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Specialist Fasteners

Product News Wednesday, November 15, 2006: Fast Bolt a Division of Bearing Man

Bearing Man’s specialist fasteners division, which benefits from two routes to the market - via Fast Bolt and Springset - distributes a comprehensive range of quality branded fasteners and related products throughout Southern Africa.

“The division is uniquely positioned to provide almost any fastener required, within 24 hours, anywhere in the country,” says Darryl Campbell, divisional head of Fast Bolt. “Our competitive advantage is a large stockholding and the ability to source products at highly competitive prices. An efficient distribution system ensures just-in-time delivery.

“Fast Bolt distributes mining, engineering and agricultural sectors, through selected Bearing Man branches, while Springset supplies bolt and nut re-sellers, as well as directly to original equipment manufacturers and wholesalers.

“The fasteners division, which launches new products on an ongoing basis to meet exact market requirements, is well positioned to further increase market share in a highly competitive industry.”

Fast Bolt has recently extended its range to include new lock bolts and the range of Gearforce and Sata tooling. (?)

As official distributors and agents for Alcoa Huck Fasteners in the sub Saharan region, the company has launched the new locally manufactured Lock Bolt range that is fully compatible with existing tooling. This product, used in applications where vibration is a problem and where there is loosening of existing fasteners, is available in sizes from 13 mm to 22 mm. Other sizes will soon be produced.

The Lock Bolt fastener consists of a pin and collar, similar to a nut and bolt. The pin has no threads, but annular locking grooves and the collar, which is swaged onto the pin with the use of an hydraulic placing tool, forms into the locking grooves. This prevents the fastener from loosening in the application.

Many other high strength type fasteners in the Huck range, designed for use in diverse applications, are available from Fast Bolt.

New to the range is the patented GearRatchet™ vortex socket system, with a thin wall and arch design, which increases torque by about 40%.

The thin socket and extension design reaches into recesses and eliminates the need for a deep socket. This socket system has an slim profile, high strength and the speed of a 5º precision movement.

For user convenience, the GearRatchet™ converts, with the use of two adapters, to a conventional 1/4” or 3/8” ratchet for standard sockets and drive tools.

A complete line of S.A.E and metric sockets is available in this range from Fast Bolt.

Another important product in the Fast Bolt range is the Nord-Lock bolt securing system which uses tension instead of friction, to ensure that joints holding sub-assemblies together remain secure.

“Bolts on equipment need to be easily removable during maintenance procedures, but must resist the loosening effects of vibrations and dynamic loads, says Darryl Campbell. “Bolts that are locked conventionally by friction in the thread tend to lose most of their preload through vibrations, while those locked by the tension of this system present a minor loss of preload which is caused mainly by settlement in the thread. Even after moderate tightening, the bolt is safely locked when using Nord-Lock.”

It has become increasingly important to have good control of the torque-clamp load relationship when tightening a joint. To optimise the design of the joint and utilise as much of the capacity of each dimension as possible, it is important to know the required tightening torque.

Nord-Lock washers, which are installed in pairs, cam face to cam face, have cams on one side, with a greater rise than the pitch of the bolt. When the bolt and/or nut is tightened, the radial teeth on the opposite side grip and seat the mating surfaces. The teeth also lock the washers in place, allowing movement only across the face of the cams. The resulting tension makes the bolt self-locking.

These washers can be used on standard grade, as well as high grade bolts and there is no need for adhesives to lock the stud bolt. This system is designed for use in tapped and counter-bored holes and for larger holes or on soft materials, a flange nut or bolt should be used in combination with Nord-lock washers with a larger outer diameter.

Advantages of this re-usable system include maximum safety when locking fasteners, easy assembly and disassembly, positive locking at low or high preload levels and minimum surface marring or scratching. This system, which has the same temperature characteristics as a standard bolt or nut, resists loosening caused by vibration and dynamic loads. The locking function is not lost by lubrication.

A method for testing the security of a bolted joint is the Junker-vibration test where the preload (bolt tension) is measured by a load cell and vibrating motions are generated radically through the bolt.

Locally manufactured and imported products, which conform with DIN and ISO specifications, range from small diameter screws used in the electrical industry, to large diameter high tensile bolts used in the construction and mining industries are all available through the Fast Bolt and Springset network of branches.