The Facts about Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are essential to many modern day products and machinery; they are helical in appearance and are designed to exert a torque or rotary force.
How do they work?
Each end of the torsion spring is attached to other components of the machine or product so that when the components circle around the springs centre, it will try to push them back to their initial position. Ironically, torsion springs are not usually subject to torsional stress but they are subject to bending stress. Torsion springs are incredibly useful as they can both store and release angular energy. They can also be used to hold a mechanism statically in place; this is performed by deflecting the legs of the spring around the body's centreline axis. There are a variety of options for the configuration of torsion spring legs as they will need to be attached in different ways depending on the application that they are intended for.
Design Features
Unlike the compression spring the torsion spring is normally of a closely wound design, however some will have a slight pitch in order to reduce the friction between the coils. Torsion springs are an exceptional invention; they offer resistance to force that is applied rotationally and to a twisting motion. This type of spring can be miniature in size or of a much larger scale.
Torsion springs can be designed to work in a specifically clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation; this will then determine which way the spring is wound during the development stage. It is designed to be actuated rotationally as well as an angular return force. When a torsion spring is wound up they will reduce in diameter so that their body becomes much longer that when it isn't in use.
Top Torsion Tip: Torsion springs perform the best when they are supported by a tube or rod.
Where are they used?
Torsion springs are used in many different products that are used constantly throughout everyday life. Common uses of torsion springs include; clipboards, clothing pegs and garage doors. Because they are designed to resist rotational force, torsion springs are the perfect spring to be used in hinges and counterbalances. Miniature torsion springs are normally used in electronic devices, whereas larger designs are often used in factory/ industry machine and chair control units.
If you're interested in finding out about our vast range of torsion springs then please get in contact with us here at European Springs. As a leading spring supplier, we have a huge range of springs available to you, including compression springs, tension springs, gas springs and also provide a bespoke spring service.
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