How Locking Nuts Work

The core of the working principle of the locking nut is to use physical mechanisms to enhance the stability of the threaded connection and prevent loosening. This mechanism can be broken down into two broad categories:

1. Friction enhancement principle: This principle is based on the application of tribology. Through its special design, the locking nut exerts significant axial pressure on the threads of the bolt during the tightening process. This pressure causes strong friction between the thread contact surfaces, thereby forming a "friction barrier" between the threads. This high friction not only increases the initial tightening force of the connection, but also effectively resists loosening tendencies caused by vibration, temperature changes or external forces in subsequent use, ensuring the long-lasting stability of the connection.

2. Elastic deformation locking principle: This principle utilizes the elastic properties of the material. Locking nuts are mostly made of materials with certain elasticity, such as some alloy steel or special plastics. During the tightening process, the nut not only fits tightly with the bolt thread, but also slightly deforms due to its own elasticity. This deformation stores energy inside the nut, forming a "memory" state. When external factors try to loosen the thread, the elastic force inside the nut will be released, generating a restoring force in the opposite direction to the loosening, thereby automatically adjusting and re-tightening the threaded connection, effectively preventing loosening from occurring.

In practical applications, these two principles often complement each other and work together on the locking nut to maintain the stability of the connection under various complex working conditions. Through careful construction and material selection, locking nuts can significantly improve the reliability and durability of threaded connections.