CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1 Abstracts
1.2. Scissor jack basics
1.3. History
1.4. Applications
1.5. Advantages
1.6. Disadvantages

3
4
5-7
8
9
10

2. Literature Review
2.1. Description of Mechanical Components
2.2. Description of Special Mechanism Implemented

12-15
15-20

2.3. Study of Scissor Jack and its Working

20-23

3. Design and Fabrication

3.1. Load criteria and assumptions
3.2. Material selection
3.3. 3D model in CAD

25
26
27-34

4. Problems Faced

35

5. Solutions Adapted

36

6. Conclusion

37

7. Bibliography

38

GOVT. POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, RAHOGARH

Page 1

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.

Abstract

2.

Scissor Jack Basics

3.

History

4.

Applications

5.

Advantages

6.

Disadvantages

2 | Page

Abstracts:

With the increasing levels of technology, the efforts being put to produce any kind of
work has been continuously decreasing. The efforts required in achieving the desired
output can be effectively and economically be decreased by the implementation of better
designs.
Power screws are used to convert rotary motion into translatory motion. A screw jack is
an example of a power screw in which a small force applied in a horizontal plane is used
to raise or lower a large load. The principle on which it works is similar to that of an
inclined plane. The mechanical advantage of a screw jack is the ratio of the load applied
to the effort applied. The screw jack is operated by turning a lead screw. The height of the
jack is adjusted by turning a lead screw and this adjustment can be done either manually
or by integrating an electric motor.
A jack is mechanical device used to lift heavy loads or apply great forces. Jacks employ a
screw thread or hydraulic cylinder to apply very high linear forces.
A mechanical jack is a device which lifts heavy equipment. The most common form is a
car jack, floor jack or garage jack which lifts vehicles so that maintenance can be
performed. Car jacks usually use mechanical advantage to allow a human to lift a vehicle
by manual force alone. More powerful jacks use hydraulic power to provide more lift
over greater distances. Mechanical jacks are usually rated for a maximum lifting capacity.
As our area of concern is a screw jack used for lifting the car that is scissor jack, so only
the scissor jack and its background is discussed below.

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Scissor Jack Basics:

Scissor jacks are simple mechanisms used to drive large loads short distances.The power
screw design of a common scissor jack reduces the amount of force required by the user
to drive the mechanism. Most scissor jacks are similar in design, consisting of four main
members driven by a power screw. A scissor jack is operated simply by turning a small
crank that is inserted into one end of the scissor jack. This crank is usually "Z" shaped.
The end fits into a ring hole mounted on the end of the screw, which is the object of force
on the scissor jack. When this crank is turned, the screw turns, and this raises the jack.
The screw acts like a gear mechanism. It has teeth (the screw thread), which turn and
move the two arms, producing work. Just by turning this screw thread, the scissor jack
can lift a vehicle that is several thousand pounds. Power screw in a scissor jack is the
foundation of whole mechanism of scissor jack.

Fig 1.2.1
Conventional Scissor Jack

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History:

Screw type mechanical jacks were very common for jeeps and trucks of World War II
vintage. For example, the World War II jeeps (Willys MB and Ford GPW) were issued
the "Jack, Automobile, Screw type, Capacity 1 1/2 ton", Ordnance part number 41-J-66.
This jacks, and similar jacks for trucks, were activated by using the lug wrench as a
handle for the jack's ratchet action to of the jack. The 41-J-66 jack was carried in the
jeep's tool compartment. Screw type jack's continued in use for small capacity
requirements due to low cost of production raise or lower it. A control tab is marked
up/down and its position determines the direction of movement and almost no
maintenance.
The virtues of using a screw as a machine, essentially an inclined plane wound round a
cylinder, was first demonstrated by Archimedes in 200BC with his device used for
pumping water.
There is evidence of the use of screws in the Ancient Roman world but it was the great
Leonardo da Vinci, in the late 1400s, who first demonstrated the use of a screw jack for
lifting loads. Leonardos design used a threaded worm gear, supported on bearings, that
rotated by the turning of a worm shaft to drive a lifting screw to move the load - instantly
recognisable as the principle we use today.

