What is a Compression Helical Spring?

Compression helical springs are energy efficient storage devices, which are also known as open-coil helical springs. These springs are designed to offer resistance against the linear compressing force applied along their axis. Compression helical spring gets compressed on the application of load. The spring regains its original form and position when the load is released. Based on the design and end type these springs are classified into four types.

• Closed and Squared Compression Helical Springs
• Closed and Ground Compression Helical Springs
• Double Closed Compression Helical Spring
• Open End Compression Helical Spring

Designing Factors of Compression Helical Springs

The design of compression helical spring is dependent on two factors.

• The first factor is the type of material used in its fabrication process. Music wire, stainless steel, or chrome silicon are some common materials used in the construction of these spring.
• The second factor involves the service environment in which the spring operates, which can be either static or cyclic. The design process of the spring is dependent on the application environment in which the spring is used. During the static condition, the spring designer selects the appropriate material, which helps the spring generate stable output force over the given period of time. On the other hand during cyclic condition, apart from stable output force, the spring must be able to tolerate harsh conditions without breaking.

The other factors, which influence the design of compression helical springs are as follows:

• Permissible tolerance limit of the given spring
• Environmental conditions such as temperature and pressure
• Space considerations
• Reliability and accuracy of the spring