Washers: Typy, Použití, and How to Choose the Right One

Washers, though small, play a crucial role in mechanical assemblies by ensuring secure and durable connections.

They distribute loads, prevent damage, and reduce loosening due to vibration.

These versatile components are widely used in various industries, from automotive and construction to electronics and plumbing.

This guide offers a comprehensive overview of washers, jejich typy, uses, and how to choose the right one for your needs.

1. What is a Washer?

Washers, though often overlooked, are essential components in creating strong and secure mechanical connections.

Typically crafted from metal, a washer is a flat ring with a central hole.

When fastening objects together, it is placed between a nut and the surface (often another piece of metal) to provide several important benefits.

Key Benefits of Washers

Distributing Load:

• • Funkce: Washers help spread the pressure exerted by the tightened nut over a larger area.
  • Prospěch: This prevents the surface from being damaged or dented.
    Například, tightening a nut directly onto a softwood board can cause the concentrated pressure from the nut to dig into the wood.
    A washer distributes this pressure, protecting the wood and ensuring a more even load distribution.

Preventing Loosening:

• • Funkce: Washers create a tighter fit between the nut and the surface, reducing the risk of the connection loosening due to vibrations or movement.
  • Prospěch: In dynamic environments, such as a car experiencing bumps and jolts on the road, washers help maintain a secure connection between nuts and bolts on the chassis,
    ensuring that the fasteners do not come loose over time.

Protecting Surfaces:

• • Funkce: Washers act as a barrier between the nut and the surface, preventing scratches or marring of delicate finishes.
  • Prospěch: Například, a washer can prevent a nut from scraping or chipping the paint when attaching a decorative bracket to a painted wall, preserving the aesthetic appearance of the surface.

Improving Grip:

• • Funkce: The surface texture of the washer can increase friction, further enhancing the tightness of the connection.
  • Prospěch: This is particularly useful in applications where vibrations or movement might occur.
    The increased friction helps to keep the nut and bolt securely in place, reducing the likelihood of loosening.

2. Main Types of Washers

Washers are essential components in mechanical connections, serving various functions such as load distribution, vibration damping, and sealing.

Each type of washer has unique characteristics and applications. Below are some common types of washers:

Flat Washer

Flat washers are the most basic and widely used type of washer. They are designed to expand the area of the bolt seat surface, thereby reducing the surface pressure applied to the fastening object.

This makes them ideal for situations where the material of the fastening object is soft or the contact area is small.

Flat washers are commonly used in general fastening applications to ensure even load distribution and prevent damage to the surface being fastened.

Spring Washer

Spring washers are elastic and are typically used between bolts and nuts. Their primary function is to provide an anti-loosening effect, making them particularly suitable for bolts in hard-to-reach or hard-to-operate parts.

Spring washers come in various forms, such as split washers and Belleville washers.

Split washers have a split cut that provides a spring action, while Belleville washers are conical in shape and offer high load-bearing capacity along with spring action.

These washers are essential in high-vibration environments to maintain secure fastenings.

Lock Washer

Lock washers are designed to prevent bolts or nuts from loosening due to vibration or load changes.

They achieve this through the design of teeth that bite into the fastener and the surface, providing additional grip.

Common types include internal-tooth lock washers and external-tooth lock washers.

Internal-tooth lock washers have teeth that face inward, while external-tooth lock washers have teeth that face outward.

Both types are highly effective in ensuring that fasteners remain secure in dynamic environments.

Stop Washer

Stop washers are used to limit the movement of bolts or nuts and prevent them from slipping off due to vibration or impact.

These washers often have a protruding tab or a similar feature that engages with the fastener or the surface, providing a physical barrier against movement.

Stop washers are particularly useful in applications where the fastener must remain in a fixed position, such as in machinery or structural components.

Sealing Washer

Sealing washers combine the functions of a washer and a sealing ring. They are designed to prevent gas or liquid leakage by creating a tight seal around the fastener.

Sealing washers are commonly made from materials like rubber or other flexible materials, which can conform to the surface and provide an effective barrier against fluids.

They are widely used in plumbing, fluid containment systems, and other applications where sealing is critical.

Special-Shaped Washer

Special-shaped washers are designed to address specific engineering challenges. Examples include spherical washers, conical washers, and square-bevel washers.

These washers are used to absorb uneven surfaces or compensate for gaps of specific shapes.

Spherical washers, například, can accommodate angular misalignment, while conical washers provide a spring action and load distribution.

Square-bevel washers are used to create a tight fit in corners or edges, ensuring secure and stable connections.