5 | Page

We cant be sure of the intended application of his invention, but it seems to have been
relegated to the history books, along with the helicopter and tank, for almost four
centuries. It is not until the late 1800s that we have evidence of the product being
developed further.
With the industrial revolution of the late 18th and 19th centuries came the first use of
screws in machine tools, via English inventors such as John Wilkinson and Henry
Maudsley The most notable inventor in mechanical engineering from the early 1800s was
undoubtedly the mechanical genius Joseph Whitworth, who recognised the need for
precision had become as important in industry as the provision of power.
While he would eventually have over 50 British patents with titles ranging from knitting
machines to rifles, it was Whitworths work on screw cutting machines, accurate
measuring instruments and standards covering the angle and pitch of screw threads that
would most influence our industry today.
Meanwhile, in Alleghany County near Pittsburgh in 1883, an enterprising Mississippi
river boat captain named Josiah Barrett had an idea for a ratchet jack that would pull
barges together to form a tow. The idea was based on the familiar lever and fulcrum
principle and he needed someone to manufacture it. That person was Samuel Duff,
proprietor of a local machine shop.

Together, they
created the Duff
Manufacturing
Company, which by 1890 had developed new applications for the original Barrett Jack
and extended the product line to seven models in varying capacities.

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Over the next 30 years the Duff Manufacturing Company became the largest
manufacturer of lifting jacks in the world, developing many new types of jack for various
applications including its own version of the ball bearing screw jack. It was only natural
that in 1928, The Duff Manufacturing Company Inc. merged with A.O. Norton to create
the Duff-Norton Manufacturing Company.
Both companies had offered manually operated screw jacks but the first new product
manufactured under the joint venture was the air motor-operated power jack that
appeared in 1929. With the aid of the relatively new portable compressor technology,
users now could move and position loads without manual effort. The jack, used
predominantly in the railway industry, incorporated an air motor manufactured by The
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company.
Air Motor Power Jack
There was clearly potential for using this technology for other applications and only 10
years later, in 1940, the first worm gear screw jack, that is instantly recognizable today,
was offered by Duff-Norton, for adjusting the heights of truck loading platforms and mill
tables. With the ability to be used individually or linked mechanically and driven by
either air or electric motors or even manually, the first model had a lifting capacity of 10
tons with raises of 2 or 4.
Worm Gear Jack 4

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Applications:

The main applications of power screws are as follows:

(i) To raise the load, e.g. screw-jack.
(ii) To obtain accurate motion in machining operations, e.g. lead-screw of lathe.
(iii) To clamp a workpiece, e.g. vice.
(iv) To load a specimen, e.g. universal testing machine.
There are three essential parts of a power screw, viz.screw, nut and a part to hold either
the screw or the nut in its place. Depending upon the holding arrangement, power screws
operate in two different ways. In some cases, the screw rotates in its bearing, while the
nut has axial motion. The lead screw of the lathe is an example of this category. In other
applications, the nut is kept stationary and the screw moves in axial direction. Screw-jack
and machine vice are the examples of this category.

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Advantages:

Power screws offer the following advantages:

(i) Power screw has large load carrying capacity.
(ii) The overall dimensions of the power screw are small, resulting in compact
construction.
(iii) Power screw is simple to design
(iv) The manufacturing of power screw is easy without requiring specialized machinery.
Square threads are turned on lathe. Trapezoidal threads are manufactured on thread
milling machine.
(v) Power screw provides large mechanical advantage. A load of 15 kN can be raised by
applying an effort as small as 400 N.Therefore, most of the power screws used in various
applications like screw-jacks, clamps, valves and vices are usually manually operated.
(vi) Power screws provide precisely controlled and highly accurate linear motion required
in machine tool applications.
(vii) Power screws give smooth and noiseless service without any maintenance.
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(viii) There are only a few parts in power screw. This reduces cost and increases
reliability.
(ix) Power screw can be designed with self-locking property. In screw-jack application,
self locking characteristic is required to prevent the load from descending on its own.

