The Layman’s Guide to Conical Springs
Conical springs are cone shaped springs used in many household objects and common machinery. The spring is generally composed of stainless steel and can be subjected to temperatures up to 260 degrees Celsius/500 degrees Fahrenheit. The conical spring is set up in a form that the bottom is large enough to accommodate all the top springs into each other. When the spring is compressed closely, this is described as its solid height. This would be the measurement you would adopt if you wished to reproduce the spring to use in your machine.
Uses for Conical Springs
- Remote Control – you can find conical springs in your remote control. When you remove the back end of your remote control to replace the batteries, you will notice the spring that connects the batteries to the system. This is a very small conical spring.
- Torch – similarly when you loosen the top off your torch you will see a larger conical spring connecting the batteries to the part. This is an everyday object that without thinking about it you have used conical springs.
- Hoover – the on-off switch on a hoover will have a conical spring inside it to help the switch spring back up after being compressed. This will be a small spring tucked inside the switch. Many other switch type appliances will similarly use conical springs for the same action.
- Vehicles – conical springs are used in car engines and industrial machinery. Using conical springs in engines mean the vehicle can reach greater accelerations and endure higher levels of temperature and weight longer than normal springs.
- Mattress – you will likewise discover them in your mattress. Innovative mattress producers have ascertained that using conical springs in the mattress provides a stronger weight support and prevents it from sinking in the middle or at either side. They discovered they can roll up the mattress and store it in a carton for shipment for up to nine months. This saves money on delivery for the customer and valuable space within the stockroom.
What’s So Special About Conical Springs?
The way conical springs are composed make them more adaptable and less susceptible to buckle under excessive weights. They can move diagonally and vertically to allow them a distinct field of movement not possible in alternative springs. With the coils being able to fit into each other this allows the spring an increased applied force making them suitable for numerous kinds of projects. When operated in vibrating machinery these springs are more likely to hold out longer than normal springs as they can move at a continuous rate in all directions without breaking so readily.
How to Measure When Ordering
Measuring a conical spring differs considerably from measuring a standard spring. With the conical spring, you must consider:
- The Slope
- Wire Size
- Wire Thickness
- Number of Coils
To calculate the average outside diameter – add the outside diameter of the top end of the spring to the outside diameter of the base of the spring and divide by 2, this provides you with the approximate measurement.
To calculate the average diameter – add the outside diameter of the base of the spring to the inside diameter at the top of the spring and divide by 2, this provides you with the approximate measurement.
To measure the height of the spring, you must compress the spring until all coils are resting inside one another, this is the solid height.
By calculating the wire thickness, number of coils and wire size along with the above calculations you will produce the specifications required for your individual conical spring.
These measurements are now calculated by computer software, even though many years ago, they would have been manually calculated by a mathematician.
Conical Spring Materials
There are many materials used to produce conical springs depending on what product the spring will be used in. The materials mainly used to produce conical springs are:
- Oil Tempered Low-Carbon
- Copper Alloy
- Stainless Steel
- Chrome Silicone/Chrome Vanadium
- High Carbon Alloys
- Phosphor Bronze
Ceramic materials have recently been used to construct the conical spring in high temperature environments but these springs aren’t as prevalent as steel springs. Manufacturers have attempted to produce glass springs by employing glass fibre but it remains at the assessment stage.
Once you have established what material you would like your conical springs produced from, you need to make the following decision is: what sort of end do you require?
You have the alternative of obtaining open or closed ends for your springs and whether you need them to be ground or unground. The machine you will use your spring in will influence the components required.
Replacing A Conical Spring in Your Compressor
On close investigation of your compressor you will need to figure out which spring is impaired. You will see the damaged or broken conical spring and replace it like for like. Even if your spring just looks battered, but not broken, it is desirable to still change them throughout your machine. If you leave the springs in position and don’t change them, you will nevertheless have complications. To safeguard against complete damage of your compressor due to the deterioration of the conical springs, you are encouraged to periodically check your machine and carry out maintenance checks, ensuring the machine is operating at its maximum efficiency.
Finding A Quality Conical Spring
When replacing your conical spring the dimensions you have determined will provide the replacement. The size and thickness of the conical spring will likewise need to be established to substitute a like for like spring.
You must replace the spring with:
- One the Same Size
- Equal Thickness
- Same Weight
- Exact Quantity of Coils
- Same Height
- Same Spring Rate
This will make certain the machine will operate as effective as it appeared when it was first purchased. Finding a reliable manufacturer to purchase your conical springs from should be top of your agenda. The manufacturer should be capable of producing your springs by adopting a quality material that is in sequence with the spring you extracted from your machine. By taking advantage of the most suitable quality materials your budget will permit, it will avoid the replacement of your springs more frequently.
Peripheral Valve Internals
Complete Valve Repair Kits
P.E.T. Compressor Parts