Washers are thin disk-shaped plates used to spread the load in screws and nuts or prevent leakages. They are also used as wear pads, preloaded indicating devices or spacers. Washers are usually made of plastic, rubber, or metal, but at times, they can be of hardened steel, especially if they are used in high quality and sensitive joints. This article will look to identify five different types of washers and their specific uses.
Plain washers
These are mostly spherical in shape and are made of metal. They include:
• Plain or flat washers
These are flat rings basically used in fastening of screws to spread the load evenly. Also, in the event that the hole being screwed is bigger in diameter than the screw itself, the washers cover the remaining space, thus making the screws fit without leaving gaping spaces around.
Spherical washers
These washers have one radiused exterior. They are used in conjunction with mating nuts so as to provide misalignment of different parts of the screwed items. This allows one to achieve their required degrees of misalignment as may be required.
• Fender washer (US) or penny/repair washer (UK)
These are flat washers, but they have a larger outer diameter as compared to the size of their holes. The main purpose of these washers is to spread the load on sheen metal. Fender/repair washers are widely used in the automobile industry, hence their name ‘automobile fenders’. Another imperative use of this type of washers is covering of holes that have been occasioned by rust.
Anchor plates of wall washers
They are large plates that consist of a tie and a bolt and are mainly used in masonry construction for reinforcing structures. Due to the fact that they are openly visible when placed, these washers tend to have attractive shapes and formations in order to enhance the beauty of the final products.
Spring washers
This type of washers includes:
• Belleville washers or conical washers
These are washers with conical shapes. Their main use is to facilitate an axial form when damaged. To increase the locking capacity, the surface of these washers are serrated.
• Curved disk spring
These are similar to Belleville washers but are curved on one side. This enables them to exert minimal pressure only.
• Wave washers
They have a wavy axial direction to improve pressure at compression but produce a force which is less than that of Belleville washers.
Gaskets
Gaskets are generally made of aluminum, copper or other light metals. They are used in automobiles to seal off gas or oil connections and prevent leakages.
Shoulder gaskets have an integral cylindrical sleeve and are applied when separating varying metals types as well as seals.
Specialized washers
These include:
• Keps nut (k-lock nut)
These are nuts with integrated washers that spin for easier and faster usage.
• Top hat washers
These shoulder typed washers are generally used in plumbing works.
• Insulating shoulder washers
These are made of nylon, plastic or peek. They facilitate electrical isolation of mounting screws from the places they cover.
• Keyed washers
Used to avoid spinning between two nuts, for instance, in bicycles where two or more bolts are fixed together.
There are different sizes of washers. Manufacturers of fender washers and Superior washers have varying types and sizes of washers. Any size and shape of washers that you need can be provided here.