What is the HARDLOCK NUT?

　　 Why is it that HLN has continuously been used over the last 40 years?
Sales are increasing every year!
Sales Amount （ 100 million yen ）
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1 4 7 1 0 13 1 6 19 22 2 5 28 31 34 37

Contribution to safe
transportation (Aviation,
Space), Quality of defense
management system JIS Q
9100: certification
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 Contents

　　　 1. 　 About threaded fasteners. 　 －－－

－　　 4
2. 　 Accidents caused by loosening of nuts. 　 －－ －－ 　
5
　　　 3. 　 Cause and countermeasures of loosening nuts . －－ －－　
6
　　　　 　 Cause 　１ 　→　 Countermeasure 　１ .
　　　　 　 　 Cause 　２　　→ Countermeasure 　　 2.
　　

　　　 4. 　 What are the HARD LOCK NUT. 　 －－－

－　 12
　　　　 　 Principle.
　　　　 　　 Structure.
　　　　 　　 Features.
　　　 5. 　 Improvement example. 　　　 －－－
3
 About Threaded Fasteners
Important parts of the Threaded fasteners have their
mechanical components roots in Ancient Mesopotamia. Various shapes.
It was introduced into Japan’s Metric,
island of “Tanegashima” with Unified,
guns in the 16th century.
Round Thread,
Trapezoidal Thread… etc.

Coming loose External and Internal

threads

Various Materials
Breaks Detachable

4
 Accidents caused by loosening of nuts
In 2014, there were approximately 70 reports of accidents caused by loosening of threaded Fasteners.
However, considering all the unreported accidents caused by loosening of threaded fasteners
it is believed to be up to 20.000 accidents caused by loosened fasteners.

Potters bar rail crash, May 10 , 2002.

A four-car West Anglia Great Northern train travelling at 100 mph (approx. 160 kph) bound for King`s Lynn in Norfolk,
England. As the train crossed over a faulty set of points, they moved, causing the bogie of the carriage to cross onto the
adjacent line and ultimately derail and crash into the Potters Bar station, leaving several passengers and spectators severely
injured, as well as 7 casualties.

Four nuts on the set of points at which the West Anglia Great Northern train derailed was not in position, which is believed
to have been the main cause for the accident .

5
The cause of loosening threaded fasteners

Non- Clamp Force

rotating Rotating
reduction! Loosening
Loosening

6
 Loosening Cause and Countermeasures 1-1
Non-rotating loosening １ Countermeasures
Initial loosening （ conformability ） Use Disc spring washer or spring
　 washer which has a reaction force.
Cause ： Irregularities in the
Height contact portion
differential

Subsidence loosening  Use high strength and high rigidity

Cause ： Plastic deformation on the entire surface due
to
the excessive tightening and/or external force.
Depressed volume
washer for prevention of plastic
deformation on the surface.
 Design considering the surface
pressure limit of the member.

7
 Loosening Cause and Countermeasures 1-2
Non-rotating loosening 2 Countermeasures
Fretting corrosion 　  Use high strength materials
Cause ： Abrasion associated with lateral  Apply hardening treatments such as
displacement of the contact portion carbsurfaceurizing or nitriding
 Apply lubricant

adherence adherence

Loosening due to thermal cause  Design considering the coefficient

Cause ： Coefficient of linear thermal of expansion of the material.
expansion 　 Unit:
Steel Stainless steel
Aluminium 10% nickel steel
B
Copper 20% nickel steel
lo olt Carbon steel Duralumin
ad
Cast iron Aluminum Bronze

8
 Loosening Cause and Countermeasures 2
Loosening rotation Countermeasures
Various anti-loosening components

Repeated load to bolts axial rotation direction

Repeated
Load to
bolts axis Repeated loading
perpendicular to bolts axis
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 Why emphasize the bolts axial force?!

Proper axial force Improper axial force

With a proper bolt axial force, With an improper bolt axial force,
the external force is applied to most of the external force is applied
all the components. Therefore, to the bolt. Increasing the possibility
the bolt is less likely to break. for the bolt to break.

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 Reduction in the axial force will cause the bolt to break within a short period of time!

If the stress amplitude is greater than that of the If the bolt axial force is lower than that of the
Fastening Force, the bolt will break more easily. External Stress, the bolt will break more easily.

