According to the Free Dictionary, a bolt is --
"A fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened by applying torque."
So, by that definition, it follows that any screw secured by a nut is a bolt, no matter how small the screw. And conversely, any screw that installs in a threaded hole is a screw, no matter how large the screw.
"Machinery's Handbook, Twenty-First Edition" appears to agree with the above. On page 1131 there's "Differentiation between Bolt and Screw", which I won't bother to transcribe here. The section provides a more complete and elaborate explanation of what I've given above.
So there we are; if it's secured by a nut, it's a bolt. If it threads into a hole, it's a screw.
# # #
# # #
No comments:
Post a Comment