Disadvantages:

The disadvantages of power screws are as follows:

(i) Power screws have very poor efficiency; as low as 40%.Therefore, it is not used in
continuous power transmission in machine tools, with the exception of the lead screw.
Power screws are mainly used for intermittent motion that is occasionally required for
lifting the load or actuating the mechanism.
(ii) High friction in threads causes rapid wear of the screw or the nut. In case of square
threads, the nut is usually made of soft material and replaced when worn out. In
trapezoidal threads, a split- type of nut is used to compensate for the wear. Therefore,
wear is a serious problem in power screws.
(iii) The most common problem encountered while using scissor jack is the instability of
jack while giving jerks to loosen the wheel nut. Also the common jack having small base
is unable to provide proper support on uneven surface esp. off-road and no inclination in
that jack is tolerable.

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Chapter 2: Literature Review

1

Description of Mechanical Components

Description of Special Mechanism Implemented

Study of Scissor Jack and its Working

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Description of Mechanical Components

Various Mechanical parts used in Scissor Jack are:

Frame

Power screw

Rivets

Coupling nut

Crank

Frame:
The entire frame of the scissor jack consists of links(top and bottom), base frame, support
frame. The frame is manufactured by sheet metal processes and forming by low-medium
carbon steel.
Power screw:
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Power screws are used to convert rotary motion in to translational motion. It is also called
translational screw. They find use in machines such as universal tensile testing machines,
machine tools, automotive jacks, vises; aircraft flap extenders, trench braces, linear
actuators, adjustable floor posts, micrometers, and C-clamps. A screw thread is formed
by cutting a continuous helical groove around the cylinder. These grooves are cut either
left hand or right hand.
The majority of screws are tightened by clockwise rotation, which is termed a right-hand
thread. Screws with left-hand threads are used in exceptional cases. For example,
anticlockwise forces are applied to the screw (which would work to undo a right-hand
thread), a left-hand-threaded screw would be an appropriate choice.

Power screws are typically made from carbon steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel and they
are usually used with bronze, plastic, or steel mating nuts. Bronze and plastic nuts are
popular for higher duty applications and they provide low coefficients of friction for
minimizing drive torques.

There are important terms and figures that need to be understood before designing power
screws:
1. Pitch: is the distance from a point on one thread to the corresponding thread on the
next adjacent thread, measured parallel to the axial plane.
2. Lead: is the distance the screw would advance relative to the nut in one rotation. For
single thread screw, lead is equal to pitch.
3. Helix Angle: is related to the lead and the mean radius by the equation below;

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Fig 2.1.1
Power screw
Basics of power screws

Power screws provide a compact means for transmitting motion and power. They are
ideal for replacing hydraulic and pneumatic drive systems as they require no
compressors, pumps, piping, filters, tanks, valves or any other support items required by
these systems. Also, screws don't leak so there are no problems with seals which are so
common to hydraulic and pneumatic systems. And, screw systems are quiet running - no
noisy compressors, pumps or exhaust valves. Screw systems are simple, reliable and easy
to utilize.

Power screw motions

There are four distinct motion converting actions that can be produced by power screws
and nuts. The two most common involve torque conversion to thrust. In Figure 1, the
screw is rotated (torqued) and the nut moves linearly producing thrust or the nut is rotated
(torqued) and the screw moves linearly. The two less common motions involve thrust
conversion to torque. In Figure 2, the nut undergoes a linear force (thrust) and the screw
14 | P a g e

rotates or the screw undergoes a linear force (thrust) and the nut rotates. These two
motions are commonly referred to as "back driving", "overhauling", or, improperly,
"reversing".

Fig1.
Fig2.

