1 INTRODUCTION

A screw jack is a device that is operated by turning the lead screw. In the form of
screw jack it is commonly used to lift heavy weights, such as vehicles, heavy components. It
is most commonly used as an adjustable support heavy loads like foundation of houses, or
large vehicles.

With the increasing levels of technology, the efforts being put to produce any kind of
work has been continuously decreasing. The efforts required in achieving the desired output
can be effectively and economically be decreased by the implementation of better designs.
Power screws are used to convert rotary motion into translatory motion. A screw jack is an
example of a power screw in which a small force applied in a horizontal plane is used to raise
or lower a large load. The principle on which it works is similar to that of an inclined plane.
The mechanical advantage of a screw jack is the ratio of the load applied to the effort applied.
The screw jack is operated by turning a lead screw.

The height of the jack is adjusted by turning a lead screw and this adjustment can be
done either manually Most people are familiar with the basic car jack (manually operated)
that is still included as standard equipment with most new cars. In the repair and maintenance
of automobiles (car), it is often necessary to raise an automobile to change a tire or access the
underside of the automobile. Accordingly, a variety of car jacks have been developed for
lifting an automobile from a ground Surface.

1
2 DESCRIPTION OF SCREW JACK:
2.1 Major parts:
Frame

Screw

Nut

Handle

Cup

Set screw

Washer

2.1.1 Frame:
Most of the times frame is conical in shape and hollow internally to accommodate a
nut & screw assembly. It is made by casting. Cast iron is selected as the material for frame.
FG 200 is used as the material for frame as is contains carbon precipitates as graphite flakes
as graphite is soft in nature it improves its ability to resist a compressive load.

2.1.2 Screw:
Screws is a member having helical grooves around periphery of solid bar. Square
threads usually turned on lathes using single point cutting tool. It leads us to use free cutting
steel. The composition of the metal is 0.25% carbon, 1.2% manganese, 0.14% sulphur.
Sulphur gives resistance to wear. Carbon makes the member to withstand compressive loads
till it roots. Manganese is added to easy machining of the member.

2.1.3 Nut:
The relative motion between screw and nut causes friction. The friction causes wear if same
material is used for screw & nut which makes the two components worn out soon. Hence one is used
as soft material. Comparing with nut screw is costlier because it has more material. So nuts are made
soft to reduce the wear. Phosphor bronze is the ideal material for nut which is a copper alloy having
0.2% phosphor. This quantity of addition of phosphor makes the nut to resist tensile loads. This will
make the material corrosion resistant and low coefficient of friction.

2.1.4 Cup:
It is used to hold the object. The shape is complex and so economical to manufacture
by casting process. It is made of cast iron. The grade of the cup will be FG 200.

2
2.1.5 Handle:
It is a long circular bar. It is often called as tommy bar. It is used to rotate the screw.
This will be subjected to twisting and bending moments. The material used to make handle is
plain carbon steel. It contains 0.3% carbon.

2.1.6 Set screw & Washer:

It’s a counter sunk screw used to tighten the cup and screw spindle. Which makes the cup to
fix rigid over the screw for translator motion. And washer is added for better fixing.

3 ASSEMBLY OF SCREW JACK

CUP

CSK SCREW

WASHER

SCREW HANDLE

NUT

FRAME

3
4 DESIGN OF SCREW JACK:
Design of screw jack is based on various parameters. By following the parameters we
should design the screw jack. There are various parameters

Material selection

Ergonomic consideration

Factor of safety

Design of screw

Design of nut

Design of cup

Collar frictional torque

Design of handle

4.1 Material selection:

Material selection is the primary factor in design. With the material selection we can
determine the various properties of the material which is used to determine the strength,
maximum load bearing capacity, etc. Various alloying are done to increase the strength of the
material.

4.2 Ergonomic Consideration:

According to ergonomic consideration a mature man can lift weight up to 1/2 of his
weight. This criterion is applied when work is not continuous. Capacity is 1/3 for continues
work. Thus average weight of person is 60KG. So he can apply 30KG i.e. 300N. Suppose
two worker are working the total force = 300*2*0.9 =540N.

4.3 Factor of Safety:

Many times workers have to work below heavy load such a high risk of work leads to
select higher factor of safety values. The dropping or slipping of weight is life hazards. So it
has to be fool proof. We select factor of safety as ‘5’ for steel component and ‘6’ for cast
iron.

4.4 Design of Screw:

This involves in various parameters. Primarily the core diameter is selected. It is
selected by the formula [compressive strength = load / area]. This diameter will consider only
compressive strength. But the screw will undergo torsion and bending moments with the
increase in diameter. And even in the buckling action also the screw is checked.

4
4.5 Design of Nut:
The permissible bearing pressure between the nut and the screw is calculated. Height
of the nut is measured. Transverse shear between the roots of threads in nut is found out.
Transverse shear in threads of the screw is calculated. And a crush test is conducted to check
the loading capacity of the nut.

4.6 Design of Cup:

Diameter of the nut is found out with the empirical relation of the cup and screw.
After that collar frictional torque is found out. After calculating the friction required bearing
are found out according to the loads and number of workers to work on the jack the handle
length is calculated.

4.7 Design of Handle:

Bending moment is calculated for the bar. Twisting moment is calculated. Friction
forces are calculated. After taking all into account the length of the bar is determined.

5
5 CONCLUSION:
Screw jack is a portable device consisting of a screw mechanism used to raise or
lower the load. There are two types of jacks most commonly used, hydraulic and mechanical.
It can be used to lift a heavy load against gravity. The loads can be kept in lifted position for
a longer duration without backlash. Due to leverage obtained by handle force required to
raise load is very less & can be applied manually also. It may have chances of dropping of
loads. Tipping or slipping of load can be done.

Even though it has greater mechanical advantage and economic conditions, accidents
may happen in lifting of loads. If the load is improperly secured on jack it may fail. If it is
overloaded. Centre of gravity is off centre with axis of jack. Jack is not placed on hard &
level surface. Using for other purpose instead of using it for which it is designed.

6
REFRENCES:

1. www.slideshare.net/screwjack