Nuts Without Threads Production Costs Cut
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ASAVING of 3s. 6d. per vehicle in the production of 1,000 vehicles a week has been made possible by using 30 speed-nuts in place of welded case nuts in " blind.' assemblies. This information was given by Mr. R. H. . Exton, sales manager of the Spire Speed Nut Division of Simmonds ACTOCCSsories, Ltd., after a recent film show in Birmingham.
Mr Exton was quoting production figures at the English Ford factory. In America, as many as 300 clips per veh:cie are employed, with an annual saving of 4,000,000 dollars.
The clips, which may take varions forms, are used in a large 'number of applications, including body-panel fastening. grille attachment, name-plate fixing, and light-socket holding. In some. instances a clip has been Substituted for four different parts, and three machining operations, in addition to three welding processes, have been elithinated. The speed clips are simply snapped into the panel-retaining holes.
Spring Steel The standard material' of the speed nuts is spring. Steel, and the standard type is a small plate, which is arched in its pre-locked position, and having two free-acting prongs. They conStitute the threads, and even when partially clogged with paint, they provide a freerunning fit on the screw.
Upon tightening. the prongs move inwards to engage and to lock the flanks of the screw thread, and the plate is flattened against the panel surface. In this way, a combined compensating thread-lock and self-energizing spring lock is provided. Despite the considerable tolerance variations permitted, loosening by vibration is impossible. The nuts return to their original shape when released and may be re-used indefinitely.
If required, the clips may be provided in a form which enables plates to be attached with an offset, or with n2
an intervening gap. There are other kinds for holdingwire, piping, tubular condensers and so forth. For attaching name-plates, light take-out plates and lagging, a push-or type with unthreaded studs is suitable. Tubular clips, knob clips and spring latches. are but a few of the other sorts available.
Speed nuts are produced under licence from Tinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland. U.S.A.