Types of Springs

Springs have evolved into various shapes, sizes and degrees of stiffness, which have been dictated by the uses to which they have been put. The more common forms are included here for consideration.

Flat Springs

Flat springs can actually be found in forms other than simply flat. For instance, in the shape of the springs which control the contact breaker points in the magneto of an aircraft piston-type engine.

Leaf Springs

Leaf springs are formed by layers of flat springs and while very early aircraft embodied leaf springs in their landing gear, this type of spring is more familiar in the automobile and railway industries.

Spiral Springs

Spiral springs may be found in the form of spirally wound flat springs (known as motor or power springs) or as spirally wound wire, such as the hair springs of many types of instruments.

Helical Compression and Tension Springs

These are the most commonly found springs, which superseded the leaf spring when space and lightness of structure were the requirement. They are made in a wide variety of materials and sizes and may be found in a seemingly endless number of applications.

Helical Torsion Springs

While being similarly wound to the previous two types, these springs have specially shaped ends to permit a torque force to be applied and transmitted in a plane normal to the helix axis.

Belleville (Coned Disc) Springs

In fact, Belleville springs are shaped like the Cup Washers, which were previously discussed in the topic on Locking Devices. Belleville Springs are capable of exerting frictional or linear forces.

Torsion-Bar Springs

Basically, torsion-bar springs are straight bars of metal, with splined (or flanged) ends that can accept and transmit torsional forces.