Springs:

Introduction:
Spring is an elastic machine element, which deflects under the action of
the load and returns to its original shape when the load is removed. More
the stress is applied on the spring more will be the deflection.
The various important applications of springs are as follows :
1. To cushion, absorb or control energy due to either shock or vibration
as in car springs, railway buffers, air-craft landing gears, shock
absorbers etc.
2. To apply forces, as in brakes, clutches and spring loaded valves. For
example, in a car a brake or a clutch is used for controlling the car
motion. A spring system keep the brake in disengaged position until
applied to stop the car. The clutch has also got a spring system
(single springs or multiple springs) which engages and disengages the
engine with the transmission system.
3. To control motion by maintaining contact between two elements as
in cams and followers.
4. To measure forces, as in spring balances and engine indicators.
5. To store energy, as in watches, toys, etc.
Types of springs:

 Though there are many types of the springs, yet the following, according to their shape, are
important from the subject point of view
Helical springs

 The helical springs are made up of a wire coiled in the form of a helix and is primarily intended
for compressive or tensile loads. The cross-section of the wire from which the spring is made
may be circular, square or rectangular. The two forms of helical springs are:
 Compression helical spring and
 tension helical springs.
 Compression type of springs are used in shock absorbers, lighters and tension helical springs are
used in weighing machines, doors.
 Type of helical springs according to helix angle:
 In closed coil helical spring, the distance between each turn or coil is pretty less, or you
can say the pitch distance is too small. The angle of the helix of closed coil helical spring
is less than 10 degree. This type of spring is used to resist the elongation or twisting.
The stiffness of closed coil helical spring is generally higher than any other spring, for
this reason, it is used in heavy-duty applications.

 As the name denotes open coil, that means the distance between two consecutive
turns is more (Helix angle is greater than 10 degree). These springs are used to resist
compression.
 Generally, open-coil helical springs are used in Automobile, Motorcycles
 The helical springs have the following advantages:
 (a) These are easy to manufacture.
 (b) These are available in wide range.
 (c) These are reliable.
 (d) Their performance can be predicted more accurately.
 (e) Their characteristics can be varied by changing dimensions.
Conical and Volute Spring:
 This is generally one type of compression spring, conical in shape. When the compression load applies to
the spring, then the coils are slide over each other, make it short length and compact in shape than other
helical springs.
 This type of springs is used in electrical or electronics equipment. In practical life, you can see this type of
spring in the remote or clock’s battery section.
 This type of spring is also known as tapered spring.
Torsion Springs:

 Torsion spring is one kind of close coil helical spring. In this type of spring, when twisting occurs then the
spring stores the energy inside it, and when the twisting force lifted it push back to its actual position.
When it is twisted than a torque generated at the opposite direction of the twisting force, which helps the
spring to back its actual shape.
 Torsion springs are widely used in the garage door, clips, mouse catcher etc.
Leaf springs:

 It is an arc-shaped spring, made of metal strips one after another. It is widely used as a
suspension system of commercial vehicle such as bus, truck, etc. This spring is capable
to withstand large forces in small areas. It consists of a number of flat plates
(known as leaves) of varying lengths held together by means of clamps and
bolts
Working of leaf springs:
Advantages of leaf springs:

Applications of leaf springs:

Disc Springs:
 Disc springs, also known as disc washers or belliville washers are ideal for high load applications
especially where space is limited. The conical disc spring is made from a convex disc where the
outer edge operates in opposition to the center of the disc. This creates a high spring force within a
short area of movement. The disc spring configuration enables these springs to support higher
loads with relatively small deflection and less solid height than a standard helical designed springs.
Disc springs are versatile and are used in many manufacturing and plant applications. Some
common uses for disc springs include:

•Slip Clutch
•Overload Clutches
•High Pressure Valve
•Drill Bit Shock Absorber
 Advantages of Disc Springs:
1.No Deformation under normal loads.
2.High Energy Storage Capacity.
3.Long Service Life.
4.Stock keeping is minimized as the individual spring sizes can be combined universally.
5.Space Saving.
6.Largely Self-damping, giving good shock absorption and energy dissipation.
7.Efficient use of space and high spring force with small deflections.
Special Purpose Springs:

 Air spring, gas spring, extension Spring, etc. falls under the category of Special Purpose Springs. As the
name denotes “Special Purpose” that means these springs are not widely used, but still in some cases like,
vice-grip pliers, carburetors, trampolines, washing devices, even in toys we use extension spring. These
springs are air or liquid springs, rubber springs, ring springs etc. The fluids (air or liquid) can
behave as a compression spring.
 Nowadays we use air spring, where the air is used to pump the bladder which helps us to absorb the shock
and vibration completely. So these types of springs are falls under the category of special-purpose springs.
Materials used in springs:

 The material of the spring should have high fatigue strength(Fatigue strength is the
highest stress that a material can withstand for a given number of cycles without
breaking), high ductility( can be stretched without breaking), high resilience (the
ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity) and it should be
creep resistant(creep is the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform
permanently under the influence of persistent mechanical stresses. It can occur as a
result of long-term exposure to high levels of stress). It largely depends upon the
service for which they are used i.e. severe service, average service or light
service.
 Generally carbon steel wires containing 0.60 to 0.70 per cent carbon and 0.60 to
1.0 per cent manganese are used. Stainless steel are also found in many springs.
Nickel based alloys and aluminum based alloys are also found in many springs.
Music wire is used for small springs. Non-ferrous materials like phosphor bronze,
beryllium copper, monel, metal, brass etc., may be used in special cases to
increase fatigue resistance, temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SPRINGS

 Advantages of Spring:
 These are the following advantages of spring:
• Produce a good cushioning effect.
• Spring has a good shock-absorbing ability.
• It has high durability.
• Spring has the ability of stored energy inside it.
• It is easy to design and cheaper to produce.
• Spring is a maintenance-free device.
 Disadvantages of Spring:
 A Spring has this following disadvantage:
• Day by day its loose it shape and stability.
• Sometimes when the axial load of the spring is increased, it produce the buckling phenomena.
• If spring is broken then it is hard to repair.