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Spring fasteners, otherwise known as Belleville washers, are a vital component in certain types of machinery. Whereas a flat washer serves a passive role and exerts no pressure on its own, a spring fastener exerts a slight amount of resistance, or pressure, on a connection to maintain a taut hold. This has a few purposes. Consistent Pressure A flat washer’s role is to spread the force of a connection over a wider area to reduce the pressure applied to a given area. This helps to keep the connection tight. For a spring fastener, however, the extra push it gives helps with shock absorption while maintaining a constant, equal pressure over the entire circular arc of the edge contiguous with the connection. If there are jolts or vibrations caused by the normal operation of the system that carries the Belleville washer, it will stay in place much better than an flat washer would, which would likely rattle loose after a number of these events. Stacking & Fine Tuning Engineers find Belleville washers a handy addition to their toolbox because they can be used to adjust the pressure on or flexibility of a joint or bearing. By stacking spring fasteners in parallel or alternating arrangements, engineers are able to modify the spring constant or load deflection. Perhaps even more critically, owing to a Belleville washer’s compact shape, engineers can achieve this effect even in tight spaces that a spring may not be able to fit. Also unlike a spring, single Bellevilles can be added, removed, or reversed (to a parallel or alternating position) in order to make very slight adjustments to the pressure. This makes spring fasteners a forgiving and versatile tool to use in many types of machinery. Low Creep Tendency Washers Belleville washers come in a variety of thicknesses and diameters to suit a wide range of projects. In general, spring fasteners are designed to be highly durable, efficiently utilize space with their low spring height, take on heavy loads, and resist deformation, or creep. If a fastener is placed under excessive strain from a heavy load, the fastener may have a tendency to “creep” over time, particularly plastic fasteners. When this occurs, they gradually lose their tension as they stretch farther and farther out of shape. Eventually, this process will render the fastener useless. Using the wrong kind of material, the wrong weight, the wrong size, or the wrong thickness for a washer for the given project can result in creep. If you are working on a project that requires the use of a spring fastener (or if you’re not sure whether you should use a spring fastener), it may be advisable to consult a hardware technician or engineer to know what type of washer will work best for your situation. Starting with the wrong tools can jeopardize the integrity of the piece later on and damage connections. Get it right the first time to extend the life of the machine, and save yourself some work later on. The author has an immense knowledge on Belleville washer. Know more about Spring fasteners related info in his website.
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