Bolt Preload
Stress amplitude

Non-breaking
Breaking

Number of repeated stress until breaking (N) Number of repeated stress until breaking
If the variation in external
stress is large, it leads to
Stress higher impact on the bolt.

Low Bolt load

Variation in
the bolt load
Bolt Preload

Variation in external stress

Elastic deformation volume

Number of repeated stress until breaking
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 The principle of HARDLOCK Nut
Wedge
1 2

Strike the wedge with a hammer Push the wedge with the screw of nut

3 4
`

Integrate the wedge with the nut. Simply tighten the convex nut and
Loosening effect occurs!
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 Locking structure of the HARDLOCK NUT
Locking structure of the traditional Japanese “Wedge” principle.
• a

Wedge
2

By combining the Convex Nut designed with an

eccentric conical protrusion 1 and the Concave Nut Due to the strong locking force created by the
with its concentric conical depression 2 , due to the Wedge of the HARDLOCK NUT, no matter if it is
wedge priciple they will lock themselves onto the exposed to severe vibrations and/or impacts
perpendicular axis of the bolt. the HARDLOCK NUT will stay intact!

13
 The HARDLOCK NUT main features

1 An Anti- Loosening locking effect recognized by the world!

Available in various materials and surface treatments

2 tailored to the environment!

3 Reusable without reduction in performance!

Full torque management and completely fastened even

4 with zero (0) axial force!

5 Maintenance-free reduces total cost!

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 The main locking components of the world

Flange nut Double nut Nylon insert nut Spring washer

Self-Lock nut 1 Toothed washer Self-Lock nut 2 Disc spring washer

Anaerobic
Special locking washer HARDLOCK NUT (upper side) HARDLOCK NUT (underside)
adhesive
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1 An Anti-loosening effect recognized by the world! - NAS test results

Let`s verify the anti-loosening effect in the image

Single Nut HARDLOCK Nut

Impact
Stroke

Test bolt
Collar
Frame
Vibration stroke
Plain washer
specimen
The figure above is a schematic diagram of a mounting device based on
the NAS3354. The NAS (NATIONAL AEROSPACE STANDARD) 3350/3354
Double Nuts is an accelerated vibration test commonly referred to as the “NAS test”.
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 1 An Anti-loosening effect recognized by the world! - NAS test results
ＮＡＳ 3350/3354 Test Results （ M10 x
1.5/Class4/Electroplating ）
General Hex nut ゆるみあり

Flange nut
Double nut
Nylon insert nut Pass mark
Self-Lock nut 3
Self-Lock nut 2
HARDLOCK NUT
Spring washer
Toothed washer
Disc spring washer
Special locking washer
Anaerobic adhesive

Number of repeated stress (Cycles)

17
 1 An Anti-loosening effect recognized by the world! - Junker test results 1

Junker Vibration Test （ Loosening under transverse repeated loadings ）

German Industrial Standard ： In accordance to DIN 65151 and DIN 25201-B Junker Vibration Test.
Vibrating the top plate left and right
Junker Vibration Test

HARDLOCK
HARDLOCK Nut
Nut

Schematic diagram

Flange nut
preload
Bolt preload

General Hex nut

Nylon insert nut
General Hex nut
Bolt

with spring washer

Actual test machine

Number of repeated loadings

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 1 An Anti-loosening effect recognized by the world! - Junker test results 2
A x ia l c la m p fo r c e [k N ]

Even with High, Proper or Low axial clamp force, the HARDLOCK NUT will not come loose
60% of the yield point 30% of the yield point

HARDLOCK
HARDLOCK NUT
NUT
HARDLOCK
90% of the NUT
yield point
HARDLOCK NUT
20

15
HARDLOCK
HARDLOCK NUT
NUT

10 Single
SingleNut
Nut
Single
SingleNut
Nut
5 Single
Single Nut
Nut

0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Number of repeated loadings (Cycles) Number of repeated loadings (Cycles) Number of repeated loadings (Cycles)

Even with 3 different amplitude displacements the HARDLOCK NUT will not come loose
10
9
Axial clamp force ［ KN ］

8
7
6 HARDLOCK
HARDLOCK NUT
NUT
5 Amplitude :
4
Single
Single Nut
Nut 0.35mm
3 0.5mm
2
0.75mm
1
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
Number of repeated loadings (Cycles)
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 2 Available in various materials and surface treatments!