Metal-Plastic Composite Washer

Metal-plastic composite washers combine the strength of metal with the corrosion resistance of plastic.

This makes them suitable for application scenarios where both high strength and resistance to environmental factors are required.

These washers are often used in automotive, marine, and industrial applications where exposure to moisture, chemikálie, or other corrosive elements is common.

Composite Material Washer

Composite material washers, such as metal-rubber composite washers, leverage the supporting function of metal and the sealing performance of rubber.

These washers are particularly useful in applications where both load distribution and sealing are critical.

Například, they are often used in hydraulic systems, where they must provide a tight seal while withstanding high pressures and dynamic loads.

Special-Material Washer

Special-material washers are made from a variety of materials to suit different working environments.

Common materials include stainless steel, měď, a hliník. Stainless steel washers are corrosion-resistant and durable, making them ideal for outdoor and harsh environments.

Copper washers are known for their conductivity and are often used in electrical applications.

Aluminum washers are lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making them suitable for aerospace and automotive applications.

The choice of material depends on the specific requirements of the application, such as temperature, chemical exposure, and load conditions.

High-Performance Washer

High-performance washers are designed for extreme working conditions, such as high temperatures or high pressures.

These washers are typically made from special alloy materials that can withstand harsh environments without degrading.

Například, washers used in high-temperature applications might be made from materials like Inconel or Hastelloy, which maintain their strength and integrity at elevated temperatures.

Similarly, washers for high-pressure applications are often made from materials that can handle significant loads without deforming or failing.

Srovnávací tabulka

Type of Washer	Design	Funkce	Běžné aplikace	Výhody
Flat Washers	Simple, flat, circular	Load distribution	General fastening	Easy to install, nákladově efektivní
Spring Washers	Split, conical	Prevent loosening due to vibration	High-vibration environments	Excellent anti-vibration, high load
Lock Washers	Toothed	Provide additional grip to resist loosening	High-vibration environments	Enhanced security, prevents loosening
Sealing Washers	Rubber, flexible	Prevent leakage in fluid systems	Plumbing, fluid containment	Ensures tight seals, prevents leaks
Specialized Washers	Wave, star	Unique load distribution or spring action	Specific applications	Specialized solutions, univerzální

3. Materials Used for Washers

Washers can be made from a variety of materials, each with its own set of properties and applications.

Metal Washers

• Ocel: Durable and cost-effective, but susceptible to corrosion.

• • Common Grades: Stupeň 2, Stupeň 5, Stupeň 8.
  • Aplikace: General fastening, automobilový průmysl, construction.

• Nerez: Corrosion-resistant and durable, suitable for outdoor and harsh environments.

• • Common Grades: 304, 316.
  • Aplikace: Marine, chemikálie, and outdoor applications.

• Mosaz: Corrosion-resistant and aesthetically pleasing, often used in decorative applications.

• • Common Grades: C36000, C26000.
  • Aplikace: Decorative, marine, electrical.

• Hliník: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, suitable for aerospace and automotive applications.

• • Common Grades: 2024, 6061.
  • Aplikace: Aerospace, automobilový průmysl, marine.

Non-Metal Washers

• Nylon: Lehký, odolný, and resistant to chemicals and abrasion.

• • Common Grades: 6/6, 6/12.
  • Aplikace: Electrical, chemikálie, and low-friction applications.

• Rubber: Flexible and resilient, often used in sealing applications.

• • Common Grades: Nitrile, silicone.
  • Aplikace: Plumbing, sealing, vibration dampening.

• Plastic: Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, suitable for low-load applications.

• • Common Grades: PTFE, PVC.
  • Aplikace: Electrical, chemikálie, and low-load applications.

Comparison of Material Properties

Materiál	Trvanlivost	Odolnost proti korozi	Flexibilita	Běžné aplikace
Ocel	Vysoký	Nízký	Nízký	General fastening
Nerez	Vysoký	Vysoký	Nízký	Outdoor, harsh environments
Mosaz	Mírný	Vysoký	Nízký	Decorative, marine
Hliník	Vysoký	Vysoký	Nízký	Aerospace, automobilový průmysl
Nylon	Vysoký	Vysoký	Vysoký	Chemical, oděr
Rubber	Mírný	Vysoký	Vysoký	Sealing, vibration dampening
Plastic	Mírný	Vysoký	Vysoký	Low-load applications

4. Applications of Washers

Washers find extensive use across various industries, each benefiting from their unique properties and functions.

