Department of Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Engineering
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Mechanics and Control Laboratory

Module Applied Mechanics

Module Code ME 1222
Title of the Practical Efficiency of Screw Jack
Aim To determine the characteristics of the Screw Jack mechanism

Outcomes By the end of this practical work, a student should be able to:
 Explain the mechanism of screw jack.
 Identify the relationship between the load and effort.
 Identify the friction coefficient between screw and nut.
 Explain the advantage of screw jack mechanism in
practical applications.

Pre-Lab Questions
1. What is the purpose of screw jack?
2. Describe about Simple Screw Jack, Compound Screw Jack and Differential Screw
Jack.
3. What is the pitch of a screw?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of screw jack mechanism?
5. What are the real-world applications of screw jack mechanism?
Apparatus
Practical Setup: Screw Jack
Weights
Pan
Piece of String
Vernier Caliper

Notations
Eu - Actual effort required to raise the load
Ed - Actual effort required to lower the load
P - Effort required at mean thread radius
p - Pitch of the screw
R - Distance of the actual effort from the axis of rotation
R - Mean radius of the screw
W1 - Weight of the platform and screw
W2 - Load on the platform
W - Total Load on the screw jack
N - Reaction on the load.
F - Frictional force
Ǿ - Angle of friction
α - Helical angle of the screw
η - Efficiency of the screw Jack
β - V angle of the screw

Theory

P
F α
By resolving forces for equilibrium
N = W Cosα + P Sinα (1)

F = P Cosα - W Sinα (2)

µ= =

Tan Ǿ = (Tan Ǿ = µ)

By simplification,
P =W Tan (Ǿ + α)

Similarly, it can be shown

P =W Tan (Ǿ - α) Effort for lowering the load

For a single start screw,

𝑇𝑎𝑛𝛼 =

Total load of the screw,

W = W1 + W2

Torque required,
T = P r = ER

Effort for raising the load,

EuR = W r Tan (Ǿ + α)
( Ǿ )
EuR = Wr
( Ǿ )
( µ )
EuR = Wr
( µ )
( µ )
Eu = W
( µ )
 Similarly, Effort for lowering the load,
( µ )
Ed = W
( µ )

Low of the machine for raising (lifting) and lowering,

E = AW + B where, A & B are constant

The screw efficiency is given by,

𝜂=
( Ǿ)

Efficiency of screw jack,

𝜂=
( )

Procedure
 Measure the platform pulley diameter, outside and core diameters of the thread.
 Remove the platform and screw from the apparatus and weigh it.
 Place a load on the platform and find the effort required on the load hanger to raise
and lower the load at constant speed.
 Repeat the procedure for increasing loads, noting the efforts required in each case.

Calculations
1. Calculate the coefficient of friction using graph. (lowering & raising).
2. Calculate the coefficient of friction using equations.
3. Calculate the screw jack efficiency for each case.
4. Calculate the law of machine for lowering and raising.

Graphs
Plot the graphs
a. Effort Vs Load
b. Efficiency Vs Load

Discussion
1. Comment on the form of the graph.
2. Compare values of µ obtained from graphs and the equations.
Conclusion
 OBSERVATION SHEET

Experiment :

Name :

Reg No :

Stream :

Instructor’s Name :

Date :

Pitch (p) : …………………………

Mean Thread Radius (r) : …………………………

Platform Pulley Radius (R) : …………………………

Weight of the Platform and Screw (W1) : …………………………

Load on Platform (W2) Total Load (W = W1 + W2) Effort Required

(N) (N) (N)
Raising Lowering
10
20
30
40
50