Conical compression springs play important roles in a lot of different ways, which is why it’s always useful to better understand them. Read all the details here.
Conical compression springs remain one of the eccentricities of spring design. They derive their unique name from their distinct cone-shaped helix and can have several different geometries as your mind can imagine or create.
This post discusses the several reasons and benefits of using conical compression springs for your compressor, etc. But first, you need to know what they are as well as the advantages they bring to the table.
What is a Conical Compression Spring?
A conical compression spring is an open-coil helical spring designed exclusively to oppose any form of compression. They are typically distinguished from regular compression springs by having one end smaller than the other. This means their end diameters are different, while other designs come with barely distinguishable end diameters. In most cases, the large end of a conical compression spring is designed to work within a bore, while its smaller end is designed to work right over a rod.
These types of springs provide the unique benefit of a much reduced solid height, especially when compared to straight compression springs capable of what is known as ‘telescoping.’ This means that whenever a load is placed on the spring, or a force applied, it makes the springs – also known as cone or tapered springs – short and pushes them powerfully against the load, thereby restoring the spring to its standard length.
Tapered springs are considered the most energy-efficient springs around, and this makes them incredibly popular in engineering circles.
Conical compression springs provide an almost constant spring rate as well as a pretty solid height, much lower than a regular spring. Every spring features a variable pitch in order to accomplish the constant coils and spring rate, which typically rest during deflection. This occurs in order to provide a solid height that is approximately equal to 2 wire diameters.
Types of Conical Compression Springs
Conical compression springs come in various shapes and sizes. Here are some of the popular types:
- Simple conical compression spring
- Mini block compression spring
- Cylindrical compression spring
- Double conical compression spring
- Beehive spring
- Waist spring
4 Top Reasons for Using Conical Compression Springs
Conical compressions springs are designed to meet a few uses. Some of them are as follows:
- Stability
A conical compression spring offers less tendency to buckle and greater lateral stability than regular compression springs.
- Variable Rate
They provide a uniform or constant pitch as well as an increasing force rate. This is against a constant force that is common with regular compression springs.
When you apply a force steadily, the larger coils begin to bottom. Variable pitches can be designed to offer uniform rates if necessary.
Take note that a standard compression can also showcase or exhibit variable rates. However, the pitch must be varied, and this is nothing but the direct opposite approach of the conical compression design.
- Vibration
Since conical compression springs have uniform pitches as well as an increasing natural period of vibration – as against as a constant that regular compression springs exhibit – resonance and vibration are significantly minimized as each coil bottoms.
- Small Solid Height
A conical compression spring can be designed such that every active coil fits right within the next coil. This makes the solid height equal to 1 or 2 thicknesses of wire. This can be incredibly useful in places where solid height is limited.
The Advantages
The shape, design, and material of springs can significantly affect the efficiency and functionality of their applications. You should be careful when ordering springs for a particular product, as understanding the shape and dimensions may considerably impact the optimum performance of the springs.
Here are some of the advantages that conical compression springs bring to the table:
- Provide More Stability to Machinery
This is a major benefit. Tapered springs help provide much more stable environments for other springs – with larger ratios when it comes to slenderness – to function effectively.
The ratios of these springs determine if they will buckle or bend when deflected appropriately. Conical compression springs off lateral stability, thereby preventing them from buckling. These springs do not slip easily as they help keep the compressor safe from considerable damage.
- Minimize Vibrations
Another great benefit is their ability to reduce vibration and resonance. This is because the pitch of a conical compression spring is uniform, indicating that the period of vibration increases naturally as the coil bottoms as against remaining the same at all times.
- Have Uniform Variable Rate
Cone or tapered springs are known for providing uniform and constant pitches. Instead of having a fixed force rate just like regular compression springs, conical compression springs are top-rated for their regularly increasing force rates.
Whenever you use conical compression springs, you create a variable pitch to generate a more uniform rate, if required.
Conical Compression Spring Applications
Conical compression springs have different manufacturing and industrial applications. They are used frequently in various electrical contacts such as battery contacts, pushbuttons, etc. They are also essential components in several automobile suspension systems.
A few firearm manufacturers make use of conical compression springs within the firing mechanism of weapons. Other tapered spring applications include:
- Major appliances
- Medical devices
- Cell phones
- Lawnmowers
- Large stamping presses, etc.
These are just some of the simple uses of conical compressions springs.
Conclusion
Conical compression springs offer several benefits or advantages when used in a compressor or other equipment. They provide excellent stability, minimize vibrations, and offer uniform variable rates. And they are also able to fit in nicely in narrow and small spaces.
These are just a few things that make conical compression springs so great. Irrespective of what you want to make with conical compression springs, it is highly crucial for them to represent the utmost quality. This is because the quality of electrical contacts, buttons, as well as other products, is a function of the overall quality of the different parts.
And this is why it is highly crucial to find – and work with – a reputable quality manufacturer who creates and can provide you with great springs to use for your compressor or other machinery.