Size M5 - M130
W1/4 - W2
UNC1/4 - UNC2
Material 　　 Low carbon steel (JIS SS400), Medium Carbon Steel (S45C)
　　　　　　　　 　 High tensile steel (Cr-Mo, Ni-Cr-Mo) 　
　　　　　　　 　　 Heat-resistant Steel : 　 (Inconel, Incoloy, Monel, Hastelloy)
　　　　　　　 　　 Corrosion-resistant steel : General Stainless steel, Brass,

Titanium Alloy, Aluminum Alloy

　　　　　　　 　　 Resin, New materials
And Various other materials!
Surface treatment Electroplating, Hot-dip galvanizing, Hot-dip aluminized galvanizing
　　　 　　 Non-chromium treatment, Nickel alloy plating
　　　　　　　　　 　 High-performance antibacterial plating,
Aluminum alloy plating
And various other surface treatments! 　　　　　　 　
Shape 　 　　　 Standard type, Thin type and Special types
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 3 Reusable without reduction in performance!
25 25

20 20
Axial clamp force [kN]

Axial clamp force [kN]

15 15

10 1st Tightening 10 11th Tightening

Remaining axial clamp force ： 95 ％ Remaining axial clamp force ： 93 ％
5 5

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500

Number of repeated loadings (Cycles) Number of repeated loadings (Cycles)

25 25

20 20

Axial clamp force [kN]

Axial clamp force [kN]

15 15

10 41st Tightening 10
51st Tightening
Remaining axial clamp force ： 93 ％ Remaining axial clamp force ： 93 ％
5 5

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500

Number of repeated loadings (Cycles) Number of repeated loadings (Cycles)

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 4. 　トルク軸力管理が可能　軸力
4 Full 0 でも完全ロック
torque management and completely fastened !! force!
even with zero axial

1. HARDLOCK NUT 2. Double NUT

The convex nut was tightened to 80% of the yield point, The lower nut is required to fasten with about 50% of the

A x ia l c la m p fo rc e [k N ]
then the concave nut was tightened but still targeted axial force because the Axial clamp force will
A x ia l c la m p fo rc e [k N ]

No change in the axial clamp force ! be increased when the second nut is tightened.

NOT
MANAGEABLE
45 45000
MANAGEABLE
40 40000
35000
35
30000
30
25000
25
20000
20
15000
15
10000
10
5000
5
0
0 0 10 20 30 40 50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
A x ia l c la m p fo rc e [k N ]

A x ia l c la m p fo rc e [k N ]
Large
Tightening Torque [N ・ m]
Tightening Torque [N ・ m]
Large
burden on
!
burden on

S A FE T Y the bolt
the bolt can
lead to
lead
can
to
45000
disaster!
disaster!
45 No change in axial clamp force
40 40000
35 35000
30 30000 Change in
25 25000 axial clamp
20 20000 force
15 15000
10 10000
5 5000
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 0 10 20 30 40 50

Tightening Torque [N ・ m]
Tightening Torque [N ・ m]

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 5 　トルク軸力管理が可能　軸力
4. 0 でも完全ロック
Maintenance-free reduces total cost ! !!
Example of improvement with fish plate for a certain Railway company
BEFORE AFTER

Problem : Solution :
1. Management at high tightening torque of 500N ・ 1. Easy management at low tightening torque of
m 250 - 300N ・ m
2. Since nuts comes loose due to expansion and 2. The need for inspection was reduced greatly
contraction of the rail, the inspection process with only 1 - 2 people once a month!
required 3 people, 3 times a month 3. Bolts breaking was drastically reduced!
3. The fishplate bolt broke frequently.

Labor costs, material costs and Annual maintenance cost was reduced
maintenance cost was extremely high! over hundreds of million yen!
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 5 Maintenance-free reduces total cost !

Total annual cost reduction!