Types of power screws

There are 3 types of screw threads used in power screws:

1
1
2
3

Square threads:
Is used for power transmission in either direction
Results in maximum efficiency and minimum
It is employed in screw jacks and clamps

2
1
2
3
4

Acme threads:
It is a modification of square thread
Efficiency is lower than square threads
The slope increases the area for shear
It is easily manufactured

3
1
2
3
4

Buttress Thread:
It is used when large forces act along the screw axis in one direction only.
It has higher efficiency like square threads and ease of cutting like acme threads.
It is the strongest thread of all
It has limited use of power transmission

Rivets:

A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed a rivet consists of a

smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the
15 | P a g e

buck-tail. On installation the rivet is placed in a punched or pre-drilled hole, and the tail
is upset, or bucked (i.e. deformed), so that it expands to about 1.5 times the original shaft
diameter, holding the rivet in place. To distinguish between the two ends of the rivet, the
original head is called the factory head and the deformed end is called the shop head or
buck-tail.
Coupling nut:

A coupling nut is a threaded fastener for joining two male threads, most commonly
threaded rod. The outside of the fastener is usually a hex so a wrench can hold it.
Variations include reducing coupling nuts, for joining two different size threads; sight
hole coupling nuts, which have a sight hole for observing the amount of engagement; and
coupling nuts with left-handed threads.

Crank:
It is an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to the
power screw .It mainly suffers from torsional stresses so medium carbon steel is used as
it combines merits of malleability and sufficient torsional strength.

Description of Special Mechanism Implemented

It can be seen that the overall concept of the scissor jack is constant and that any new
product will be based on that concept. The products above lack support from the sides,
16 | P a g e

so there is the possibility of the jack tipping (especially on an uneven surface. Ultimately
we come up with a design with of scissor jack with side supports.

Fig 2.2.1
Mechanically Advanced Scissor Jack

We would like to incorporate some type of side support in my jack because it enhances
safety and redistributes stress, enhancing product life and functionality.

The designs above also lacked interchangeability. In my design I would like the make it
possible for the user to operate the jack with tools other than the crank provided.

Preliminary Designs

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As stated before, the basic design and mechanics of the scissor jack are simplistic and
lend little room for drastic change, so any change will be a modification on this base
model. Below are three preliminary design concepts sketched :

(a)

Design #1 represents the base model of the scissor jack,

it is the most simple.

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(b)

Design #2 has an extended base to prevent tipping when

the jack is under load.

(c)

Design #3 Also aims to prevent tipping, but also adds

stability between the top and bottom of the jack.
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The stabilizing arms on design #3 raise and lower with the jack, lock into place while
rising, and, when the jack is lowered, rotate to compact its shape and make storage easier.
Design

Pros

Cons

Light weight

Simple design
(less places for
failure)

Small base makes

tipping a risk.

No added stability
between the top
risks a collapse

No added stability
between the top
and bottom risks
a collapse

Shape is not
compact, makes
storage difficult.

Added material,
cost weight

Added complexity
creates more
areas for
problems

Added
components add
cost

Cheap

Uses little
material

Easy to store

Extended base
makes tipping
less likely.

Simple design

Adds stability to
jack.

Extended base
makes tipping
less likely.

Prevents collapse

Reduces to a
compact shape
that is easy to
store

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Stability added
with moderate
weight increase

Comparing the best out of the three designs:

To help make a decision for the final design, the table below weighs the attributes of each
design. The designs are ranked on their performance for each category, the best
performance receives a 3 and the worst a 1, the values are then totaled to determine the
overall best design. The designs will be assigned values based on their cost, safety,
weight and storage (functionality has been omitted from this table because all three
designs operate in the same basic manner and are capable of being used with a ratchet).
The values for safety will be rated by 5, 10, 15because of its importance as a design goal.

Attribute

Design #1

Design #2

Design #3

Cost

Safety

10

15

Weight

Storage

Total

14

14

20

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Design #1 uses the least amount of material, so it scored high in cost, weight and storage,
but, because of the small amount of material, it is not as safe as the other designs. Design
#2 adds safety but also weight, cost and poor storage. Design #3 adds safety without
compromising on weight and storage, but adds cost because it has the most parts.

Study of Scissor Jack and its Working

The term "scissor jack" describes a wide variety of tools that all follow the same
principle: using crossed beams to lift something. They do this by acting on the object they
are lifting in a diagonal manner; the lift on the right side lifts the object from its left side
and vice versa. This allows the user to store the jack when it is not in use (with the
diagonal beams flat) and to expand it when it is needed.

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Fig 2.3.1

Scissor jack

The major specification of scissor lifts is that they are all symmetrical. In order to
work, the distance from the loaded point to the cross point must be the same as the
distance from the cross point to the ground. This ensures that weight is distributed equally
throughout the scissor lift beams.

