Nomenclature and Terminology used In Screw Threads

Table of Contents

Nomenclature and Terminology used In Screw Threads

Introduction To Screw Thread:

A screw thread is formed by cutting a continuous helical groove on a cylindrical surface. A screw made by cutting a single helical groove on the cylinder is known as single threaded (or single-start) screw and if a second thread is cut in the space between the grooves of the first, a double threaded (or double-start) screw is formed. Similarly, triple and quadruple (i.e. multiple-start) threads may be formed.

The helical grooves may be cut either right hand or left hand. A screwed joint is mainly composed of two elements i.e. a bolt and nut. The screwed joints are widely used where the machine parts are required to be readily connected or disconnected without damage to the machine or the fastening. This may be for the purpose of holding or adjustment in assembly or service inspection, repair, or replacement or it may be for the manufacturing or assembly reasons.

Terminology /Nomenclature Of Screw Thread:

Nomenclature and Terminology used In Screw Threads

The following terms used in screw threads, as shown in Fig., are important from the subject point of view :

1. Major diameter.

It is the largest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. The screw is specified by this diameter. It is also known as outside or nominal diameter.

2. Minor diameter.

It is the smallest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. It is also known as core or root diameter.

3. Pitch diameter.

It is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, on a cylindrical screw thread, the surface of which would pass through the thread at such points as to make equal the width of the thread and the width of the spaces between the threads. It is also called an effective diameter. In a nut and bolt assembly, it is the diameter at which the ridges on the bolt are in complete touch with the ridges of the corresponding nut.

4. Pitch.

It is the distance from a point on one thread to the corresponding point on the next. This is measured in an axial direction between corresponding points in the same axial plane.

Mathematically,

Pitch = 1 / No. of threads per unit length of screw

5. Lead.

It is the distance between two corresponding points on the same helix. It may also be defined as the distance which a screw thread advances axially in one rotation of the nut. Lead is equal to the pitch in case of single start threads, it is twice the pitch in double start, thrice the pitch in triple start and so on.

6. Crest.

It is the top surface of the thread.

7. Root.

It is the bottom surface created by the two adjacent flanks of the thread.

8. Depth of thread.

It is the perpendicular distance between the crest and root.

9. Flank.

It is the surface joining the crest and root.

10. Angle of thread.

It is the angle included by the flanks of the thread.

11. Slope.

It is half the pitch of the thread.