- Example of a certain Railway company`s fishplate fastening -

項目
Item 現行ナット使用の場合
In case of other nuts ハードロックナット使用の場合
In case of HARDLOCK NUTs
Item
項目 Unit
単位 月単位
Monthly 年単位
Yearly 月単位
Monthly 年単位
Yearly
人件費
Labor costs 円／人
Yen / Person 35,000
300.00 35,000
300.00 35,000
300.00 35,000
300.00
作業回数
Procedures 回／月
Times / month 3 36 1 12
作業人数
Work force 人／回
Person / times 3 3 2 2
保線管理室
Track maintenance 箇所
Location 500 500 500 500
人件費総額
Total labor cost 円
US$ 157,500,000
1,350,000.00 1,890,000,000
16,200,000.00 35,000,000
300,000.00 420,000,000
3,600,000.00
ナット単価
Nut price 円
US$ 90
0.75 90
0.75 360
3.00 360
3.00
数量
Quantity 個
Pieces 50,000 600,000 50,000 600,000
ナット総額
Total nut amount 円
US$ 4,500,000
37,500.00 54,000,000
450,000.00 18,000,000
150,000 216,000,000
1,800,000.00
Total cost
トータルコスト 円
US$ 162,000,000
1,387,500.00 1,944,000,000
16,650,000.00 53,000,000
350,000.00 636,000,000
5,400,000.00
経費比較
Cost comparison 1 1 0.33 0.33

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 Improvement case 1

BEFORE AFTER
 In high speed rail cars, repeated impact of  By using the HARDLOCK NUT, even under
the rail coupling causes the nut to loosen repeated impact, loosening is prevented
By using the HARDLOCK Nut, the maintenance cost associated with inspection
and may even risk detachment. and detachment does not occur.
and re-tightening was successfully reduced.
 Damage to friction ring also causes the nut HARDLOCK
The Breakage Nut of the friction ring is eliminated by
to loosen. using the HARDLOCK NUT and has been
adopted by many rail car manufacturers.

25
 Improvement case 2
BEFORE
 To prevent loosening at steelwork
equipment lines, the shafts has key grooves
and is fastened with both toothed washers
and nuts as well as welding in some
instances.
 In recent years, steelwork facilities are
continuing with a fire-free work
environment. Therefore, welding and such
other procedures has been minimalized.
AFTER
 When using HARDLOCK Bearing nuts, it
eliminates the need to use toothed washers,
key grooves and welding procedures,
significantly improving the workability.
 Eliminating the need for welding
procedures, the HARDLOCK products creates
a safe, fire-free work environment.
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 Improvement case 3

BEFORE AFTER

 When a train passes, a force of 500G is  By using the HARDLOCK NUT, the
applied to the switch, and even specially maintenance cost associated with inspection
shaped double nuts used on the movable and re-tightening was successfully reduced.
parts can become loose on a daily basis. usingThe
By the HARDLOCK
HARDLOCK Nut, theNUT
maintenance cost associated
successfully with inspection
maintained
and re-tightening was successfully reduced.
 While the switch (movable part) is essential the gauge
The HARDLOCK of the track and prevents
Nut successf

to maintain the track gauge, it is extremely loosening simultaneously. As a result, the

difficult to maintain the gauge of the track HARDLOCK Nut has been adopted by all
while preventing loosening. railway companies in Japan.

27
 Improvement case 4

BEFORE AFTER
 Steps to prevent loosening had been used  By switching to the HARDLOCK NUT,
including double nuts and the use of spring all problems related to loosening were
washers but vibrations during completely
By using solved.
the HARDLOCK Nut, the maintenance cost associated with inspection
transportation and micro vibrations that  re-tightening
and Because wasloosening does not occur, both the
successfully reduced.
The HARDLOCK Nut successf
occur after installation had resulted in number of inspections and re-tightening
frequent loosening. work has been significantly reduced
resulting in labour savings.

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Architecture

29
 Other major applications 1
Poor environmental areas Hazardous areas High-temperature areas

E.g.,) Petrochemical complex, pharmaceutical E.g.,) Nuclear power plants E.g.,) Gas turbine
chemistry plant, sewage treatment plant. 　

Places where maintenance is impossible 　 Places with continuous operations

E.g.,) Great Seto Bridge, Tokyo Sky Tree , Exterior wall of skyscrapers, E.g.,) Vehicle production facilities, Injection
Water supply and sewerage systems. molding machines, Industrial robots

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 Other major applications 2
Places where strong tightening is difficult Places where safety is the top-priority

E.g.,) Movable parts of wheelchairs, Movable portion of E.g.,) Shinkansen, Amusement equipment , Vehicles, F1 cars
rail points

Places where high-durability is required. Other places where severe vibration and impact occurs

E.g.,) Detached housing, Akashi strait bridge E.g.,) Screen machines, Off-Road trucks, Bulldozers
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