Since scissor lifts have such a wide variety of use, they also have a wide variety of
power sources. Scissor lifts for lifting cars can be powered electrically, hydraulically and
of course mechanically. On the other end of the spectrum, industrial scissor lifts that
people stand on are often powered by diesel, although electrical options do exist.

Scissor lifts basically fall into two categories: single scissor lifts and multiple
scissor lifts. A single scissor lift has just two crossbeams and one "x." This means it can
only go so high because the length of the crossbeams restricts the height of the lift, and
making them too long would make it unstable.

On the other hand, multiple lifts have beams crossing each other, and then attaching to
more beams that go the opposite direction. This allows the scissor lift to rise higher.
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Assembly
A scissor jack has four main pieces of metal and two base ends. The four metal pieces are
all connected at the corners with a bolt that allows the corners to swivel. A screw thread
runs across this assembly and through the corners. As the screw thread is turned, the jack
arms travel across it and collapse or come together, forming a straight line when closed.
Then, moving back the other way, they raise and come together. When opened, the four
metal arms contract together, coming together at the middle, raising the jack. When
closed, the arms spread back apart and the jack closes or flattens out again.

Working
A scissor jack uses a simple theory of gears to get its power. As the screw section is
turned, two ends of the jack move closer together. Because the gears of the screw are
pushing up the arms, the amount of force being applied is multiplied. It takes a very small
amount of force to turn the crank handle, yet that action causes the brace arms to slide
across and together.
As this happens the arms extend upward. The car's gravitational weight is not enough to
prevent the jack from opening or to stop the screw from turning, since it is not applying
force directly to it. If you were to put pressure directly on the crank, or lean your weight
against the crank, the person would not be able to turn it, even though your weight is a
small percentage of cars.

Product Comparison

Picture

Features

Pros

Cons

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Figure 1

Can lift 6
up to
990kg

Electric
motor
powere
d by a
12V DC
power
source.

Extends
13,
compac
ts to
less
than 5.

7
power
cord.

Weighs
9kgs.

Lifts
1133
kg.

Extends
from
3.7515.4.

Mechan
ical
input
require
d.

figure 2

The
The added weight
electric of the electric
motor
motor hurts fuel
makes
economy.
operati
The motor adds
ng the
cost and the
jack
increased
simple
complexity of the
and
system creates
easy.
more opportunity
Can
for failure.
operate
Need of an
jack
electrical power
away
source could be a
from
hindrance when
the car.
battery power is
not adequate.

The
6
jacks
simple
design
minimiz
7
es
cost ,
size
and
weight,
so it
can be
stored 8
easily.
Does
not rely

Operating
the crank
can be
difficult.
Required to
be near
(practically
underneath a
2,000kg
object to
operate.
Like the
product
above, there
is no stability
provided
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on
electrici
ty.

from the
sides.
9

Tools to raise
the jack are
not
interchangea
ble.

Chapter3: Design and Fabrication

3.1. Load criteria and assumptions

3.2. Material selection

3.3. 3D drawing of various parts and assembly in CAD

26 | P a g e

Load criteria and assumptions:

The load for which the jack is to be employed has to be considered

first. For very heavy loads we have to deal with heavy duty jacks
and in those situations scissor jacks do not work efficiently and
most probably fail. While in case of low and medium intensity
loads, scissor jack works efficiently and smoothly without much
effort. Also the jack is handy enough to carry in the vehicle.
So considering the above situation, making a scissor jack for low
and moderate dead loads will be a good idea.
Estimated vehicle weight: 1105kg/2440 kgs(weight of swift in
unloaded condition.
Weight on one side: 2440/4: 610kgs.
Factor of safety: 4
Weight for which is designed: 2440kgs.

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Assembly
A scissor jack has four main pieces of metal and two base ends. The
four metal pieces are all connected at the corners with a bolt that
allows the corners to swivel. A screw thread runs across this assembly
and through the corners. As the screw thread is turned, the jack arms
travel across it and collapse or come together, forming a straight line
when closed. Then, moving back the other way, they raise and come
together. When opened, the four metal arms contract together, coming
together at the middle, raising the jack. When closed, the arms spread
back apart and the jack closes or flattens out again.

