B.I.T., MESRA ENGG.

MECHANICS LAB

SCREW JACK

AIM:-
1. To determine the effort required to raise various loads using the screw Jack apparatus
and thence to calculate its velocity ratio, mechanical advantage, effort lost in friction
and the efficiency and also to plot the following graphs.

(a) Load vs. Effort.

(b) Load vs. Mechanical Advantage.
(c) Load vs. Effort lost in friction.
(d) Load vs. Efficiency.

2. To determine the law of the machine for Screw Jack.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:-
A complete set of Screw Jack apparatus with two strings being wound on the
load drum, whose free end passing through the pulleys are hooked to the effort pans, a
standard weight box, pitch gauge etc.

THEORY:-
A screw jack consists of a square-threaded central rod called a screw, fitted
into the internally-threaded collar of a Jack. The load ‘W’ is placed on the screw head
and the effort P is applied horizontally, with the help of a lever (here, with the help of
two strings wound on screw head), so as to rotate the screw. The lifting action of the
screw jack takes place through the normal and frictional forces developed, as the
threaded surface of contact within the collar. Two strings wound on the screw head in
clockwise direction, whose free end passing over the guide pulleys are attached to the
effort pans.

NOTE: Students are advised to refer the Engineering Mechanics books for detailed
theoretical derivations, concepts, and other related terms like lead, pitch, Single &
Multi-Start screws etc.

Velocity Ratio (V.R.):

Let,
W = Load required to the lifted
P = Corresponding effort applied to the machine
D = Dia. of the screw head or load drum
p = Pitch of the thread.

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B.I.T., MESRA ENGG.MECHANICS LAB

Let, the screw head makes one revolution, the screw will be raised through one pitch
( p ) . Since in a single threaded screw, pitch and lead are equal.
Hence,
The load will be moved by a distance of 1 × p and distance moved by the effort is
π ×d

Dis tan ce moved by the effort

∴ Velocity Ratio, V.R. =
Dis tan ce moved by the load in same int erval of time
π ×D
=
p

Mechanical efficiency (η ) :

η = Output work / Input work

Work done on the load Load X Distance moved by the load

η = =
Work done by an effort Effort X Distance moved by an effort

W
W×p W 1 W Mechanical Advantage
= = × = = P=
P × (π D ) P ⎛ π × D ⎞ P × (V .R.) V .R. Velocity Ratio
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p ⎠
Where W = Mechanical Advantage (M.A.)
P

Effort lost in friction (Pf ) :

For an ideal machine, η = 1

∴ Velocity Ratio (V.R.) = Mechanical Advantage = W
P
If Pi be an Ideal Effort, then
V .R. = W
Pi
W
⇒ Pi =
V .R.
And if P is the actual effort and Pi < P
W
∴ Effort lost in friction, Pf = P − Pi = P −
V .R.

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B.I.T., MESRA ENGG.MECHANICS LAB

Frictional Resistance (W f ) :

For an Ideal machine, η = 1

∴ Velocity Ratio (V.R.) = Mechanical Advantage = W
P
If Wi be an Ideal Load, then
W
V .R. = i
P
⇒ Wi = P × V .R.
And if W is the actual Load to be lifted and Wi > W

∴ frictional resistance (W f ) = Wi − W = P × V .R. − W

Law of Machine :-
P = m ×W + C

Where ‘m’ is the slope and ‘C’ is the intercept on Y-axis in the plot of Effort
vs. Load.

PROCEDURE:-

1. The absolute diameter of the screw head and the load drum (d A ) is measured.
2. The diameter of the rope or string (d R ) , wound on the drum is measured and an
effective diameter of the drum (d ) is calculated.
3. The pitch ‘ p ’ of the screw thread is measured with the help of pitch gauge and noted
down.
4. The weight of the effort pan P1 is measured. If the weight of two effort pan is
different then their average is considered.
5. A standard load of ½ Kg is placed on the screw head or the load drum. The small
amount of equal weights are placed on each of the effort pans and are equally
incremented on both of the pans, so that the screw just starts rotating and the whole
system moves with a uniform velocity. This corresponding minimum effort required
is noted down in the observation table.
6. Now, the load is increased on the load pan, in the step of ½ Kg and the above
mentioned step is repeated to get at least six set of corresponding effort reading
(Pincr . ) .
7. Next, repeat the above step while decreasing the load in same step and the
corresponding effort required (Pdecr . ) is noted.

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B.I.T., MESRA ENGG.MECHANICS LAB

OBSERVATION TABLE:-
Absolute diameter of the screw head, dA =
Diameter of the rope or string wound on the drum, d R =
Effective diameter of the screw head or load drum, d =
Pitch of the screw thread, p =
Weight of an effort pan, P1 =

Sr. LOAD EFFORT TOTAL M.A. Wf Pf EFFICIENCY

No P2 = Pmean EFFORT
W (Kgf.) η
(kgf) (kgf)
(Kgf) P = P1 + P2 (%)
Pincr . Pdecr . Pmean (kgf)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

CALCULATIONS:-

Load W =
Pincr . + Pdecr .
Effort, P2 = Pmean = =
2
Total Effort, P = P1 + P2 =
Mechanical Advantage, M = W =
P
W
Effort lost in friction, Pf = p − =
V .R.
Frictional Resistance, W f = P × V .R. − W =
W
Efficiency, η = × 100 (%) =
P × (V .R.)

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B.I.T., MESRA ENGG.MECHANICS LAB

Law of machine, P = m × W + C
Where ‘m’ is the slope and ‘C’ is the intercept on Y-axis in the plot of Load
vs. Effort.

GRAPHS:-
(e) Load vs. Effort.
(f) Load vs. Mechanical Advantage.
(g) Load vs. Effort lost in friction.
(h) Load vs. Efficiency.

SKETCHES:-
Draw neat sketch as provided in manual.

PRECAUTIONS:-
1. Screw head should be well lubricated to minimize the friction.
2. Ensure that both the guide pulleys are free.
3. The effort pan should not touch the wall or the table.
4. Weights should be added or deducted very gently and simultaneously from both the
pans.
5. There shouldn’t be overlapping of the string on screw head or the load drum.

ENGINEERING UTILITY:-

RESULT:-

SCREW JACK
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