How Do Belleville Washers Work?
Belleville washers apply pressure to bolted connections once you clamp down on them with the proper amount of force. The advantage of this washer is that it applies clamping pressure along a continuous arc pattern, instead of concentrating it at one point, to prevent stress on bolts and washers. Uneven bolt stress can leave some connections loose, while others are overtightened and crush the gasket. This can cause severe service leaks, especially in high-temperature services when the heavily loaded bolts relax. The same goes for excessive vibration, which can loosen flange bolts and ultimately cause flange leakage.
Most often, you’ll find Belleville washers in applications where you have conditions of high current loading or cycling. These washers accommodate for thermal cycling, but they can’t eliminate all the problems resulting from poor workmanship. You must prepare the joint properly (as with any connection), but the key is selecting the proper design and size of Belleville washer for the fasteners and conditions of your application.
Which Type of Belleville Washers Do I Need?
Consider three parameters to select the right Belleville washer: torque, diameter, and finish. Visit our products pages to find this information in each product’s specifications.
Torque
This is the force you need to place on the bolt to flatten the washer for proper clamping. To make a tight connection, you must tighten the connection to the point where its threads just start to deform. Bolts of various hardness, diameter, and material configurations require varying amounts of torque to reach that tightness; this is the same with Belleville washers.
Make the torque for your Belleville washers match that of your bolts to make sure they’re working together. If you exceed a locking washer’s torque, you can destroy the locking washer. And if you under torque, you won’t make use of the washer’s abilities to provide a reliable connection.
Diameter
A Belleville washer generates a clamping force along the tip of its cup perimeter. A correct diameter is important because if it’s too big and the cup overhangs the connection, you’ll have much less clamping force than you need. Search our Belleville Washer product listing to find the diameter you need. If you can’t find a perfect fit on our website, simply contact us and we’ll find the solution you need.
Finish
You can usually select a standard finish for a Belleville washer. However, if there are any process fumes or solvents present, the wrong finish can result in a connection that falls apart. For example, electroplated Belleville washers become brittle in the presence of hydrogen. If you subject a hydrogen-exposed electroplated washer to impact or severe vibration, that washer will break into pieces. If you have questions or concerns about your application, please connect with us to discuss your options.
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