
A speed nut, aka sheet metal nut or Tinnerman nut, is a type of
locknut with two
sheet metal
Sheet metal is metal formed into thin, flat pieces, usually by an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes.
Thicknesses can vary significantly; ex ...
prongs that act as one
thread
Thread may refer to:
Objects
* Thread (yarn), a kind of thin yarn used for sewing
** Thread (unit of measurement), a cotton yarn measure
* Screw thread, a helical ridge on a cylindrical fastener
Arts and entertainment
* ''Thread'' (film), 2016 ...
. They are made from
spring steel
Spring steel is a name given to a wide range of steels used in the manufacture of different products, including swords, saw blades, springs and many more. These steels are generally low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel or high-carbon stee ...
.
The fastener serves the functions of both a
lock washer
A washer is a thin plate (typically disk-shaped, but sometimes square) with a hole (typically in the middle) that is normally used to distribute the load of a threaded fastener, such as a bolt or nut. Other uses are as a spacer, spring (Bellevi ...
and a
nut. As the fastener is tightened in the nut the prongs are drawn inward until they exert pressure on the root of the thread on the fastener. When the fastener is tightened, the base of the nut, which is arched,
elastically deforms and applies a force to the fastener, which locks it from loosening under vibrations.
There are many different types of speed nuts, mostly dependent on the shape of the nut, how it attaches to the workpiece, and what type of screw can be used. Most types are designed for either
machine screws or
sheet metal screws. Some nuts do not attach to the workpiece. These are usually shaped as either a rectangle, a
flange nut, or a
hex nut
A nut is a type of fastener with a threaded hole. Nuts are almost always used in conjunction with a mating bolt to fasten multiple parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads' friction (with slight elasti ...
; the rectangular speed nut is also known as a flat-style speed nut. Speed nuts that attach to the workpiece usually are some form of a
J-nut or
U-nut A clip-on nut, also known as a sheet metal nut or a speed nut (but this is ambiguous, see speed nut), is a type of nut (hardware), nut designed to be clipped to sheet metal. It is a type of Threaded_insert#Captive_nut, captive nut commonly made as a ...
.
History

The speed nut was invented in 1923 and patented in 1924 https://patents.google.com/patent/US1512653A/en?assignee=albert+tinnerman&oq=albert+tinnerman&sort=old by
Albert H. Tinnerman
Albert may refer to:
Companies
* Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic
* Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands
* Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia
* Albert Productions, a record label
* Alber ...
, son of
George Tinnerman
George may refer to:
People
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Washington, First President of the United States
* George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...
, who founded
Tinnerman Steel Range Company
Scouting in Ohio has a long history, from the 1908 to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
Early history (1910–1950)
Recent history (1950–1990)
In 1952 and again in 1975 th ...
. The company, established in 1870, originally manufactured sheet metal kitchen ranges. However, after Tinnerman invented the nut to resolve issues with stove shipping, the invention became so successful it led the company away from building stoves to building fasteners.
Tinnerman Products was formed in 1939, and evolved from the Speed Nut development with manufacturing plants in Cleveland, Ohio. A manufacturing plant was constructed on Brookpark Road in the early 1950s. Tinnerman Products later merged with
Eaton Yale & Towne in 1969. In 1999, Eaton sold Tinnerman to TransTechnology for $173 million. In 2009, ARaymond purchased Tinnerman for an undisclosed sum.
See also
*
Plate nut
References
Notes
Bibliography
*.
*.
*
*Plain Dealer Publishing Co, (1906), Progressive Men of Northern Ohio https://books.google.com/books?id=9NYyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA26
*R. Coates, William, (1924), A History of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland
*Survey of Buying Power (1951) - Volume 67 - Page 146
*https://www.riversidecemeterycleveland.org/rs_hs_g.htm#tinnerman
*
*http://www.araymondtinnerman.com/industrial/resources/Catalog-Final_10.29-w-Revisions.pdf
{{Nuts (hardware)
Nuts (hardware)