116 Manual of Engineering Drawing
Unified threads
The Unified system of screw threads was introduced
by the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States
to provide a common standard thread for use by the
three countries. The International Standards
Organisation (ISO) recommends the system as an
international system of screw threads in inch units, in
parallel with a similar system in metric units. Both of
these systems use a similar form of thread profile which
is illustrated basically in Fig. 15.4.
The British Standard Whitworth thread was the first
standardized British screw-thread.
The British Standard Fine thread is of Whitworth
section but of finer pitch. The reduction in pitch
increases the core diameter; also, small adjustments
of the nut can easily be made.
The British Standard Pipe threads are used internally
and externally on the walls of pipes and tubes. The
thread pitch is relatively fine, so that the tube thickness
is not unduly weakened.
Pipe threads are covered by BS 21, which was
adopted as the basis for ISO 7/1 where the metric
values were conversions of the inch values, to obtain
interchangeability.
The basic forms of the British Standard taper and
parallel pipe threads are based on that of the British
Standard Whitworth thread.
The Whitworth thread form is shown in Fig. 15.6.
The thread angle of 55° is measured in an axial plane
section, also the vee-section is truncated, at top and
bottom, by one sixth, with crest and root rounded by
equal circular arcs. The theoretical thread depth is shown
as h = 0.640 327 P where P is the thread pitch. In the
taper pipe thread (Fig. 15.7), a taper of 1 in 16 is used,
measured on diameter.
British Association thread (Fig. 15.8). Generally used
in sizes of less than
1
/
4
inch on small mechanisms.
This range of threads extends down to a thread size of
0.25 mm and is covered by BS 93.
Note. BS 93 is an ‘obsolescent’ standard. The standard
is not recommended for the design of new equipment,
but is retained to provide a standard for servicing
Fig. 15.3 ISO metric thread
H = 0.86603P,
H
4
= 0.21651P,
3
8
H = 0.32476P
5
8
H = 0.54127P, where P is the pitch of the thread
60°
0.1433P
Pitch P
Bolt
Pitch
line
P
8
P
2
P
4
Nut
H
4
H
4
H
6
3
8
H
H
H
8
Fig. 15.4 Unified screw thread
H = 0.86603P, Rc = 0.108P and Rr = 0.144P where P is the pitch of the
thread
Pitch P
Rc
Nut
Rr
Bolt
60°
P
4
H
4
5
8
H
8
H
H
Unified threads are covered by BS 1580. Types in
common use include the following;
(a) UNC is a Unified coarse pitch thread, with
progressive pitch sizes (i.e. the pitch varies with
the diameter).
(b) UNF is a Unified fine pitch thread, also with
progressive pitch sizes.
(c) UN is a Unified thread with a constant pitch (e.g.
an 8 UN thread has 8 threads to the inch regardless
of the diameter).
Different classes of fit are obtainable by manufacture
within alternative tolerance ranges and these are
specified in BS 1580 Normally the same class of internal
and external thread are used together.
Sellers or American thread (Fig. 15.5). This type
was the American National thread in common use before
the introduction of the Unified National thread, as it is
described in the USA and Canada, or the Unified screw-
thread in Great Britain.
H′
P
Nut
60°
Bolt
F
F
H
F
Whitworth thread (Fig. 15.6). The general shape of
the thread shown has been used in a standard BSW
thread, in fine form as the BSF thread, and as a pipe
thread in the BSP thread.
Fig 15.5 Sellers or American thread
H = 0.866P, H′ = 0.6495P, F = 0.1083P = H/8 = H/6
Pitch P
r
h
H
H
6
H
6
27
1
2
°
27
1
2
°
Fig 15.6 Basic Whitworth form
H = 960491P, h = 0.640327P, r = 0.137329P