Automobilový průmysl

• Engines: Distribute the load of bolts and nuts, preventing damage to engine components.
• Suspensions: Provide a smooth bearing surface and reduce wear.
• Other Components: Ensure secure fastening in various parts of the vehicle.
• Statistics: Nad 90% of automotive fasteners use washers to ensure reliability and safety.

Konstrukce

• Structural Integrity: Enhance the stability and load-bearing capacity of structures.
• Stability: Prevent loosening due to environmental factors like wind and earthquakes.
• Statistics: Construction projects often use washers to secure over 50% of structural fasteners.

Elektronika

• Insulation: Prevent electrical shorts and provide insulation between components.
• Spacing: Maintain the correct distance between components to ensure proper functionality.
• Statistics: Electronic devices use washers in over 70% of their internal fastening applications.

Plumbing

• Sealing: Prevent leaks in pipes and fittings.
• Fluid Containment: Ensure tight seals in fluid systems.
• Statistics: Plumbing systems use washers in nearly 80% of their connections to ensure watertight seals.

5. Washer Standards You Need to Know

Washers come in various sizes and thicknesses, and selecting the right one for your nut and bolt is crucial for ensuring proper fit and load distribution.

Here are some key standards and considerations to keep in mind:

Diameter

The diameter of the washer should match the diameter of the nut it is paired with. This ensures a proper fit and effective load distribution.

If the washer’s hole is too small, it won’t sit flat, compromising its effectiveness. Conversely, if the washer is too large, it will leave gaps around the nut, reducing its load-bearing capacity.

Thickness

Washer thickness can vary depending on the application. A thicker washer provides better load distribution and is often necessary for high-stress applications.

Však, excessively thick washers can create clearance issues or interfere with the functionality of the assembled components.

Standard washer thicknesses are typically denoted with a gauge number, with lower numbers indicating thicker washers.

Například, a “1/4-20 x 1/16” washer indicates a washer with a 1/4-inch diameter hole and a thickness of 1/16 inch, designed for use with a 1/4-20 nut and bolt.

Common Washer Standards

1. ASME B18.21.1:

• • Popis: This standard covers flat washers and specifies dimensions, tolerance, and material properties.
  • Aplikace: General-purpose flat washers for a wide range of applications.
  • Key Dimensions: Outer diameter, inner diameter, a tloušťka.

2. Z 125:

• • Popis: This standard defines flat washers in metric sizes.
  • Aplikace: Metric fastening applications.
  • Key Dimensions: Outer diameter, inner diameter, a tloušťka.

3. ISO 7089:

• • Popis: International standard for flat washers.
  • Aplikace: Global applications requiring standardized washers.
  • Key Dimensions: Outer diameter, inner diameter, a tloušťka.

4. ASTM A569:

• • Popis: Standard for carbon steel washers.
  • Aplikace: Carbon steel washers for general-purpose fastening.
  • Key Dimensions: Outer diameter, inner diameter, a tloušťka.

Additional Factors to Consider

• Finish:

• • Options: Plain, zinc-plated, nerez, and others.
  • Úvahy: The choice of finish depends on the application and the desired level of corrosion resistance.

• • • Plain Steel: Suitable for indoor use in dry environments.
    • Zinc-Plated: Offers better protection in humid environments.
    • Nerez: Highly corrosion-resistant and suitable for outdoor and harsh environments.

• Pevnost:

• • Stupně: Washers are rated for strength, typically indicated by a grade number.
  • Úvahy: Higher-grade washers can withstand greater loads and are suitable for heavy-duty applications.

• • • Stupeň 2: Low to medium strength, Vhodné pro obecné účely.
    • Stupeň 5: Medium to high strength, suitable for automotive and construction applications.
    • Stupeň 8: Vysoká síla, suitable for heavy-duty applications.

• Teplota:

• • Materiály: For applications exposed to extreme temperatures, washers made from high-temperature resistant materials are necessary.
  • Příklady:

• • • Inconel: Resistant to high temperatures and corrosion, suitable for aerospace and industrial applications.
    • Hastelloy: High-strength and corrosion-resistant, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

Using a Washer-size chart

For ease of selection, washers are often specified using a combination of diameter and thickness.

Referring to a washer size chart is always a good practice.

Most hardware stores and online retailers provide these charts to help customers choose the appropriate washer size based on the nut and bolt they are using.

