define the efficiency in terms of friction
coefficient
𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑒 =
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
 Rolling Contact

The Sliding friction between screw and the nut thread has been replaced with
rolling contact (ball and the grooves in the screw and nut)
Efficiency 90% above
Overhauling screw due to low friction (need a brake to hold a load in a place)
Reversible screw
Thread Profiles and Nomenclature for Problem Solving
Standard Size of Power Screw Thread
Problems
 Problems
• Problem 2.

Coefficient of running friction are estimated as 0.15 for

both the collar and the screw
The screw has a single thread
Assignment
• A double-threaded Acme stub screw of known major diameter is used in a
jack having a plain thrust collar of known mean diameter. Coefficients of running
friction are estimated as 0.10 for the collar and 0.11 for the screw.
Find:
(a) Determine the pitch, lead, thread depth, mean pitch diameter, and helix angle of
the screw.
(b) Estimate the starting torque for raising and for lowering a 5000 lb load.
(c) Determine if the screw will overhaul if a ball thrust bearing (of negligible friction)
were used in place of the plain thrust collar.
Power Screw Operation
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rFHeLY3wtU
Static Stress in a Screw
• Applies to power screw as well as threaded fastener. Mostly solved for threaded fastener
• Torsion:
𝑇𝑐 16𝑇
𝜏= =
𝐽 𝜋𝑑 3
• 𝜏: Torsional Stress, 𝐽: Polar moment of Inertia, and 𝑇 the applied torque.
• 𝑑 is the thread root diameter, 𝑐 distance from the neutral axis= d/2

𝑃
Axial load: Power screws are subjected to direct 𝐴 tensile and compressive stresses
Threaded fastener are only subjected to the tension.
The effective area 𝐴 for the threaded fastener is the tensile stress area 𝐴𝑡
A conservative approximation of power screw axial stresses are based on minor or root diameter
𝑑𝑟
Tensile Stress Area Specification Table
 Thread Bearing Compressive Stress Distribution

Compression between the screw and nut threads exists at thread

number 1,2,and 3
This type of direct compression between the thread is often called
bearing .
The area used for P/A stress calculation is the projected area , for
each thread P/A is calculated as :

4𝑃 𝑝
𝜎= ×
𝜋 𝑑 2 − 𝑑𝑖 2 𝑡
Where , 𝜎 is the bearing stress, 𝑃 is the external load,
𝑑 is the major diameter of the external thread and 𝑑𝑖 is the
minor diameter of the internal thread.
𝑝 is the thread pitch and t is the thickness of the nut
𝑡
The term: represents the number of thread in contact
𝑝
 Thread Shear Stripping Stress and Nut Thickness

• Common problems in Industry

• If the nut material is weaker than the bolt material in shear,
a sufficient overload would strip the thread from the nut along the
Cylindrical surface A
• If the bolt material is weaker in shear, the failure surface is B
The bolt tensile force required to yield the entire cross-section is:
𝜋
𝐹𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑡 = 𝐴𝑡 𝑆𝑦 ≈ 4 (0.9𝑑)2 𝑆𝑦
both nut and bolt of same material,𝑑 is the major diameter of the thread, 𝑆𝑦 is the yield strength of the bolt
material
• For the entire thread stripping failure based on the parabolic stress distribution, the nut force shall be
𝐹𝑛𝑢𝑡 = 𝜋𝑑(0.75𝑡)(0.58𝑆𝑦 )
• For balanced bolt tensile and thread stripping strength: 𝑡 = 0.47𝑑
7
• For nut softer than bolt, to prevent stripping, the nut thickness equals: 𝑡 = 𝑑
8
Different Types of Threaded Fasteners
Screw and Bolt Specifications

Bolt Tightening and Initial Tension (Preload):

Ideally be tightened to produce an initial tensile force nearly
equal to the full proof load
Proof load: Maximum tensile force that does not produce a
normally measurable permanent set.
𝐹𝑖 = 𝐾𝑖 𝐴𝑡 𝑆𝑝
𝐾𝑖 constant, in the range of 0.75-1.0, For ordinary application
involving static loading , 𝐾𝑖 = 0.9 approx.
𝐹𝑖 = 0.9𝐴𝑡 𝑆𝑝 (𝐴𝑡 , tensile stress area of the thread, 𝑆𝑝 : proof
load strength/stress)
Thread loosening and thread locking
Due to greater helix angle, the slope of the inclined plane will be greater, the greater the loosening tendency
Maximum initial tightening.
Differential thermal expansion
Vibration
Soft or rough clamping surfaces
Surface treatment and conditions that tend to increase the friction coefficient provide increased resistance to loosening
Use of prevailing torque locknuts prevents from thread loosening