SPRINGS

• They use the property of elasticity.

• It absorbs energy by distorting or deflecting when under load, store it in
their loaded state, and then release it in a controlled manner as they
return to their original shape after the load has been removed

Materials
FERROUS METALS
• Springs are made from tempered carbon steel with 0.6-0.7% carbon &
1% manganese.
• SAE 1095 in sheet form is used for making flat springs and in wire form for making coil
springs.

• The chrome-vanadium steels are made of approximately 18 percent vanadium and about 1
percent chromium. Eg, SAE 6150 is used for making springs

• Stainless-Steel Spring Wire which as is obvious from its name, is used in

conditions where high corrosion-resistance is the requirement.

Non-Ferrous Metals used for Springs

copper alloys, where corrosion resistance and good electrical conductivity
nickel alloys where the ability to work at elevated temperatures and resist
corrosion
• Spring Brass - good electrical conductivity,
unsuitable for high-stress applications.
• Nickel Silver- also called German Silver.
-which has better characteristics than brass
-made from different percentages of copper, zinc and nickel.
• Phosphor Bronze- minimum percentage of 90% copper content
 -excellent electrical conductivity.
higher stress levels than those of brass.
• Silicon Bronze –similar to phosphor bronze but is less expensive to
produce.
• Beryllium Copper- good conductivity and corrosion resistance
-greater hardness

High-Nickel Alloys
• Monel-a nickel-copper alloy with high tensile strength and resistance to
corrosion.
• 'K' Monel (3% aluminium)
• Permanickel
• Inconel
• Inconel 'X' (2.5% Titanium)

CORROSION PROTECTION
Depending on application, metallic springs may require corrosion protection.
Protective coatings may be of plastic, zinc, nickel, chromium or tin.

TYPES OF FORCES ACTING ON SPRINGS

The three basic forces, which may be exerted on, and applied by springs are:
• Compression
• Tension
• Torsion

TYPES OF SPRINGS
1. Flat springs,
The form of spring is flat, rectangular-sectioned strips.

2. Leaf springs
formed by layers of flat springs
leaf springs in their landing gear,
more familiar in the automobile and railway industries.

3. Spiral springs
found in the form of spirally wound flat springs or as spirally wound wire.
They are used to store or absorb torsion forces.
This type of spring is sometimes known as a motor spring or a power spring.

Spiral springs are found in analog instruments and are the springs used to power a wind-up
clock or watch.

4. HELICAL COMPRESSION AND TENSION SPRINGS

The most common type of spring is the helical wound spring.

These springs can be used for compression or tension loads.

 5. HELICAL TORSION SPRINGS

Helical torsion springs are similarly wound as helical tension and compression springs

They have specially shaped end that engage a mechanism so that the spring can absorb a
torque force when applied.

6. Disc (or Cone, Cupped or Belleville Washer) Springs

They are shaped like the cup washers used as locking devices.

Often referred to as Belleville Springs or Washers, they are capable of exerting frictional or
linear forces and can be multiplied in the same direction to increase the spring load or back
to back to increase travel.

7. Torsion-bar springs
 These are, basically, straight bars of metal, with splined, square or flanged ends, that can
accept and transmit torsional forces.

Spring Dimensions
• The close-coiled round wire helical compression spring is the type of
spring most frequently encountered, and it alone is shown below. It is
made from wire of diameter ‘d’ wound into a helix of mean diameter
‘D’, pitch ‘p’, and total number of turns ‘nt’. This last is the number of
wire coils prior to end treatment .

Spring Characteristics
Spring are normally specified by:
• Material
• Wire diameter or cross sectional area
• External diameter
• Internal
• Free length
• Solid height
• Pitch
• End style - open, closed, ground, looped etc
• Spring Rate
The Spring Rate or stiffness of a spring is the load.

Application of Springs in Aircraft

Engineering

• Pressure Regulating/Limiting Devices: in Fuel, Hydraulic, Lubrication,

and Pneumatic systems
• To cushion, absorb, control the energy due to shock or vibration
• To apply force in brakes and valves
• To control motion by maintaining contact b/w two elements
• To measure forces in balances & indicators
• To store energy

Spring Maintenance
• Springs which are accessible generally require very little maintenance.
When visible, inspection must be carried out at the specified intervals
for damage such as;
• fretting against adjacent components
• distortion - crushing, bending and stretching
• overheating as evidenced by discolouration
• cracking
• corrosion.
• Any defect found is cause for replacement. It is essential that only the
correct spring is used as these parts are often vital to the operation of
the system in which they are installed. For this reason replacement
springs must be selected by part number with reference to the
Illustrated Parts Catalogue.