Example of a Washer Size Chart

Washer Type	Diameter (v)	Inner Diameter (v)	Thickness (v)	Aplikace
Flat Washer	1/4	1/4	1/16	Generál
Flat Washer	5/16	5/16	1/16	Generál
Flat Washer	3/8	3/8	1/16	Generál
Flat Washer	1/2	1/2	1/16	Generál
Spring Washer	1/4	1/4	1/16	Vibration
Spring Washer	5/16	5/16	1/16	Vibration
Spring Washer	3/8	3/8	1/16	Vibration
Spring Washer	1/2	1/2	1/16	Vibration

6. Details to Pay Attention to When Choosing Washers

When choosing washers, it’s important to pay attention to several key details to ensure optimal performance and compatibility with your application:

Material Compatibility:

Select a washer material that is compatible with the operating environment and the media it will come into contact with.
Například, use non-metallic materials like rubber or PTFE in environments where chemical resistance is required.

Operating Temperature and Pressure:

Make sure the chosen washer can withstand the operating temperatures and pressures without degrading its properties.
High-temperature applications might necessitate using materials like silicone or fluorocarbons.

Size Matching:

The inner diameter of the washer must match the shank of the fastener, while the outer diameter should fit within the bore of the component being fastened to provide adequate bearing surface area.

Thickness:

Choose a washer with an appropriate thickness to accommodate the necessary preload without causing excessive stress on the bolting system.
Thicker washers offer greater load distribution but may require higher torque during assembly.

Povrchová úprava:

Ensure the washer has a suitable surface finish to prevent galling or damage to mating surfaces.
Surface treatments such as zinc plating or black oxide can improve corrosion resistance and reduce friction.

Hardware Grade:

Match the grade of the washer to the hardware you are using. Higher-grade fasteners often require washers of matching quality to maintain their strength and longevity.

Special Features:

Consider any special features required for your application, such as locking capabilities to prevent loosening due to vibration, or elastomeric coatings for enhanced sealing performance.

Standard Compliance:

Where possible, choose washers that comply with international or industry standards, jako je ISO, Z, or ANSI, to ensure interchangeability and quality.

7. Judging the Corrosion Resistance of Washers

When choosing washers, it is very important to judge their corrosion resistance because washers will come into contact with corrosive media in many applications.

Here are some methods for judging the corrosion resistance of washers:

Consult Material Data Sheets:

Washer manufacturers usually provide material data sheets, which contain information about the material’s corrosion resistance,
such as acid-alkali resistance and solvent resistance.

Refer to Certifications and Test Reports:

If the washer has passed relevant international standards such as ISO tests or has a corrosion-resistance test report issued by a third-party organization,
these are important bases for judging the corrosion resistance of the washer.

Understand Washer Materials:

Different materials have different corrosion resistance. Například, metal washers such as stainless steel, Hastelloy, Monel, and titanium alloys,
as well as non-metal washers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and fluoro rubber, usually have good corrosion resistance.

Analysis of Application Environments:

Select an appropriate material according to the specific environment in which the washer will be used (such as temperature, pressure, types, and concentrations of chemicals in contact).

Consideration of Patent Technologies:

Consider whether the washer adopts special patented technologies to improve its corrosion resistance.

Seek Professional Advice:

If professional advice is required, you can consult materials scientists or engineers in relevant fields.
They can provide professional material selection advice according to the specific application of the washer.

8. Washers in Modern Engineering

Advancements in technology and materials science have led to the development of new and improved washer designs.

Technological Advancements

• Self-Locking Washers: Incorporate features that provide additional locking mechanisms, enhancing security in high-vibration environments.
• Custom-Designed Washers: Tailored to specific applications, offering optimized performance and functionality.
• Příklad: Self-locking washers with a nylon insert can provide superior anti-vibration properties in automotive suspensions.

Sustainable Materials

• Eco-Friendly Materials: The use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials is becoming increasingly important in manufacturing.
• Recyclable Materials: Washers made from recyclable materials help reduce waste and environmental impact.
• Příklad: Washers made from recycled plastic can be used in low-load applications, reducing the environmental footprint.

Future Trends

• Customization: Custom-designed washers for specific applications, using advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing.
• Smart Washers: Washers equipped with sensors to monitor performance and provide real-time data.
• Příklad: Smart washers with embedded sensors can detect wear and send alerts to maintenance systems, ensuring timely replacements.

9. Závěr

Washers are essential components in mechanical assemblies, providing load distribution, preventing damage, and reducing loosening due to vibration.

Understanding the different types of washers, their materials, and their applications is crucial for selecting the right washer for your needs.

By following best practices for maintenance and staying informed about technological advancements, you can ensure that your mechanical assemblies remain secure, odolný, and efficient.

Whether you’re working in automotive, construction, elektronika, or plumbing, the right washer can make all the difference.

If you’re ready to choose the perfect washer, reach out to us for expert advice and top-quality products!