Material selection:

Secondly, the problem of material selection is solved by selecting some materials on

the basis of their strength and modulus of elasticity. We here compared mild steel ,
aluminum , plain carbon steels and alloy steel, stainless steel and got an overall
result for the best fit material to be low-medium carbon steel .(comparison on basis
of data given in MATERIALS AND HEAT TREATMENT PROCESSES by O.P.
KHANNA)

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The material will be designed completely using plain carbon steel. Designing a
scissor jack using plain carbon steel is a work of sheet metal shop. To overestimate
the safety we will use calculations of strength using the plain carbon steel in its
undisturbed, solid form.

LOW-MEDIUM CARBON STEEL will be used

0.29% to 0.54% carbon e.g. AISI 1040 steel

Medium carbon steels can be heat treated to have a good balance
of ductility and strength. These steels are typically used in large
parts, forgings and machined components.
MATERIAL PROPERTIES at 25c : low-medium carbon steel
Density = 7845kg/m3
Youngs modulus (E)=200 GPa
Poissons Ratio(v)-0.3

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Ultimate shear strength= 57420 PSI=342.4 MPa approx. 66% of

the UTS(87000 PSI=518.8 Mpa)
Yield strength= 52500 PSI =353.4 MPa

Parts

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Coupling
Link rivet
Bottom
Base
Support
nut
packing
frame

Screw
Bottom
Top link
link
shaft
rivet

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Assembly

Closed
assembly

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Open
Assembly

Assembly with stability arrangement

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Assembly of mechanically advanced Scissor Jack

Chapter 4:Problems Faced

To fabricate the conventional jack, heavy thickened steel sheet and heavy press is
required which was not available in the nearby market.

Arc welding in thin metal sheet completely melts the sheet and makes the joint weak.

Using permanent joint with pantograph arrangement makes the problem in working of the
pantograph.
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The locking system mechanism is difficult to fabricate.

Chapter 5:Solution Adopted

1

As the press working on heavy metal sheet is difficult as there is no press machine
available in nearby market hence the conventional mechanical jack is not fabricated and
readymade jack is taken for further mechanically advanced attachment.

As arc welding melts the thin sheet, the Amperage rating of the arc welding is set to
minimum position but the problem still persists, then the thickness of the sheet is
increases.
42 | P a g e

As permanent joint in pantograph arrangement makes the link rigid hence we used
pivoted joints for implementing the mechanism.

Locking system mechanism was difficult to fabricate but with better design and better
mechanism using the threaded shaft the problem of slipping is eliminated.

Chapter 6:Conclusion

Scissor jacks are the ideal product to push, pull, lift, lower and position loads
of anything from a couple of kilograms to hundreds of tonnes. The need has
long existed for an improved portable jack for automotive vehicles. It is
highly desirable that a jack become available that can be operated
alternatively from inside the vehicle or from a location of safety off the road
43 | P a g e

on which the vehicle is located. Such a jack should desirably be light enough
and be compact enough so that it can be stored in an automobile trunk, can
be lifted up and carried by most adults to its position of use, and yet be
capable of lifting a wheel of a 4,000-5,000 pound vehicle off the ground.
Further, it should be stable and easily controllable by a switch so that jacking
can be done from a position of safety. It should be easily movable either to a
position underneath the axle of the vehicle or some other reinforced support
surface designed to be engaged by a mechanically advanced scissor jack.

This project proved to be most valuable in terms of teamwork and

management to us. Also we explored new territories in technical creation. We
faced new challenges while designing and analyzing scissor jack. The
experience gained has provided us confidence in dealing with practical
aspects of engineering and will prove to be invaluable for future mechanical
advancement.

Chapter 6:Bibliography
1

A text book of Machine Design by R.S.Khurmi, J.K.Gupta

Engineering Kinematics by William Griswold Smith

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Websites-

www.google.com

www.scribd.com

en.wikipedia.org/wiki

www.seminarprojects.com

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